4:37 Curragh – Irish Cambridgeshire (Premier Handicap, 1m, Good, 3yo+)

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Race Setup & Pace Shape:
A typically deep and competitive renewal with 15 runners. Pace forecast is even, suggesting no guaranteed end-to-end gallop. Several in here prefer to be ridden cold (Godwinson, State Actor, Tokenomics), so a muddling tempo could leave them needing luck. Genuine Article and perhaps Big Gossey may go forward, but this doesn’t look like being a burn-up. Draw usually plays fair at the Curragh over 1m, but a middle-to-high pitch has historically been slightly favoured in this race.


Strongest Contenders

  • State Actor (8/10, Proven) – Last year’s runner-up and unlucky in running here on Derby weekend. Has two C&D wins, thrives at the Curragh, and softer conditions back in his favour. Spotlights’ nap and a clear major player again. Hold-up style does mean he’ll need gaps to appear.
  • Godwinson (8/10, Progressive) – Haggas/Moore is a strong combo; Lincoln winner and continues to climb. Handles big fields and different grounds. Holds-up too, so could be hostage to fortune, but if the gaps come he’s got a Group horse profile.
  • Bear Profit (8/10, Progressive) – Unlucky in the BMW Mile at Galway; upwardly mobile and consistent. 5lb higher but still improving. Strong stayer at 1m who should relish a good test.
  • Tokenomics (7/10, Promising) – Lightly raced 4yo who looked progressive in the spring. Royal Hunt Cup was forgivable on fast ground. If things fall right, he’s weighted to get involved.

Main Dangers

  • Pink Oxalis (7/10, Progressive) – Thriving mare, C&D winner last month, shaped better than result at Galway from wide draw. Looks primed for another big run.
  • Genuine Article (7/10, Exposed but dangerous) – Got the run of things at Galway; 10lb higher now and won’t get a soft lead as easily here, but still respected.
  • Booyea (7/10, Solid) – Won this type of race last year, back in form at Leopardstown. Reliable handicapper who could sneak into the frame again.
  • Coeur d’Or (6/10, Exposed but loves this race) – 2023 winner, 4th last year. Can’t be ignored with visor tried, though at 9yo improvement is unlikely.

Others

  • Big Gossey (6/10) – Curragh specialist, but more effective at 7f and looks held off this mark in this exact race.
  • Blues Emperor (5/10) – Runner-up in 2023 but form too patchy lately.
  • Independent Expert (6/10) – Third last year, new headgear angle; place claims if bouncing back.
  • I Am Superman (6/10) – Class horse of old, showed a glimmer over C&D earlier this summer; low draw a slight negative.
  • Jagged Edge (5/10) – Unexposed 3yo, but inexperienced for this test and 2lb wrong in the weights. Could sneak in if much better than shown.
  • Engines On (4/10) – Wrong at the weights, unproven at trip, looks up against it.
  • Howyoulikethat (4/10) – Plenty to prove at 8, hasn’t won since 2022.

Runner Scores (Suitability /10)

  • Big Gossey – 6
  • Godwinson – 8
  • Coeur d’Or – 6
  • Blues Emperor – 5
  • Howyoulikethat – 4
  • Tokenomics – 7
  • Bear Profit – 8
  • State Actor – 8
  • Independent Expert – 6
  • Booyea – 7
  • Genuine Article – 7
  • I Am Superman – 6
  • Pink Oxalis – 7
  • Jagged Edge – 5
  • Engines On – 4

Private Tissue Estimate

  • State Actor 5/1
  • Godwinson 11/2
  • Bear Profit 7/1
  • Tokenomics 8/1
  • Pink Oxalis 10/1
  • Genuine Article 10/1
  • Booyea 12/1
  • Coeur d’Or 14/1
  • Others 16/1+

Summary & Smart Play

A typically deep and tactical Irish Cambridgeshire, but several runners arrive with strong course form. State Actor was unlucky last year and again this summer; this looks like his go day back on suitable ground. Godwinson is the progressive UK raider with Group-race potential, while Bear Profit continues to rise and should be bang there. Pink Oxalis is the each-way angle at a double-figure price, thriving and with a much better draw than last time.

Smart Play:

  • Win bet – State Actor (solid C&D record, ground ideal, likely primed for this)
  • Saver – Godwinson (progressive profile, Moore booked)
  • Each-way – Pink Oxalis (improving mare, better setup than at Galway)

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