8:25 Curragh Tips

Well handicapped after being dropped four pounds for finishing sixth of twenty over course and distance last month. With Billy Lee on board, it looks like connections expect better today. Good each-way chance from a good mark.

Ran back to form, beaten one and a quarter lengths off a two-pound higher mark here last time. Trainer in good form. Best on easy ground; possibly gets that today. Showers. Mark has eased, so could go close.

Three-time winner whose last win came in July last year. Losing run stretches to seven runs but showed some promising form on reappearance in April. Each-way chance if building on that performance.

Mark looks winnable based on his 2 lengths 3rd of 15 over CD back in September. Also his 6L 4th of 16 at stiff Navan over a furlong shorter in April looks reasonable. The excellent Seamie Heffernan takes over from the claimer. Can get amongst the 6 places.

Salah Belleis a 5yo mare trained by Ms Sheila Lavery returns to the turf having had a winter campaign on the AW running well in defeat but that's now her surface - last run on turf come here last October off a mark of 79 and finished 1/2l behind todays gambles favourite Jon Riggens in receipt of 8lb and today Salah Belle receives 12lb so essentially 4lb between off for 1/2l and should reverse terms - Salah Belle is a CD winner her in June 24 posting a career high for of 85 on todays good ground and with conditions to favour she's looks enticingly well handicapped off a mark of 59 and runs in a first time tongue tie which also bodes well with Lavery 4/30 wins with horse in first time tongue ties in handicap company showing a LSP of £115.00 winning with Expressova 50-1 and Avagardner 80-1 here at the Curragh and both ridden by Robbie Colgan.

Irish Rumour has only won 1 of her 29 starts but has been placed on 9 occasions and looks an interesting each-way (EW) bet in this big-field handicap. She was placed over 5 furlongs here at the Curragh in August 2024 off a mark of 60. She was clearly in need of the run when back from a six-month break at Roscommon 16 days ago, but having dropped 3 lb to a mark of 58 she looks like a good EW bet with six places on offer.

This is very open and with high numbers. Favoured a chance is taken with Prime Sign, who ran well last year and won well here a few runs back off of today's mark. He comes here fresh and sees out today's trip well.

This horse's form in her first two maiden races, I think, is better than it first appears. In both of those races she was up against much more experienced horses, some from top stables. All three of her races so far took place in a period of just three and a half weeks. She makes her seasonal bow in this handicap today, and, coming from an accomplished Irish yard, should be capable of a lot better now handicapping. I think that if this horse has made substantial improvement since last autumn, she could win this on these terms.

Green Icon is only four, so could have the potential to get back to the level they once were at when rated 82. Now rated a lowly 59. Ran just under a week ago, finishing last of 18 at Fairyhouse. If returning to the form of when third of 21 here over a mile last August, they could well fill one of the six places to finally take advantage of their tumbling mark. Should be staying on at the finish given the testing conditions and is drawn well in stall 12. A bounce-back run at huge odds could well be on the cards, as they don't mind big fields given their form last August. NAP