Curragh Apprentice Derby Tips & Betting Preview

IN SUMMARY: A race to give up and coming apprentices the chance to show off their skills, Bridgets Fable (16/1 Each Way) has a favourable weight to carry under the race conditions and a good booking in Robbie Downey. Arya Tara is also well treated but looks short in the market at 5/1, while Udogo under Donnacha O’Brien is consistent and should show his running.

1 Jocular – Has been campaigned over trips from a mile to 2m 1f, but both wins have come at around today’s distance. Both wins have come off lower marks though and has to carry 9-12 due to race conditions here.

2 Neverushacon – Ran poorly as joint favourite in a Chase at Ballinrobe on his last start but his flat mark has been dropped 5lb since his last run. He’s a previous Good ground winner over hurdles and could be well in if running to his Limerick or Killarney form from last year over similar distances but is another who has to carry 9-12.

3 Vintage Charm – Bred by his trainer Jim Bolger, this filly has won two of her 14 starts but has struggled off her raised mark on her last two starts. The handicapper hasn’t been kind, dropping her just 1lb despite being well beaten, and she looks up against it here carrying 9-10 as a 4 year old.

4 Diamond Rio – Just four starts to her name, she struggled over this trip last time out on Heavy on her seasonal reappearance in a competitive Listed race. The form of her Curragh win on Good/Yielding looks solid though and this is a much more reasonable contest. Dylan Robinson, who rode her for her win, is in the saddle again.

5 Udogo – Donnacha O’Brien is an eye catching booking for this triple winning 5 year old. He has a career high mark to content with but is in fine form, winning two starts ago and placing last time out off six and one pound lower respectively. Donnacha O’Brien has one win and three places from his seven rides and this partnership looks a good Each Way option.

6 Brokopondo – 27 starts depsite being just 4 years old, but put in a career best performance when winning over 10.5 furlongs at Down Royal just 6 days ago with Nice Vintage down the field behind him. Conditions will suit band is in fine form but needs a new lifetime best to win this.

7 Nice Vintage – Looks likely to be turned out quickly despite running poorly last time out at Down Roytal. Michael Kenneally is looking for his first ever win under rules in Ireland on his 7th ride (one winner from 25 in the UK last year) and best watched following two average runs.

8 Dancing Noretta – An inconsistent profile but largely progressive until recently, a return to her winning form at Killarney last July would see her right in the mix here off 9-4 and ran well last August. No excuses last time out but an interesting one at a bigger price.

9 Making Shapes – Not seen on the flat in Ireland before but 7 starts and 1 win in the UK for Peter Chapple-Hyam before being sold for 11,000 Guineas in October and campaigning over jumps. A big distance win at Cork last time out was a big turning point and he’s extremely well bred, being a half brother to a French Listed winner and a 120,000 guineas purchase back in October. Has to give weight to horses rated 8lb higher in the handicap though.

10 Pat Harkin – Ran poorly two days ago at Naas but has shown he can be competitive off around this mark despite remaining a maiden after 13 races. Ross Coakley is one of the more experienced apprentices in the field and he could bounce back to form at a big price, although likely to find one or two too good.

11 Pincode – Gary Halpin has had a promising year so far with 16 wins from 129 runs, and has been booked by P J Prendergast for this 68 rated four year old. Originally a €160,000 purchase and a full brother to Photo Call – a Group 1 winner in France – his mark has plumetted from an opening of 83 to just 68. He has shown glimpses of ability and off a career low mark should be competitive.

12 Arya Tara – Found the mark on her fourth start last time out in a weak Maiden over 1m 4.5 furlongs under Ana O’Brien who is booked again today, and is among the best treated in the race conditions. Worth keeping an eye on in the market given connections but short in the market.

13 Bridgets Fable – Connections reach for first time blinkers following a poor run at Navan last time out, another one to have come down in the weights from a high opening mark. Will cope with any ground and Robbie Downey has been riding very well this season so could have a say if the equipment has the desired effect carrying just 8-11.

14 Fiuntach – A winner last time out of a weak maiden, had been well beaten by far better horses on her previous two starts and as a 3 year old only has to carry 8-11 with a handicap mark of 78. That looks generous though and best watched despite powerful connections.

15 Forcefull – Extremely inconsistent and beaten huge distance multiple times despite only having seven starts, carries just 8-9 here as a 3 year old. Still has plenty to find with the market principals and a mark of 70 looks harsh anyway.

16 Lex Talionis – Well beaten last time out at Down Royal but had been running consistently before that although still a maiden after 12 starts. The recent step up in trip appears to have helped and should run his race without finishing at the front.

myracing Forecast Prices: 6/1 Arya Tara, Udogo, 8/1 Making Shapes, Fiuntach, 10/1 Brokopondo, Bridgets Fable, 12/1 Neverushacon, 14/1 Lex Talionis, Jocular, Pincode, 16/1 Vintage Charm, Jocular, 20/1 Dancing Noretta, Pat Harkin, Nice Vintage, 25/1 Forcefull