Algonquin To Have A Nice Day In Irish Cambridgeshire

For many, Sunday’s Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh (4.50) offers a great opportunity to bag some late-summer cash, especially as juicy big-priced winners at 11/1, 12/1, 16/1, 20/1 and 25/1 popped up during the last five years of this race.

Portage A Rare Winning Favourite?
Currently heading the betting is Michael Halford’s 3yo, Portage (6/1), who appeared to relish the soft ground when landing a valuable handicap at Ascot last month (1m, soft). It was a victory that marked him down for this race, and while 8lb higher on Sunday, he remains opens to improvement.

With Halford having won this twice in the last decade, his more experienced 5yo, Hasanour (10/1), is also respected.

Already a dual winner of two valuable handicaps over C&D this season, having been third in this race 12 months ago, he clearly loves this venue, but is 21lb higher than when third last year, and 9lb higher than his latest win. The ground may also need to dry out if Hasanour is to run to his best.

Respect Improving 3yo’s
Jim Bolger has an interesting runner in Algonquin (12/1), another of the improving 3yo’s in this race, who won four of his five career races. The last of those came in Listed company at Killarney a few weeks ago (1m, good), though he is another who may need the ground to dry out. On a positive note, Algonquin has a nice draw in stall 12, based on past trends…

Irish Cambridgeshire Trends
Of the last 10 winners…

9 never raced over 1m last time
9 ran twice or more at the Curragh
9 won at least one handicap
8 were drawn in stalls 6-19
8 ran 2-4 times during previous 90 days
M Halford won it twice

Those with previous form at the Curragh were the ones to concentrate on, putting a tick in the box of Champagne Or Water (14/1), a C&D winner last month (yielding), who followed-up with a decent third at Galway.

Harty To ‘Have A Nice Day?’
Also with Curragh form is Sabrina Harty’s 5yo, Have A Nice Day (12/1), a winner of three handicaps over 7f here, including a summer double. Two runners-up efforts followed, and he’ll be a danger to all if staying the mile trip (all career wins over 7f).

One who has winning form over a mile is Dermot Weld’s improving 4yo, Katimavik (14/), who took a C&D handicap earlier in the month, before beaten over 2l over the same C&D last week. It’s possible Katimavik was given too much to do from the rear that day, however, though Sunday’s strong pace will suit his running style.

Another who will enjoy a strongly-run mile is David Wachman’s Topaz Mile winner, Hint Of A Tint (16/1). This 5yo recorded a career best on her return that day, (1m, yielding), and doesn’t have as many miles on the clock this season as others in the race.

Recommended Bets

Plenty make appeal in another mouth-watering renewal, but preference is for Jim Bolger’s, Algonquin, who is 4-5 on the Flat and looks a class act having won a Listed affair last time.

A 5lb penalty for that still makes him look well treated.