Smullen To Score More Curragh Success

Dermot Weld paid tribute to Pat Smullen and Ryan Moore as they went at it hammer and tongs in the Irish Derby yesterday and both men could well leave the Curragh with winners on Sunday.

Mind How You Go
Back Ryan Moore on Minding if you wish. She’s 2/9, she’ll win, but her odds will appeal to very few.

Elsewhere, the Rockingham provides a much better betting heat and one that will divide opinions. Cases can be made for many of the runners but my NAP in the Irish Field League this week was Chiclet.

The 7/1 shot is trained locally by Tracey Collins, will be ridden by Irish Derby winning jockey Pat Smullen and following an encouraging return to grass last time at Tipperary, the five-year-old can hopefully go one better this time.

The Rockingham has gone for export for the last three seasons and four of the last five and in Dutch Masterpiece, Desert Law and 5/1 favourite Kimberella there are three horses who hold strong claims of extending that domination. However, Chiclet can be expected to come on for that outing last month.

The daughter of Dandy Man appreciates a nice surface having won at Dundalk four times and at Navan on nice ground.

Having walked a bit of the Curragh yesterday, the ground should be ideal for her.

Chiclet needs to reverse the form with Willie McCreery’s Ostatnia (7/1) from Tipperary but now meets that filly on better terms and can indeed reverse the placings this time.

Recommended Bet:
Chiclet – 4.55 Curragh

*Prices correct at time of publication.