6:50 Curragh Tips

This Jessica Harrington runner makes Instant Appeal, especially with the yard in decent form at present. It was a good third at Leopardstown last time and could certainly improve on that today if getting the luck in running, so making it the nap.

Rapidly improving 3-year-old who has won well the last two times, both over 1 mile at Leopardstown and Cork. Big player despite an 8 lbs hike in the handicap.

The horse has been gelded since a win last time out for this family horse. Trip and ground present no issues. Looks a nice attractive price also in this race.

A very competitive handicap where a chance is taken with Sylkie, who looks great value at 25/1. He ran a bit freely last time but wasn't beaten far and can go well off a lower mark today. He stays this trip well.

Ross O’Sullivan’s newest yard recruit, his German-bred five-year-old gelding QUAR SHAMAR, looks a fascinating outsider at a whopping 40/1 - odds I simply can’t ignore. This son of SHAMARDAL returns from a 258-day break, which, in my untrained view, is the only reason he’s been priced so generously. He’s faced far tougher assignments than this, and when last seen over this trip in the Irish Cambridgeshire, finishing just 5¾ lengths off the winner off a mark of 92. Today, he runs off a career-low mark - 9lbs below that effort - making him very interesting. Let’s not forget this lad ran with credit in the 2023 2000 Guineas, showing he has ability at a high level. Now under new handling, with a yard that’s ticking over nicely - boasting a 32.26% place strike rate in the past month - there’s every chance we’ll see improvement. The trainer and jockey combo of Ross O’Sullivan and Donagh O’Connor also sport a 33.33% place rate the past year when teaming up. If this German lad shows even a spark of his former talent, he could be right in the mix in the closing stages. At 40/1, he’s a lively outsider worth serious consideration.

Eighty Eight has one win on turf and one on the AW. Not the most consistent, but on a going day, has form that is plenty good enough to get more competitive than his price dictates.

Pallatine Hills is a 3-year-old gelding trained by Eddie & Patrick Harty. He is 0-6, and his career-best RPR of 73 came over CD in a maiden. He has been unplaced in three handicaps, but it's noticeable he has attracted support in each of those three runs. He led until the final furlong over 10f last time out and is dropped to a mile today, which should suit off 67 with Jamie Powell's 3lb claim. Jamie Powell rides the Curragh well, with 15/113 wins and 35/113 placed in handicaps at the Curragh.

With 6 victories at this course, he has not yet found his stride this season, finishing 17th out of 23 in a handicap at this location 23 days ago without posing a threat. He is now moving up in distance, blinkers are back in play, and the handicapper is easing his hold. Jockey McMonagle is riding, so the 33/1 odds look promising for an each-way bet.