Day 3 Betting Tips: Irish Derby Day preview: Tennessee Stud can star at the Curragh
The Curragh is all set for classic action on Sunday as the Irish Derby takes centre stage.
They have a nine-race offering at the Co Kildare venue, with racing from 13:15-17:55 and the big event goes off at 16:10 as Lambourn attempts to become the 20th horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh double.
We've picked out our best bets for all nine races on day three of the Irish Derby Festival at the Curragh.
13:15 - Dubai Duty Free Handicap (Premier Handicap, 1m1f)
Jessica Harrington's LADY IN PARIS made a winning handicap bow at Leopardstown over this trip at the start of the month and the Blue Point filly did things quite snugly off an opening mark of 76. The assessor has posed her a question with a chunky 8lb hike, but she may well be progressive in this sphere and be able to defy it.
Selection: Lady In Paris
13:50 - Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap (Premier Handicap, 1m)
AKECHETA has twice knocked at the door from three runs in 2025, finishing second at the Curragh on soft ground in March, sixth next time in a similar contest to this and then second again at Epsom in a Class 2 event at their Derby meeting. She bumped into a good one that day and the form is solid. She's only 1lb higher now and can go well again.
Selection: Akecheta
14:25 - Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes (Listed, 6f)
Paddy Twomey's KING CUAN has won four of his last five starts, and was not disgraced in this grade at Cork in April on his return from a long layoff. He built on that to win easily in an auction race at Fairyhouse over this trip at the start of the month having been given time to get over his exertions in that return. He's still only four and should have a race of this nature in his reach.
Selection: King Cuan
14:55 - Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes (Listed, 1m)
The consistent Currawood should go well for Paddy Twomey again but he doesn't have a ton in hand on ALAKAZI based on their placed efforts over course and distance behind Officer in May. That was only a third start for Johnny Murtagh's Aga Khan-owned son of Footstepsinthesand and further progress is likely.
Selection: Alakazi
15:30 - Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap (Premier Handicap, 5f)
The mare GREEK FLOWER was the silver medallist in this contest 12 months ago and is rated 1lb lower now. She is a Curragh regular, has won over 6f at the track and typically runs well at this trip too. She's on a very fair mark relative to her best efforts and should be cherry ripe following a pipe opener five weeks ago.
Selection: Greek Flower
16:10 - Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1, 1m4f)
Epsom winner Lambourn is the one to beat in the Irish Derby but he got something of a freebie on the front end last time and perhaps will have to deal with some hassle this time, with the front three locking horns once more. Aidan O'Brien has four back-ups if the favourite fails to fire as he seeks a 17th Irish Derby win, but his son Joseph could deny him with TENNESSEE STUD. Third at Epsom, he had to try to come from a long way back in that race and finished as well as anything.
Selection: Tennessee Stud
16:50 - Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Irish European Breeders Fund Ragusa Handicap (Premier Handicap, 1m4f)
CEALLACH is on good terms with himself and should go close for David Marnane and Luke McAteer. He was second to Cloud Seeker at Leopardstown in May and then beaten a length when fourth over C&D five weeks ago. He didn't get the clearest of runs then and has claims again from just 1lb higher.
Selection: Ceallach
17:20 - GAIN Summer Fillies Handicap (7f)
Cork maiden winner BELLA ISABELLA appeals on this handicap debut for Dermot Weld in the Moyglare colours. She followed that April success by running a commendable third in the Group 3 Mutamakina Stakes at Leopardstown behind the thriving Vera's Secret and the placed horses have held up that form since. An opening mark of 95 is manageable.
Selection: Bella Isabella
17:55 - Dubai Duty Free Irish European Breeders Fund Stayers Handicap (2m)
The longest race of the day rounds things off and a bumper field of 29 will ensure the get-out stakes proves tough for punters. A speculative chance is handed to MON COEUR for in-form trainer Joseph Murphy, fresh from Group 1 glory at Royal Ascot. He is on a fair mark and isn't exposed at this trip on the Flat. He caught the eye doing his best work when it was all too late at Killarney in May and could outrun big odds.
Selection: Mon Coeur
Day 2 Betting Tips: Whirl looks good in Pretty Polly Stakes
Day two of the Curragh’s Irish Derby meeting takes centre stage on Saturday afternoon with a cracking eight-race card.
There are four group races on the card, headlined by the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at 15:30 (GMT).
We have selections and analysis for all eight races including a couple of value picks at rewarding odds.
1.15 Curragh - 7f Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden (2yo)
Dorset ran a huge race behind a well-fancied stablemate on his course-and-distance debut earlier in the month and he could be hard to beat in the opener.
Aidan O’Brien’s juveniles often come on in leaps and bounds for their first outing and with normal improvement from first run to second and a handy draw, this well-bred son of Wootton Bassett may prove hard to pass.
Selection: Dorset
1.45 Curragh - 6f Airlie Stud Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) (2yo)
It’s hard to get away from the claims of Lady Iman in the first group race on Saturday’s card.
This filly has progressed with every run, winning a Listed event before a Group 3 success last time out, and she still showed signs of inexperience in that run, suggesting that there should be more to come this season.
Selection: Lady Iman
2.20 Curragh - 6½f Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes (Group 3) (2yo)
It could be another big day for Aidan O’Brien with a host of big chances on the card and Flushing Meadows is arguably his strongest chance of a winner on the day.
Another daughter of Wootton Bassett, she won a course maiden in better style than the winning margin suggested on her debut and she already sets the standard on form. It would be a surprise if she didn’t take a big step forward given the yard’s record with juveniles and she can take this step up in class in her stride.
Selection: Flushing Meadows
2.55 Curragh - 1m2f Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai International Stakes In Honour Of Kevin Prendergast (Group 3) (3yo+)
This is a good chance for Trustyourinstinct, who has been in fine form since returning from Riyadh this season.
The gelding ran a cracker behind two Group 1 colts over course and distance before an easy course success last time and this looks like a golden opportunity for Joseph O'Brien's runner to get another Group 3 win on the board.
Selection: Trustyourinstinct
3.30 Curragh - 1m2f Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) (3yo+)
This is something of a match between Kalpana and Whirl with a chance taken on Whirl, who was unlucky not to land the Oaks at Epsom last time out.
She looks like a typically progressive filly for Aidan O’Brien who may just appreciate the return to a shorter trip and if she can improve again, she could be hard to beat in receipt of the three-year-old allowance.
Selection: Whirl
4.05 Curragh - 1m2f Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Ladies Derby Handicap (4yo+)
Last-time-out winner Masoun may be the one to side with in the Ladies Derby after a career-best success at Leopardstown last time out.
He has not been with Joseph O’Brien long, so there could be more to come and jockey Elizabeth Gale, who can claim 7lb off his back, has shown promise in her short career so far.
Selection: Masoun
4.40 Curragh - 6f Fitzpatrick's Mercedes-Benz Handicap (3yo+)
Daamberdiplomat was in cracking form late in last season, winning off a higher mark than he can run off today, and he looks like a major player after a return to form at Fairyhouse last time out. Quicker ground should also suit and he looks the value play.
Selection: Daamberdiplomat
5.15 Curragh - 6f Keadeen Hotel Irish EBF Maiden (3yo+)
Stella Alpina is a shade unlucky to still be a maiden having gone mightily close on a couple of occasions.
She had an excuse at Fairyhouse last time out when she was hampered early, but sets a solid standard on form on her previous efforts and she’s another who should appreciate conditions on Saturday.
Selection: Stella Alpina
Day One Betting Tips
This year marks a legacy of 160 years of the Irish Derby, a race that continues to stand as one of the most prestigious and thrilling in the world.
Day one at the Curragh on Friday doesn't feature any Group action, with the highlight being the apprentice derby handicap (20:00). There are seven races in all and we have selected our best bets.
16:50 - Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub Irish EBF Maiden (6f)
A maiden with plenty of depth, but perhaps the newcomer CAPE COD can outgun his rivals. Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootten Bassett fetched 350,000gns as a yearling and his dam was a winner over 7f/1m2f in Martinique, who is a half-sister to French 1m Group 3 winner The Summit, out of a maiden half-sister to 5f Group 2 winner Chineur. He has a lovely pedigree.
** Selection:** Cape Cod
17:20 - O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Irish EBF Fillies Maiden (7f)
It could be another race for Ballydoyle here as MINERVA is likely to leave her debut run well behind. The daughter of Frankel was sent off the 8/15 favourite on her debut at Leopardstown, but she dwelt at the start and couldn't really get on terms. The winner finished third in the Chesham Stakes last week and we should see a more polished performance now.
** Selection:** Minerva
17:50 - JJ Mahon & Sons Handicap (7f)
Having his first run for Natalia Lupini since leaving William Haggas at Listowel this month, KILT was last of the four runners on the day, but he's entitled to strip fitter for the outing and he was twice a winner at a mile for his former stable on decent ground.
Selection: Kilt
18:20 - Silken Thomas Kildare Town Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden (1m)
Billy Lee has a good book of rides and MADE U BLUSH is fancied to get off the mark at the fifth attempt. The filly didn't see out the trip when fifth over an extended 1m2f at Cork on her latest outing, but her prior maiden form gives her a leading chance back down in trip in a first-time visor.
** Selection:** Made U Blush
18:50 - James Nolan's Bar Kildare Town Handicap (1m)
Billy Lee will also partner QUATRAIN on her first start for Ken Condon. She is yet to win but placed three times on turf and a further three times on the all-weather. The ground is a question mark, but she could be nicely treated on her handicap debut.
** Selection:** Quatrain
19:25 - Diageo Luxury Spirits Irish EBF Maiden (1m2f)
OUR FRIEND MOUSE ran a belter when runner-up to a Ballydoyle runner on his debut over course and distance. The fourth has won since to give the form a nice boost and improvement is expected.
** Selection:** Our Friend Mouse
20:00 - Fitzpatrick's Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Derby Handicap (1m4f)
CINNAMON COCO ran a very good race on his handicap debut when second over this trip at Roscommon last month. He's gone up 4lb for that, but first-time cheekpieces could be a help, so he's a leading player.
Selection: Cinnamon Coco