5.25pm Curragh Tips & Betting Preview 26/06/2016

IN SUMMARY: This is a weak Group 2 contest, both in terms of quality and quantity, and Alveena could be good enough to make a successful transition from handicaps. Dermot Weld’s filly comfortably won a fairly valuable event at Cork this month and her entry in the Irish St Leger here later in the season suggest connections feel she has more in the locker. Sword Fighter produced a very game performance to win the Queen’s Vase from the front at Royal Ascot recently but Ryan Moore finished fourth on LANDOFHOPEANDGLORY (5/2) that day and has kept faith in the same colt here which could be a tip in itself!

1 Cymro – Progressive handicapper who acquitted himself when when upped to Group 3 company for the Ormonde Stakes at Chester (1m5f, good) last month, albeit finishing only fourth of five; disappointed back in a handicap at Royal Ascot recently but still enters calculations here.

2 Alveena – Three wins from eight starts, the latest when comfortably landing valuable Cork handicap (1m4f, yielding to soft) a fortnight ago; moves into Pattern company in a sub-standard Group 2 event here and could easily have plenty more to offer over today’s longer trip.

3 Landofhopeandglory – Runner-up in two 2yo Listed races last season but doesn’t appeared to have lived up to expectations this year; that said, he ran well when fourth to stablemate Sword Fighter in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot (2m, good to soft) recently and might be better suited by today’s shorter trip.

4 Sword Fighter – Won his maiden by a wide maiden on heavy ground in early May and gamely caused 33/1 surprise from the front in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot (2m, good to soft) nine days ago; obvious contender on that evidence but it’s looks significant that Ryan Moore again favours Landofhopeandglory here.

myracing Forecast Prices: 9/4 Alveena, 5/2 Landofhopeandglory. Sword Fighter, 4/1 Cymro