The Curragh continues an excellent weekend’s racing and Sam King returns with three wagers to whet the appetite on Sunday…
The Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes looks like a solid renewal with eight going to post but Insinuendo makes the most appeal and I'm surprised she's not favourite.
William Mccreery's filly pulled too hard when fourth over 1m2f in the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes and she's better judged on the form of her Group 3 Park Express Stakes victory over course and distance in March.
There should be plenty of pace on offer to help her settle here and the return to a quicker surface will be no issue given she finished a neck behind Above The Curve in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes here last September.
An official rating of 109 makes her the top-rated horse in this line-up and if running anywhere near that mark a bold bid should be on the cards.
Selection: Insinuendo – General 10/3
Heads turn to summer jumping action and Fergal O'Brien's record at Kelso really catches the eye. Seven of his last eighteen runners at Kelso have found the winners' enclosure and Castel Gandolfo looks to have a cracking chance of enhancing that record in the Elliot Henderson Group Handicap Hurdle at 3.35.
Good ground looks absolutely key to this horse and he's almost certain to get his conditions today. The form of his second-place finish in a competitive handicap hurdle at Haydock in April looks solid, with the ground likely slightly easier than he would have preferred.
The Fergal O'Brien team are operating at a strong 26% (7-27) strike-rate for the last fortnight. With Jack Hogan now taking off a valuable 5lb, there don't look to be many negatives to the chances surrounding Castel Gandolfo this afternoon and he can get his head back in front for the first time since June 2021.
Selection: Castel Gandolfo – General 9/4
Uttoxeter hosts a seven-race card and I'm hopeful Tea Clipper can do the business in the feature Clarke Chase at 3.55.
The Tom Lacey team arrive in red-hot form with their last two runners both coming out on top, and this lightly raced eight-year-old could yet have more to offer back on decent ground.
He shaped better than the bare result when eighth in a competitive handicap chase at Sandown (3m 4 ½ f) on soft ground 29 days ago and has been kindly dropped 3lb. He finished third in the Grade 3 London Gold Cup Handicap Chase off a mark of 145 at Ascot on good ground in October and won a Listed Novice Chase at Chepstow over a similar trip back in 2021.
The drop in distances and switch back to better ground both look positives and he looks well worth chancing at the current prices for a yard whose horses are clearly in excellent form.
Selection: Tea Clipper – General 11/2
