Curragh Tips: Monday 4 May 2026

Curragh Tips: Monday 4 May 2026

Good ground at the Curragh on a bank holiday Monday and we have three quality races to get stuck into. The feature is the Group 2 Mooresbridge, where the market is dominated by a short-priced favourite, but there are angles worth exploring throughout the card. Aidan O'Brien's yard is ticking over at 6/23 over the last 14 days, which is functional rather than flying, while Joseph Patrick O'Brien is busier at 11/55. Neither strike rate screams "back everything they saddle," so selectivity is the word.

1:50 — AES Recycling First Flier Stakes (Listed, 5f, Good)

A fascinating early-season two-year-old sprint with four unbeaten juvenile winners clashing. Ryan Moore takes the ride on New Yorker for Aidan O'Brien, a 15/8 shot who broke his maiden at two only once so there is very limited form to go on. The market leader is Star Prospect at 2/1 with Bet365, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien and ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, who won his sole start impressively. His RPR of 92 is the highest in the field, and that figure on debut in a juvenile listed race is significant.

The selection here is Star Prospect at 2/1 (Bet365, 15/8 William Hill, 15/8 Coral). McMonagle has been one of Ireland's most consistent pilots, JPO's yard is sending them out fit, and a figure of 92 on debut over five furlongs on good ground puts him clear on bare ratings. New Yorker will be competitive, but 15/8 for a horse with one run in a maiden feels tight when Star Prospect brings a superior rating to the table. The Curragh's straight five suits a juvenile who knows how to travel and quicken, and that RPR suggests he did something serious first time out.

Maria Quiteria at 17/2 is worth a second look if you want each-way coverage on the filly side. Robson De Aguiar is at 2/14 over 14 days so the yard is not hot, but an RPR of 86 on debut is solid for a filly in a Listed contest.

3:35 — Coolmore Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes (Group 3, Fillies, 1m, Good)

Twelve fillies go to post and the market is framed around Drop Dead Gorgeous, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, at 5/4 with Bet365. She has only one run to her name, a winning debut, and stepping into Group 3 company on just that single outing is a significant ask regardless of how impressive she looked. The Ballydoyle machinery earns respect but 5/4 for a filly with one run is a price that demands the win, not a close second.

The angle here is Black Caviar Gold Each-Way at 7/2 (Bet365, William Hill, Coral). Trained by P Twomey, who is at 1/5 over 14 days so not setting the world alight, but this filly brings a solid profile: an RPR of 114 and a TS of 100, which comfortably surpasses most of the others in this field. The form reads 3411-9, with two wins in a row before her last run, and three places at 1/5 odds mean she only needs to hit the frame to make the each-way play profitable at this price. Good ground at the Curragh over a mile is a fair test, and she brings more exposed form to the table than the favourite.

Kensington Lane at 28/1 is too big to entirely ignore if you want a longer shot in the each-way mix. An RPR of 106 and a placed run from nine starts tells you she can compete at this level when conditions are right, but Donnacha O'Brien's yard at 1/5 over 14 days does not inspire massive confidence in the timing of this run.

4:10 — Clem Murphy Memorial Irish EBF Mooresbridge Stakes (Group 2, 1m2f, Good)

Minnie Hauk is the 3/10 jolly with William Hill and there is little point pretending she is beatable at face value. An RPR of 136 and TS of 131 are comfortably the best figures in this field, Ryan Moore is aboard for Aidan O'Brien, and her form of 11126 shows only one defeat in competitive Group company. At 3/10, however, you are staking three to win one, so the only real discussion is whether there is a viable alternative.

The selection at a bigger price is Beset at 7/1 (William Hill, Bet Victor, talkSPORT BET), trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien and ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle. Her RPR of 124 and TS of 107 make her the second-best horse in the race on the figures, and her form of 921-12 shows she is a mare who competes consistently at a high level. She has finished second twice in her last three starts, and at 7/1 on good ground over 1m2f at the Curragh, she represents a more intelligent way to engage with this race than laying the favourite or siding with the outsiders.

Shaool at 7/1 with Bet Victor also catches the eye, sharing the same price and carrying an RPR of 126, fractionally above Beset. Ben Coen takes the ride for JP Murtagh, who is at 4/22 over 14 days. Either of these two at 7/1 is a reasonable play each-way if you want coverage behind the jolly, but Beset's recent form and McMonagle's association with the JPO yard makes her marginally preferred.

Today's NAP