BetOwl Daily Dossier - Curragh 13th September

By BetOwl Racing Desk

Four Group 1 races make this the outstanding British or Irish card of the day, but prestige does not turn every short price into a bet. The official Irish Champions Festival programme frames the meeting, while the Racing Post Curragh card and Irish Racing declarations provide current card cross-checks. The Curragh asks a different question in almost every race, from the 26-runner Bold Lad to the seven-runner Irish St Leger. My approach follows our horse racing tips methodology: pay for proven top-level form where the market has left room, while using each-way terms in the deepest handicaps and sprints.

The straight course was described as yielding at the morning check, with the round course good to yielding in places. Met Eireann's Leinster forecast expected a mainly dry day with bright intervals, isolated showers, light winds and temperatures of 18 to 22C. The card contained eight races and 115 active declarations at 2026-09-13 08:08 Europe/London. Prices can move and non-runners can change place terms, so recheck both before betting. Our wider horse racing tips centre explains how these daily cards fit the long-term record.

For more help with the terms used below, visit the horse-racing hub, our each-way betting guide and the Rule 4 guide.

Today's official bets at a glance

NAP: Green Empress at 11/4

NEXT BEST: Rumstar at 8/1

Quick race guide

13:45 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bold Lad Sprint Handicap | 14:15 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes | 14:50 Moyglare Stud | 15:25 BAR 1 Betting Flying Five | 16:00 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National | 16:35 Comer Group International Irish St. Leger | 17:10 Moyglare ''Jewels'' Blandford Stakes | 17:45 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Northfields Handicap

Curragh 13:45 | Bear On The Run | 1pt e/w at 17/2, BetMGM, 5 places

NEXT BEST: Coul Angel at 6/1

The market has found Sondad and Coul Angel, and both have the recent sprint form to justify attention. Coul Angel has repeatedly finished strongly in competitive British handicaps, so he is the logical next best. I prefer Bear On The Run at the price. Daniel Murphy's three-year-old has raced only three times, won her last two and got up over this course and distance on 22 August after finding a gap late. A 17/2 quote compensates for the leap from novice company into a 26-runner handicap, while five places provide a useful cushion. The obvious objection is that her raw speed figure is below those of several hardened rivals. That is real, but it is also based on a tiny body of work and the Curragh win suggested there is more to come.

VERDICT: Bear On The Run, 1pt e/w at 17/2, BetMGM, 5 places. Do not take shorter than 7/1. Coul Angel is the next best at 6/1.

Curragh 14:15 | Switching Sides | 0.75pt e/w at 11/1, Bet365, 3 places

NEXT BEST: Atlantic Bridge at 6/1

Star Of State has earned the right to dominate the market, but 3/10 is an exacting price in a 16-runner sales race. Switching Sides offers a different route. He chased home a rival over this course and distance on debut, won at Fairyhouse and was beaten only two and a quarter lengths in a Curragh Group 2. That is a deep foundation for this grade. The 57-day break is the concern, along with a 133 lb burden, yet 11/1 with three places is large enough to absorb both doubts. Atlantic Bridge is the next best after a Navan success and remains the likeliest beneficiary if the favourite underperforms.

VERDICT: Switching Sides, 0.75pt e/w at 11/1, Bet365, 3 places. Do not take shorter than 11/1. Atlantic Bridge is the next best at 6/1.

Curragh 14:50 | Green Empress | 2pt win at 11/4, Bet365

NEXT BEST: Sun Goddess at 4/5

Sun Goddess has won four in succession, including the Phoenix Stakes, and is plainly the filly to beat. The market asks us to take 4/5, however, while Green Empress is 11/4 after winning the Group 2 Debutante Stakes over this course and distance. She was briefly short of room before finishing strongly that day, having previously been runner-up in two Curragh races. Colin Keane keeps the ride and the filly's performance figure is the highest in the field. Sun Goddess may simply be exceptional, which is the central risk, but the gap between their prices is wider than the evidence demands.

VERDICT: Green Empress, 2pt win at 11/4, Bet365. Do not take shorter than 11/4. Sun Goddess is the next best at 4/5.

Curragh 15:25 | Rumstar | 1pt e/w at 8/1, Bet365, 4 places

NEXT BEST: Comanche Brave at 2/1

Comanche Brave arrives with a July Cup win and deserves to head the market. He is also returning from 64 days away and faces 17 rivals over a bare five furlongs. Rumstar has built the more persuasive short-term sequence for this exact test: a Group 3 win at Sandown, second in the King George at Goodwood and third in the Nunthorpe at York after having to wait for room. Yielding ground is no barrier and 8/1 with four places is attractive. He must avoid being detached from stall 17, but Rob Hornby knows he needs only one clean late run. Comanche Brave is the next best at 2/1.

VERDICT: Rumstar, 1pt e/w at 8/1, Bet365, 4 places. Do not take shorter than 7/1. Comanche Brave is the next best at 2/1.

Curragh 16:00 | Dr Rascal | 2pt win at 4/1, BetGoodwin

NEXT BEST: Monogram at 5/2

Monogram was visually pleasing when coming from the rear to score here on debut, and the market is entitled to protect itself. Dr Rascal brings evidence rather than projection. He is unbeaten in three starts, graduating from a Leicester novice to an Ascot handicap and then the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. That last success required him to squeeze through and fight, qualities that matter in a Group 1. The 47-day gap and a speed figure that leaves room for improvement are the reservations, but 4/1 is fair for a colt whose ceiling has not yet been found. Monogram is the next best at 5/2.

VERDICT: Dr Rascal, 2pt win at 4/1, BetGoodwin. Do not take shorter than 11/4. Monogram is the next best at 5/2.

Curragh 16:35 | Jan Brueghel | 2pt win at 11/2, Bet365

NEXT BEST: Scandinavia at 1/3

Scandinavia has won seven consecutive races and four Group 1s, including the Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup. He is the most likely winner, but 1/3 does not offer a usable betting margin. Jan Brueghel is the alternative at 11/2. He won the 2024 St Leger over this trip, landed the Ormonde Stakes in May and finished second in the Coronation Cup before a respectable Hardwicke fourth. His 85-day absence is the main concern, though he has previously run well fresh. This is a win bet because the seven-runner field offers only two places. Scandinavia remains the next best and the clear form standard.

VERDICT: Jan Brueghel, 2pt win at 11/2, Bet365. Do not take shorter than 11/4. Scandinavia is the next best at 1/3.

Curragh 17:10 | Timeforshowcasing | 2pt win at 6/1, Bet365

NEXT BEST: Thundering On at 6/5

Thundering On won the Oaks and is a worthy favourite, but her Pretty Polly fourth showed that she can be vulnerable when asked for speed against older fillies. Timeforshowcasing has quietly assembled a strong international record. She won a German Group 2, finished a close third in a Deauville Group 1 on testing ground and has already won over this trip. Six to one underestimates that resilience. Her official figures are not as polished as the market leaders and she must prove that her French effort can be repeated, yet her price gives us room to take that view. Thundering On is the next best at 6/5.

VERDICT: Timeforshowcasing, 2pt win at 6/1, Bet365. Do not take shorter than 6/1. Thundering On is the next best at 6/5.

Curragh 17:45 | Manton Bay | 1pt e/w at 7/1, William Hill, 5 places

NEXT BEST: High Degree at 6/1

High Degree is thriving and William Haggas remains in excellent form, making him the sensible next best. The handicap case belongs to Manton Bay. He has finished first or second on four of his last five starts, was runner-up at the Curragh last time and has previously run well over ten furlongs on yielding ground. A mark of 97 asks for more, and his hold-up style creates traffic risk in a 23-runner field, but 7/1 with five places reflects those hazards. Luke McAteer can conserve him from stall ten and use the long finish. High Degree is respected at 6/1, although 132 lb leaves less room for error.

VERDICT: Manton Bay, 1pt e/w at 7/1, William Hill, 5 places. Do not take shorter than 7/1. High Degree is the next best at 6/1.

Best bets of the day

Green Empress is the NAP because her Curragh Group 2 win gives her a direct route into the Moyglare without asking us to accept odds-on. Rumstar is next best after three consecutive Pattern-race performances over five furlongs. Manton Bay is the strongest handicap bet, while Bear On The Run and Switching Sides are the other each-way positions that offer enough evidence at their prices.

Full staking plan

Total recommended outlay: 15.5 points, counting each-way selections as separate win and place stakes. Use the each-way bet calculator to check potential returns at different terms.

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