Curragh free racing tips: Plenty of betting options in wide-open Irish Cesarewitch

16:25 Curragh: Irish Cesarewitch (2 miles 170 yards)

Joseph O’Brien won this event last year with Magellan Strait and one of his eight runners here is Nurburgring, who is to be ridden by the yard’s main rider, Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Nurburgring comes here on the back of an eye-catching 4 fourth of 22 in the valuable Petingo Handicap at Leopardstown two weeks ago.

That event took place over a shorter 13-furlong trip on good ground and Nurburgring was never nearer than at the line, making up a huge amount of ground down the home straight after only having a couple behind him rounding the final bend.

He was gaining all the time, in the manner of one who would benefit from further, and he would have been third in another stride or two.

A three-time winner over 16–17 furlongs over hurdles, the last two of which came on testing, right-handed tracks, he looks sure to benefit from the same trip on the Flat judging by that recent performance.

Best Bet : Nurburgring in the 16:25 at Curragh

Campaigned as a Listed and Group stayer during his three-year-old season, his latest big effort came on his handicap debut and he has an unchanged mark today, so he is clearly of major interest,

Still very much unexposed as a staying handicapper on the Flat, Nurburgring has a good chance under these conditions.

Seven of the last eight winners of this race, including the last three, have carried 8st-12lb or less, so he is in the right weight bracket near the foot of the handicap with 8-11.

Of the others, the William Haggas-trained four-year-old, Naqeeb, can make the trip over from Newmarket worthwhile with a good run.

He missed the break in the Ebor last time, but he had been well-supported for that race on the back of his near-miss at Newbury on his previous outing.

That was in a Class 2 handicap over an extended two miles, and he went down by a head in 2nd/10 (on good-firm), just out-stayed by Temporize, who had previously run a big race in the 20-furlong Ascot Stakes.

That was Naqeeb’s first run over two miles, and he got the trip well, so another good run looks on the cards with the drying ground going in his favour.

Next Best Bet: Naqeeb in the 16:25 at Curragh

• Preview and tips provided Steve Jones, who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr

 

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