3.50pm Curragh Tips & Betting Preview 20/03/2016

IN SUMMARY – All eyes will be on FLUFF (5/1) as she looks to maintain her 100% record here. She must have had her issues to have only raced the once to date, but that was an impressive win and the fact that they keep her in training as a four year old may well be a big hint in itself.

1 ABBEY ANGEL – The only runner to bring recent winning form to the party having scored at Wolverhampton in both a Class Three and a Class Two handicap.   Her fitness is clearly not an issue having last raced ten days ago but there really ought to be a few with too much class for her today.

2 CORAIL – Got off the mark at Limerick over seven furlongs on soft ground in April 2015 but has perhaps been too highly tried ever since in both Listed and Group Three class. We see no reason why she should suddenly improve at the age of four but she would need to judged on her third to Brendan Bracken when last seen. That was in blinkers and she tries cheek pieces today, but they will need to improve her a stone plus and that seems unlikely.

3 DEVONSHIRE – Godolphin fire one of their early bullets here with this potentially top class filly who has been mixing it at a higher level than this. She was last seen in the Group One E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine when three and a half lengths seventh to Curvy after getting a poor run when she needed it most. She has won over further and on softer ground so no issues there, making her a top contender even if she does have to give over a stone away to her three year old rivals.

4 ELUSIVE APPROACH – Unraced and very much an unknown quantity. Stable jockey Kevin Manning has seemingly chosen the other stable runners (see below), but the daughter of New Approach out of an Elusive City mare and owned by Mrs Jim Bolger making her a four year old worth watching for future reference.

5 FLUFF – One race for Aidan O’Brien saw one win in a big field maiden where she quickened up impressively when asked at Navan. Not seen since in eleven months she has clearly had her issues, but connections persevere which suggests they think a bit of her, and with the yard in among the winners on the all-weather, she looks the best long term prospect and might well be worth the risk today assuming she is fit enough to do herself justice.

6 JOAILLIERE – Won her maiden first time out at Gowran Park at odds of 2/5 and was then thrown in at the deep end in the Irish 1000 Guineas when beaten six lengths by Pleascach in the Irish classic. They clearly think a lot of her and with another winter on her back she could be way better than this level, though as with Fluff her long lay off has to be a concern to any punter.

7 MILITARY ANGEL – When we planned to cover this race we really didn’t expect to be putting Kieren Fallon’s name next to this four year old, though he will need to be at his majestic peak to get her home in front today. After winning on her debut at Roscommon where she had Devonshire behind in second, she has had seven races without success but has raced at up to Group One company and is clearly highly regarded, though surely others have a bit more to offer today.

8 QUEEN CATRINE – Previously in training in Lambourn with Charlie Hills and now with Ger Lyons, she has won three races from twenty career starts – though all were on good to firm going and she won’t get that today. Interestingly she did run her best race on this sort of going when third at Longchamp in the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac as a two year old but has struggled to repeat that since and looks fully exposed.

9 STEIP AMACH – Looks to be Jim Bolgers second string to us and her form isn’t really up there with the best today. Has placed in Listed and Group Three class and holds Military Angel on Matron Stakes form but may be a little short of the best today.

10 GLAMOROUS APPROACH – Open to any amount of improvement – or  not – at the age of three. A winner when last seen at Newmarket in the Listed Zetland Stakes over ten furlongs so we have to wonder whether a mile is her ideal distance this season, though Kevin Manning obviously thinks she is the best of the Bolger three.

11 QUEEN BLOSSOM – Looked the sort to make up in to a better three year old but as a daughter of Jeremy we aren’t convinced about the softer ground seeing her at her very best. She did win on it first time out but that was just a maiden, and although she should be better this year, today may not be her day.

myracing Forecast Prices: 10/3 Devonshire, Joailliere 5/1 Fluff, 6/1 Glamorous Approach, 8/1 Queen Catrine, Military Angel 16/1 Steip Amach 20/1 Queen Blossom, Corail 33/1 Abbey Angel, 66/1 Elusive Approach