Irish tips: Curragh – Eamonn Hames’ top betting preview for Sunday

CURRAGH

2.55

WHAT a burn-up this will be with plenty of front runners taking each other on.

Last year’s winner Caspian Prince is one of the quickest sprinters around and he must be respected after his game second off a huge weight in the Rockingham.

However, he has competition for the lead from Havana Grey and you know the Ballydoyle trio will not give him an easy time on the front end.

This could end up being run perfectly for WASHINGTON DC — it nearly happened for him in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and he faces lesser opposition here.

Mabs Cross is a similar type to the selection and she has been in the form of her life this season.

MEET THE STARS Here's all you need to know about this year's 32Red Newmarket Open Weekend

She won the Palace House Stakes comfortably at Newmarket on her reappearance and has since run respectably in the Temple Stakes and in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot. She looks the main danger on form.

The other Ballydoyle runners are Battle Of Jericho and Declarationofpeace and both have potential — especially the former who looked speedy when winning the Rockingham here last time.

3.30

A strong renewal for the Kilboy Estate Stakes and one rather dominated by the two Ballydoyle fillies.

It is hard to know what to make of the pair of them at this stage of the season, but if they’re ready to rock then there’s no denying that this is theirs for the taking.

Magical is a Group 2 winner already, has already had a run and is the pick of Ryan Moore, but they were both big players as juveniles and SEPTEMBER always looked likelier to make up into a proper three-year-old.

She may need this first run, but everything is in her favour here and it would surprise if she wasn’t in the thick of it come the final furlong.

Broadway and Sarrocchi have a bit to find on form and the Joseph O’Brien pair make little appeal, so the rock solid I’m So Fancy should be the only one capable of mounting a threat.

A dual Listed winner here last month under these conditions — Jessica Harrington’s filly is by far the best value in the race.

4.05

A competitive fillies handicap and Dermot Weld’s BONA FIDE can step up on her maiden win at Gowran Park.

The Frankel filly is bred to be a stakes class prospect and she may have been let in off a lenient mark on her first foray into handicaps.

She was as green as grass when winning on her debut and looked for all the world as if an extra furlong will be right up her street and no doubt connections have lofty expectations for her.

There are plenty of fillies in here who are in fantastic form — Artistic Melody, My Silver Nails and Triple Sec — however all lack the class of the top two.

Surrounding has a tough task on her hands giving away weight to so many improving types, but especially to her stablemate Terzetto.

A similar type to the selection, the Mick Halford trained filly looked powerful when breaking her maiden at Dundalk and was not disgraced in a red-hot handicap here in May.

She will likely come on plenty for that experience and looks a huge danger to the selection.

4.40

A disappointing turn out given the stacked five-day entries, but Ballydoyle’s unexposed CLIFFS OF DOONEEN can add the star quality by taking this in style.

It is unlike Ballydoyle to throw a maiden winner into a handicap, but this is a small field and it is nothing like the hustle and bustle you usually get in these premier handicaps.

The son of Galileo looked good when bolting up at Bellewstown and he should make the most of the generous three-year-old allowance here even with an opening mark that’s on the harsh side.

Classy dual-purpose beast Sandymount Duke must be respected off a decent mark.

He loves decent ground and is as tough as they come, however She’s A Star looked as good as ever when winning at Dundalk in January and the booking of Colin Keane is a clear indication of her readiness.

CURRAGH

1.45 Chocolate Music

2.20 Urban Light

2.55 Washington DC (nb)

3.30 September

4.05 Bona Fide

4.40 Cliffs Of Dooneen (nap)

5.15 Park Bloom

5.50 Political Policy