The Curragh Racecourse: Preview and tips for Saturday’s eight-race card 

It’s the Curragh’s October race meeting, the second last of the season, and Saturday's eight-race card features the Listed Brigid’s Pastures Stakes, alongside two maidens and five handicap races.

Read on for a full preview of the Curragh card, courtesy of Betano, who provide all the latest horse racing odds.

We begin with the two-year-olds in a seven-furlong colts’ and geldings’ maiden (1.07). Six of the 14 runners are first-timers and could, therefore, turn out to be anything, although the best of them looks to be Joseph O’Brien’s Big Cypress, a half brother to a Group Three winner. Of those with form, Johnny Murtagh’s Sindagan looks smart in the Aga Khan colours, having finished a good third of 16 on debut at Naas, while Aidan O’Brien’s Causeway - a relative of Auguste Rodin - is promising after a fair midfield finish over a mile at this track in on very testing ground.

Staying with the juveniles for race two, we have a fillies’ maiden next, again over seven furlongs (1.42). Aidan O’Brien plays a typically strong hand with three runners here, the third string of which appears, somewhat oddly, to be Together Now, an unraced as of yet half-sister to City Of Troy. The first string seems to be Cameo, who placed when last seen at Punchestown and is also nicely bred. Despite not being the first preference for Coolmore, though, Together Now may be worth giving some thought to, due to her claiming rider’s strong strike rate with two year olds on turf.

The Listed Brigid’s Pastures Stakes, a six-furlong test, follows (2.17). Eddie and Patrick Harty’s Carla Ridge is the top-rated, but was disappointing over course and distance in a handicap last time out. She is well proven at this level, though, and could be better off today. Joseph O’Brien’s Gutsy Girl is the next highest rated and is a consistent sort who usually makes a good display of herself, but she may prefer better ground. Germanese could be worth thinking about, due to having good credentials on softer going, but she must put her recent defeat at Tipperary behind her.

Race four is a valuable six-furlong handicap (2.52). Natalia Lupini’s Bishopston seeks a hat-trick today under a seven-pound claimer, and should be a big player. I Bid You Ajou unshipped his apprentice rider last time out at Listowel and should have a decent chance today. Stephen Thorne’s 10-year-old veteran Laugh A Minute, who dons cheekpieces for the first time today, has dipped down to what could be a very winnable mark, if the headgear takes effect for this course and distance winner.

A mile apprentice handicap is next (3.27). Loingseoir, a course and distance winner, goes well on soft ground and should be made up for this race, especially given seven pounds by Freya Frain, so has a chance of at least a place and could be a good each-way play. Andrew Slattery’s Highbury See See also thrives on today’s surface and should be able to run a big race under Sam Coen.

The mile and a half QR Lady Riders Trophy follows (4.02). The Mediator, Make Good and Daboya all won their last starts, while Gotta Catch’em All was a good second over two furlongs fewer at this track, ridden by the same jockey, last time. Timothy Doyle’s Alfalfa should have a decent chance with a seven-pound claimer aboard, but this race may be most likely to go the way of Andrew Kinirons’ Lagoon Nebula, who goes on any ground and could outstay some of the others.

Second to last is a six-furlong handicap (4.35). Patrick Flynn’s new recruit Key Witness showed some ability in England and could make a solid start for her new yard, but it may be safer to side with some more seasoned Irish handicappers. Rosato is a good example of one of these, being the sort to go well on this sort of ground, and could have a chance at her current mark. Sakakawea could have an each-way chance, now down to a new low mark, stepping back down to her better trip on ground which has agreed with her in the past.

Finally, racing concludes with a mile handicap (5.10). Syzygy, Warazam and Antoine De Paris were all winners of their last races, with the former looking the most capable of following up with another victory. Pallatine Hills is another to consider, having come a pound down the weights with some promising form to his name this term. Counter Culture also should be involved, having run a good race at Roscommon in September for second of 12 on soft ground.