3.05pm Curragh Tips & Betting Preview 17/07/2016

Our experts think this Group 2 prize is marked for export. Read our horse-be-horse race preview to get our betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: The two British-raiders both have good chances here and preference is for SOVEREIGN DEBT, who should arguably be the outright favourite, given he finished second in this race last year, has the best chance on the figures (albeit only just) and looked as good as ever when an unlucky second at Chester recently. His compatriot, Adaay, is also a useful tool at this level and comes here after posting a good effort in first-time cheekpieces at Newmarket three weeks ago. The French-trained runner, Cheikeljack shaped as though today’s return to 7f will suit when sixth in a Group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot and is next on the list. Dick Whittington looks the best of the home team.

1 Adaay – Comes up short when tackling top-notch opposition but won the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury (7f, good to soft) last summer and seemed to respond well to first-time cheekpieces when close second in Newmarket Group 3 (7f, heavy) last month; expected to be in the thick of things here too.

2 Dick Whittington – Quite lightly raced and generally disappointing since winning the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes over 6f as a 2yo here; however, seemed to have got career back on track when comfortable winner of Group 3 contest at Leopardstown (7f, soft) last month and, although this race looks stronger, he’s a player if able to build on that performance.

3 Flight Risk – Yet to add to his shock 50/1 success in the Group 3 Gladness Stakes over C&D in April 2015 but has been beaten only a head when runner-up over 6f here on last two outings (Group 2/Listed); seems very versatile ground-wise and probably won’t be far away.

4 Gordon Lord Byron – Getting long in the tooth now and not the force of old but been a terrific servant to the stable over the years, winning three Group 1 races; comes here after bagging small-field conditions race at Tipperary (7.5f, good to yielding) last month but will need to better that performance to play anything better than a minor role.

5 Sovereign Debt – British-raider who finished second in this race last year and returns here after filling that position three consecutive times in Listed company, most recently at Chester (7f, soft) a week ago, where he might have been a shade unlucky; has the best chance on the figures and commands respect.

6 Toscanini – Much better known as a sprinter but was placed in the Group 1 National Stakes over C&D as a 2yo, so he evidently stays 7f; swapped usual cheekpieces for first-time hood and dug deep to gain narrow success in 6f Listed event here last month, and a similar performance will put him on the premises today.

7 Alphonsus – Won his maiden at Dundalk (7f, AW) in December and displayed improvement when runner-up in Listed company over that C&D after break in April; subsequent fifth in Leopardstown Group 3 (1m, good) was perfectly respectable but he disappointed when fitted with cheekpieces (now removed) on latest outing and has a bit to find with some of these.

8 Cheikeljack – French-raider who won a Group 3 at Maisons-Laffitte (7f, heavy) with a bit to spare in April and also posted a praiseworthy effort when staying-on sixth in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot (6f, good) last month; back up in trip today and dangerous to ignore.

9 Final Frontier – Impressed over 6f here on last summer’s 2yo debut and followed-up in Group 3 event over slightly longer trip three weeks later; ran poorly when fitted with cheekpieces (retained) for recent seasonal reappearance at Newmarket, though, and now has a point to prove.

myracing Forecast Prices: 4/1 Sovereign Debt, Cheikeljack, 9/2 Adaay, Dick Whittington, 7/1 Toscanini, 8/1 Flight Risk, 10/1 Gordon Lord Bryon, 20/1 Final Frontier, 33/1 Aphonsus