Elliott Could Be Up For The Cup At Curragh

A couple of recent winners are picked to go in at the Curragh on the final day of Irish Derby weekend.

The quick ground should be a help to both selections and both trainers are in top form at the moment.

Bolger To Call The Tune Again
Jim Bolger may not have added to his Irish Derby tally yesterday with outsider Theobald but the trainer has got his team in fine fettle in recent weeks with seven winners in the last 21 days and Wexford Opera could be coming into form at the right time.

A winner at Naas in an apprentice race on Wednesday evening, Wexford Opera is a course and distance winner at HQ and the five time winner is down to a low enough mark that could see him land a few little races during the summer months.

Bolger’s eight-year-old is obviously vulnerable to a younger, more progressive sort, but Wexford Opera was a winner off much higher ratings, winning off 81 in the past and ran well off a rating in the 90’s…

so he is worth siding with again here.

Elliott Could Be Up For The Cup
Gordon Elliott won’t need the top hat and tails at the Curragh but fresh from his Royal Ascot winning exploits the trainer might be able to snare Group 2 honours in the Curragh Cup with Pallasator.

The nine-year-old is heading towards veteran ranks in this sort of company but he is certainly showing no signs of ageing under Elliott’s care and, if anything, he has been rejuvenated by mixing it on the flat and over hurdles.

His win in the Queen Alexandra Stakes last week was over much further and the drop in trip would be a slight concern at this stage of his career but he is a horse that loves fast ground and it is his first return to this sort of company since joining Elliott…

so he gets the nod at a bit of a price.

Pallastor has to give a stone away to the opposing three-year-old which won’t be easy but before he turned into a bit of a rogue with Sir Mark Prescott the Qatar Racing owned gelding was keeping company with Big Orange over this sort of trip so it really will be interesting to see him here and whether or not he might book his place in something like the Melbourne Cup later in the year.

Recommended Bets:
Wexford Opera (6/1) – 2.20 Curragh
Pallasator (5/1) – 5.15 Curragh

*Prices correct at time of publication.