5:50 Curragh Tips

Ribchestina ran a bit too freely last time when finishing in 4th behind Four Blondes in 2nd place at Gowran. The better ground at the Curragh will be to the advantage of Ribchestina and she should go close.

In good form this year, a winner over 1 mile at Leopardstown back in March. Not beaten far in 2 starts since then and remains a big player, just 3 lbs above the last winning mark.

Course winner with solid headgear stats; effective with tongue strap and cheekpieces; drop in trip could suit; capable claimer aboard; form prior to last run was solid??'can bounce back competitively.

Was 2nd by a neck in a first-time hood last time out at Gowran Park over today's trip of 7f. Hood remains, and I'm hoping for an even better run today at this track after being blocked in last time out. The other two runs were not as bad as they seemed in my opinion, a bit too head-strong over course and distance, which the hood should help with today, and was on the wrong side of the track on the first run, so expecting at least a place today.

Only win from 12 starts was on the all-weather but is a fairly consistent performer and did finish 3rd of 20 over this course and distance last month. Holds an each-way chance if in that form again today.

I'm willing to take a tentative punt here on Ross O'Sullivan's 4-year-old French gelding FOLLOW ME, but before I do, I need to make a case for him, as his recent form doesn’t make for a pleasing read. This son of SHALAA would have been entitled to his comeback run after 250 days off two weeks ago at Fairyhouse. His penultimate run here was out of depth in listed company, and the same can be said for his efforts at Kildare and Ascot. However, if we bring him back down to this level of race, he has a win over this trip and is now back on his last winning mark of 93. This is his second run since being gelded and he gets a very good pilot in Dylan Browne McMonagle, who boasts a massive 43.84% place strike rate over the past month, with a solid 33% place strike rate here over the past five years. With a pipe-opener in the tank, now back on his last winning mark and at his last winning venue, I think the 16/1 available offers enough value to roll the dice on him.

Consistent Sort, which won well last season at Newmarket, had a good 2nd on handicap debut but was disappointing last time out for the new stable. Dropped in trip today off a good mark, it can go close.

Runs a lot at the Curragh and often runs better than bare results suggest. 7/23 last time out at 6f, back to 7f for this a plus. Could go well for the Hassett/Hasstett combo.

Don't understand the drift on Mehman, which caught my eye with a fast finish run. Slightly eased run over shorter last time. Yes, only one turf win, but surely it goes close under C Hayes.

GREEN ICON is an ex-Owen Burrows trained three year old in open-age handicap company who now takes his chance over likely his optimum distance with the yard in much better form firing in the winners. The fact that Keithen Kennedy is booked offering excellent value for the 5lb he is allowed could be significant and from his reduced Irish mark he could be interesting especially if the money arrives.