The Curragh

Morning All , The Flat season stalls into life today after the Non Event that was Donny Yesterday with some action at Ireland's Premier track The Curragh a track steeped in mystery , religion , myth and oddly enough is the birth place of Motor Racing ;~ and is why the UK has a national Colour of Green ( British Racing Green ) for its sports cars.
All of the main Group races are held here and quite a few trainers are local to Kildare so know the ground and track well inc the Likes of John Oxx and Dermot Weld.
The ground is currently riding on the heavy side of soft so will prove a stern test for most but any known mud lovers will def have the edge today.
So i think for today we can have a look at the Curragh card and see how we get on although i wont hold my breath as i traditionally dont do that well in Ireland ( Flat or Nh ) as i think most of it is as bent as a 9 bob note but hey ho its gotta be better than Donkeydalk!.

CURRAGH

RACE 1
WIN - SABURO - 1st @ 2.42
EW - STUBBS - 3rd @ 3.95
LONG - CAPTAIN MOONLITE -
*Jim Bolger has won this race the last two years and last year he gave us the brilliant Dawn Approach which would lead one to believe that he likes to fire out something a bit special for this race , its just a run o the mill £12k Maiden that is usually a graveyard for Favs however Dawn Approach must have been well liked prior as it went off the Even Money Fav , The Irish Mafia ( Aiden O'Brien ) have two runners and Jockey bookings suggest that Stubbs is the one although as last season proved Jockey booking doesnt mean a great deal.
Captain Moonlite is one that interests me greatly as its from a the first season sire Bushranger who was brilliantly quick and if the progeny have taken an iota from that bloodline then they could be special.
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RACE 2

WIN - CAESARIA - 1st @ 7.0
EW - MASTER SPEAKER - 2nd @ 4.0
LONG - LATE ROSEBUD -
*Caesaria is another from a first time sire from France and has an unusual pedigree one that is a mix n match of ability , speed and stamina and knowing with faucets have come to the fore at this early stage is a guess tbh but JB will have this straight and it should give a decent account.
Master Speaker is another of the Tabor Owned Danehill Dancer production line produce and on breeding should be quite useful although one must suspect it has has some training issues for a horse of this class to be racing so late on but if its clean could easily get into the mix.
Late Rosebud is well related but im not over keen on following fillies ( against the boys ) until after July so although i think this could be useful i will be swerving this today.
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RACE 3

WIN - ELUSIVE PRINCE -
EW - BIRDS EYE VIEW -
LONG - SRUCAHAN - 1st @ 7.19
*A tricky race with quite a few in with a chance and most have shown some form on Soft going and at the trip so this comes down to raw speed figures and on the base of that i have these three to come out on top as the top two i feel may have too much weight.
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RACE 4

WIN - YELLOW ROSEBUD ( NAP ) - 2nd @ 1.85
EW - N/A
LONG - N/A
*Yellow Rosebud has won fto for the last 2 years and finished off last season with its 3rd Victory at Group 3 Level when winning on the soft at Tipperary showing a great attitude and a good bit of ability, this race has cut up bad from the initial dec stage and is now there for the taking.
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RACE 5

WIN - FRANCIS OF ASSISI - 1st @ 2.20
EW - EINSTEINS FOLLY - 2nd @ 4.90
LONG - N/A -
*Francis of Assisi ran well enough in his first term and still entered into the Guineas and the Derby so must be thought capable of more ( or could be a pacemaker for others.. ) but it showed its best form on soft going and testing conditions and a token vote is given that he has the ability her entries have afforded him but there are dangers abound and the most notable danger should come in the form of Einsteins Folly another soft ground proven performer with some decent form and looks to be plenty good enough to get involved ( although all early season racing / punting requires various leaps of faith as fitness , well being and form is taken on trust ).
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RACE 6

WIN - ANSAAB -
EW - MAN OF ERIN -
LONG - ANTON CHIGURH -
*The Irish LINCOLN and its like one would expect a big field full of potential winners and this is to some degree a total luckfest , you pays yer money n takes yer chance here personally i have just looked for runners who like the trip n ground and shown the winning attitude with this combination.
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RACE 7

WIN - ALPINIST - 1st @ 2.66
EW - LAKE DISTRICT - 3rd @ 10.27
LONG - PIET MONDRIAN -
*Our first two runners from last years Breeders list ( Ravens Pass & New Approach ) and i really feel that one of these will be winning this and make this a rock solid dutch.
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So there ya go a decent enough day with some fair sorts about and enough to wipe away the gloom of yesterday , lets see how we hold up today , Feast or Famine ??...

**Well that was my first Full card of the new Flat season and i couldnt be any happier, a tricky day at a track ( and country i fare badly in ) bought about some decent results and some nice wins.., decent day and i hope you got on one or two winners ;)