McGuinness Has Perfect Valentine At Curragh

The Curragh stage the only Irish meeting this weekend and the Cambridgeshire is the pick betting heat of the afternoon at HQ.

The fact that BoyleSports are going 8/1 to field suggests just how competitive it is.

McGuinness Has Perfect Valentine
Aido McGuinness has a strong hand in the Cambridgeshire, a race that has been good to relatively smaller trainers over the years.

McGuinness has been enjoying a fine season this year and Master Speaker will surely lure in some more supporters despite so often being a nearly horse but it is stable companion Aussie Valentine that is given the nod at 25/1.

There’s no doubt that backing the seven-year-old each-way is probably the safer option at this price but if the Curragh get the rain that was forecast on Friday evening it will certainly play to his strengths.

The five time winner would need to post a career best and at his age he is probably vulnerable to less exposed rivals but this looks a Cambridgeshire where plenty near the top of the market have plenty to prove.

Aussie Valentine won twice earlier on in the year and seems to have thrived in better company since, finishing third behind Lucius Tiberius and then fourth behind Riven Light in Premier Handicap’s and this Cambridgeshire looks no stronger than those.

25/1 looks big. Aussie Valentine could run the race of his life and still only finish fifth or sixth but

he is a big price and has the experience to cause an upset.

McCreery Holds Chances
Mary Tudor looks a good bet at 5/2 for the Snow Fairy Fillies Stakes. The Group 3 contest has attracted a good field but her run behind Sea Of Class in the Irish Oaks looks rock solid form and while dropping back in trip is a concern, the drop in class should see her edge this.

However, it is McCreery’s runner in the finale that stands out at odds of 18/1 with BoyleSports.

Patuano is a course and distance winner and possibly shouldn’t be such a big price. The four-year-old was no match for listed company last time at Galway but that was over a trip probably further than ideal and on ground softer than ideal too.

On Saturday she returns to handicap company and her last run in a handicap was here at the Curragh on Derby weekend when she was unlucky not to finish much closer as she got badly hampered on a couple of vital occasions.

Back in this sort of grade with just 9st3lbs and at a track we know she handles…

she is another a big price that was worth taking a chance on on a good card.

Recommended Bets:
Aussie Valentine (25/1) – 4.00 Curragh
Mary Tudor (5/2) – 2.50 Curragh
Patuano (18/1) – 4.35 Curragh

*Prices correct at time of publication.