Tattersalls Gold Cup 2014 – Curragh Runners & Odds

Having won four of the last six renewals of Sunday’s Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, trainer Aidan O’Brien holds a good chance of extending that record via the red-hot 4/7 favourite, Magician.

This 4yo colt was an impressive winner of last season’s Irish 2000 Guineas here at the Curragh (1m, good to firm), before Breeders’ Cup Turf glory in America (1m4f, firm). While he failed to win the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic in Dubai (1m4f, good) this spring, Magician gained compensation in a Group 3 back here at the Currragh (1m2f, good to firm).

That latest victory would have got Magician spot on for Sunday, and as a previous soft ground winner, he looks to have plenty in his favour at a venue where he is unbeaten in three races.

But what of Lady Cecil’s 5yo Noble Mission (9/4), who comes into this race in terrific form having won his last two outings – both of which were Group 3’s over 1m2f on soft ground.

Having struggled to get his head in front via two wins in 12 previous outings prior to his recent double, a change of tactics by leading from the front have clearly seen improvement, and it will be interesting to see if he can get an uncontested lead.

As for the remainder, then Ballydoyle have Hall Of Mirrors entered at 25/1, another 4yo who was beaten just over 2l by Magician over this C&D several weeks ago.

It should pay to concentrate on the first four in the betting, especially as the last 10 winners returned at 7/1 or shorter, while tactics will also be key. With that in mind, a furious gallop could fall into the hands of Magician, who can deliver for favourite backers.

Here are the full trends going covering the last 18 winners…

All 18 winners scored in Pattern class – 13 took a Group 1, while five won a Group 2 or 3.
17 were ridden from the front or prominently.
16 won over 1m2f-1m4f.
16 ran over 1m2f or further last time.
15 made the top four last time.
14 were drawn in stall 4 or lower – stall 6 has yet to strike.
13 were 4yo’s.
11 had their last race at Longchamp or the Curragh, while the five that ran in the Mooresbridge Stakes here a month earlier all won that event.
Aidan O’Brien had six winners, while Dermot Weld trained four winners. Godolphin sent out a pair. Fillies held their own by winning three times and finishing second twice.