We kick start the three-day Irish Guineas Festival as it should be, a warm-up to the two top-class days on Saturday and Sunday.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a card full of competitive handicaps and maidens to look forward to, topped with the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes.
Get the best Irish Guineas odds from the best horse racing betting sites here.
Curragh 5:10 Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden – 6f (2yo)
Twenty-one runners will head to post in the opener of the 2025 Irish Guineas Festival, where it can pay to side with the twice-raced NOODLES. He was placed on his racecourse debut, beaten 3/4 of a length at this course over 6f doing his best work at the finish.
He went on to back that up with a fourth-place finish at Tipperary on his next start, again doing all his best work in the closing stages. The form of his debut win has worked out well, with the second going on to win next time out, beating Rouge Legend, who has also gone on to win since. Noodles steps up a furlong in distance today, and that can be the catalyst for the John O’Donoghue-trained gelding to get off the mark on his third attempt.
Glitter And Glory was slow away on debut and met trouble in running, but he will come on for that experience, so he is one for the shortlist.
Selection: NoodlesDanger: Glitter And Glory
Bet on Noodles with Betfred
Curragh 5:45 Cavalor Equine Nutrition Irish EBF Fillies Handicap – 6f (3yo+)
Not too much to get excited about here, but on the back of her second-course win, BACK DOWN UNDER can go well once again. She has been put up 4lb to a mark of 78, which she has been competitive off before. With little worries about ground and trip, she looks like a rock-solid option here.
Bridge Cloak, Island Girl, and Miracle Beauty finished in a heap behind the impressive Unique Journey at Naas last time, and there shouldn’t be much between them again. But the addition of first-time cheekpieces to Miracle Beauty can bring out more from the lightly raced daughter of Sioux Nation.
Selection: Back Down UnderDanger: Miracle Beauty
Bet on Back Down Under with SBK
Curragh 6:20 McGuinness Maintenance Services Irish EBF Maiden – 7f (3yo+)
A good-looking maiden with a few in here with realistic winning chances. Valencia has been keeping good company in her three runs to date, notable when just over five lengths off Lake Victoria on her debut. She gets in here off a mark of 87 and should be bang there off that mark. But the one who I want to side with is COLLECTING COIN.
He debuted over a furlong further at Cork last month, taking third place, where he faded late on. The form of that race took a massive boost with the runner-up Omni Man going on to win by over seven lengths on his next start.
With the expected improvement and the drop in distance, Collecting Coin can make his presence felt here. The Dermot Weld debutant Fingerpoint becomes interesting if the market speaks in his favour.
Selection: Collecting CoinDanger: Valencia
Bet on Collection Coin with talkSPORT BET
Curragh 6:55 Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes – 1m2f (3yo)
Tiberius Thunders third behind Derby hopeful Delacroix will give him a massive chance here, and the betting tells excatlly that. But he was slightly disappointing at Epsom last month and needs to bounce back here. You can always forgive a horse a below-par run at Epsom, but even so, he may find it hard to contain SHACKLETON.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained runner was disappointing at Newmarket when he was sent off as the well-backed 11/10 favourite for his final two-year-old. But he looks like a horse who will take a considerable step forward in this three-year-old campaign and can prove hard to beat.
Reyenzi was good when breaking his maiden tag on soft ground at Navan last month, and if he can handle the quicker conditions here, he can prove the biggest danger to Shackleton, who can give Aidan O’Brien his third win in a row in this race.
Current Betting: Shackleton 15/8, Tiberius Thunder 15/8, Reyenzi 11/2, Emit 7/1, Dawn Spirit 12/1, Thrice 12/1.
Selection: Shackelton 15/8Danger: Reyenzi 11/2
Bet on Shackleton with bet365
Curragh 7:25 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap – 6f (Premier Handicap) (4yo+)
As expected with a premier handicap, you can make a case for most of the field. Heavenly Power got the better of Apachie Outlaw over course and distance in August, and the Adrian McGuinness inmate has every chance of turning that form around on the same terms, given that he comes here race fit.
Dandyville, who is having his first start for the Crawford team, is one for the shortlist. He comes in here on a mark that he has shown that he can be more than competitive off, and given his fine turf record, it’s hard to rule him out on his comeback from 350 days on the sideline. Barabapapa looks very interesting for Henry de Bromhead.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding has a fine record when fresh, and with the stable having a purple patch of form, it’s easy to see him run well here. But the one I will side with is course and distance winner KEKE.
Keke quickly shot up the handicap last season, winning three in a row, going from 67 to 84. But just as it looked like he was in the grip of the handicapper, he struck again at the Curragh on his final start of last season, this time over 5f. He returned this season with a good fourth over 5f at this track and has been dropped three pounds by the handicapper for that run. But there is a feeling that he may have another win in him off this mark.
Selection: KekeDanger: Barbapapa
Bet on Keke with Paddy Power
Curragh 7:55 QuinnBet Irish EBF Fillies Maiden – 6f (3yo+)
Cold Hearted brings the best form to the table, but the Jessica Harington-trained filly has had plenty of chances to get off the mark and has become somewhat frustrating. If she can bring her best form to the table, then she is the one to beat. But given her record, it can pay to take her on with BONUS TIME.
Trained by top national hunt trainer Gavin Cromwell, this daughter of Too Darn Hot made a good start to her racing career when chacing home the odds-on City Of Memphis, who has an entry in the 1000 Guineas on Sunday. She came with her challenge inside the two-furlong pole but couldn’t go with the winner, but she did pull over three lengths clear of the third Sapphire Princess. Given the clear promise of her debut run, Bonus Time looks like a filly to keep on the right side of here.
Selection: Bonus TimeDanger: Cold Hearted
Bet on Bonus Time with Betfred
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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