2:00 Curragh Tips

Fort Vega is a 5-year-old gelding trained by Ms. Sheila Lavery. He has been ultra-consistent since winning twice as a 3-year-old and is highly progressive. He finally got his head in front last time out at Cork in the Mallow Handicap. 'Raced near side, midfield, ridden and headway over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, kept on well and went clear towards finish,' comfortably winning by 1.75 lengths. He is a half-brother to Vespertilio, a two-time winner at the Curragh, which included a Group 3 as a 2-year-old and won a Listed race last time out on the 29th of June with Big Gossey 2l behind (gave 8lb), rated 104 and today Fort Vega recieves 10lb . Fort Vega may not reach those heights, but it wouldn't be a surprise as he is one of Ms. Sheila Lavery's horses.

Three wins from three runs this year. Career best when winning at Hamilton last time out. He's clearly thriving at the moment.

Another runner in the Mallow handicap LTO who finished 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner, and now he's on better terms. He's got course form as well, and I expect both selections in this race to finish top 5 and possibly contest the top 2.

Did well to finish as close as he did here two starts ago in a 6f handicap, having suffered interference at a critical stage of the race. Duly built on that at Cork last time when close, stepping up to 7f. A similar effort here would make him the one to beat.

Big Gossey took this last year and looks set for a repeat with the same combo intact. It's been running well in better races and so again drops in class for this. Not the top weight for nothing!

18/1 is too big a price in my humble opinion for John Feanes 6 year old Mare GREEK FLOWER who finishes runner up in this very race last year 5lbs heavier & has a solid record here at the Curragh with a 41.67% place strike from 12 runs. Jockey Rory Mulligan Takes the reins & sheds 7lbs, Jockey has a 27.59% place strike rate here the past 5 years. Trainer also has a 30.40% place strike here the past 5 years. Ideally I'd like a wider draw but we can't have it all & at the current odds & previous record here I can't/won't fully discount this charge despite running out of the handicap.

Apache Outlaw is in stall 7 and comes here 20 days after a 4-length sixth over 5f where he was outpaced late. That trip was too sharp for him, and this return to 6f suits much better. Trained by Ado McGuinness and ridden by K G Kennedy, who claims 5, he is back on turf where his strike rates are modest but has three wins and five places over this trip, giving him a 12% win rate and 21% place rate at the distance. His mark of 84 looks a tad high based on turf form, but it is more in line with his AW form. I expect him to be ridden just off the pace in what should be a slowly run race. Chance if everything falls right.

I picked this one out last night, but trainer form put me off posting (only 2 runners in July, both well beaten). However, there has been a little support for the horse now, and that adds a little confidence. The jockey switch is a big positive for me. He was on board when 3rd in a maiden where the 2nd (just a neck in front) is a low 90s horse. This well-bred colt races off 92 here, and considering that maiden run was his debut, you'd expect him to have come on plenty since then.

Daamberdiplomat (5yo gelding trained by J P Murtagh, ridden by Ben Martin Coen) arrives here full of form after scoring impressively at the Curragh on June 28th, having previously posted solid efforts at Fairyhouse and Dundalk earlier this season. He clearly enjoys the track and trip, with the recent win coming off a 14/1 SP, showing he handles the conditions well. His current official rating of 92 and proven course record make him a strong contender in today's competitive lineup. Expect a bold showing, especially if he breaks sharply and Coen can leverage this inside draw.

Won on soft ground in March, and with rain anticipated all day, the ground could suit a good ride. Good each-way chances here.

Lots to like now back up to 6f and dropping ever further down the weights to this tempting mark. Did quite well here last time over an inadequate 5f conceding weight to most of the opposition. Not so long since he won a Group 3 race and placed at Group 2 level, so clearly a class performer if he can be caught right. Today looks the day off this mark with the booking of S Foley indicating that connections think this is their best chance for quite some time with this horse.

Won at this track in May over 7f. Disappointing last time but had a bad draw to overcome. Gets a better draw today and off a good mark.

Tango Flare is a 6-year-old gelding trained by Patrick T Foley. He is a three-time winner, the latest coming under Seammie Heffernan, with all wins coming over 6f on today's good ground. He has yet to win a handicap and runs today off 96, having posted a career- high RPR of 104. It's interesting that Seammie Heffernan chooses a 28-1 shot when the more fancied Bodhi Bear at 10-1 has been ridden to victory twice by Heffernan. Tango Flare also brings some good course form at the Curragh into play, finishing 3/25 at the Curragh last September behind My Mate Alfie, who went on to win a Group 3 and a Listed race at the Curragh in the next two starts and is rated 115, beaten only 1.5 lengths. The 2/25 Torivaga then finished third behind My Mate Alfie in the Group 3, posting a career-high RPR of 108 on his next start and later won in Jebel Ali. Tango Flare has probably been aimed at this contest by connections and deserves a big prize in a handicap and a day in the limelight. Put in a combination FC with Fort Vega and the UK raider Canon's Way.