Curragh afternoon racing tips: Best bets for Saturday, July 20

It's an eight-race offering from the Co Kildare venue, with the Irish Oaks due off at 15:40, as they race from 13:30-17:25 with conditions forecast to be 'good' at the Curragh.

Enda McElhinney has race-by-race selections for the Irish Oaks card. 

Don't forget to check out the full racecard, results and live odds in Planet Sport's racing live centre.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Curragh selections in full:

13:30 (Curragh) Dakota Blue

14:00 (Curragh) Rudi's Apple

14:35 (Curragh) My Mate Alfie

15:05 (Curragh) Believing

15:40 (Curragh) Hanalia

16:15 (Curragh) Vauban

16:50 (Curragh) It'sonlyjustbegun

17:20 (Curragh) Counterculture

13:30 (Curragh) Dakota Blue

Any strong support behind newcomers The Lion In Winter or Tiger Kitten would be notable, but Ides Of March, Currawood and Dakota Blue have all shown enough to suggest they can win a maiden. The last-named should have learned plenty from his Tipperary debut and Johnny Murtagh's €300,000 son of Sioux Nation could build significantly on that now.

 

14:00 (Curragh) Rudi's Apple

This is a race Joseph O'Brien has landed in three of the last four renewals and he has a leading contender again in Rudi's Apple. The lightly-raced colt was runner-up in a Fairyhouse maiden earlier this month and could be capable of a big run on nursery bow.

 

14:35 (Curragh) My Mate Alfie

The David Power Memorial Premier Handicap can go the way of My Mate Alfie for the Ger Lyons team.

He has been in consistent form this season and was duly rewarded with a Listed win at this venue last month, getting up late to deny Ano Syra. The three-year-old could be capable of better.

 

15:05 (Curragh) Believing

Mehmas filly Believing wasn't beaten far in the Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last month for trainer George Boughey and now drops in class for this first visit to Irish shores.

Ryan Moore is on board for the first time and with the Boughey team in cracking form lately, boasting a 24 per-cent strike-rate in recent weeks, she can grab this prize.

 

15:40 (Curragh) Hanalia

Contend and Port Fairy are leading contenders for Ballydoyle in the Irish Oaks and much-respected, but Hanalia is a Sea The Stars filly open to plenty improvement for Johnny Murtagh.

She won a Listed race at Naas last month on her third start and is open to more progress now at this increased trip as she takes another rise in class.

 

16:15 (Curragh) Vauban

Tower Of London was well behind Vauban when they met at York in May.

The Willie Mullins-trained runner has since tackled the Gold Cup at Ascot, running well for a long way before his stamina perhaps gave in. Colin Keane rides here and they can take advantage of this class-drop.

 

16:50 (Curragh) It'sonlyjustbegun

It'sonlyjustbegun bagged an apprentice handicap over 1m2f at Navan under this rider last weekend and did so with something in hand.

A 5lb rise in the ratings isn’t beyond this Churchill filly and, especially with rider now able to claim all 7lb. More progress is in the offing.

 

17:20 (Curragh) Counterculture

Counterculture ran another encouraging race at Gowran Park when fourth in a maiden last month for Willie McCreery and Billy Lee. The Sixties Icon filly should put her hat in the ring again.