Curragh, 14:10 - Back Silk Braid @ 7/24.50
Sunday is Irish Derby Day at the Curragh, but before we get on to main event itself, there are a couple of attractive bets in the supporting races.
When a listed sprint has an exposed nine-year-old veteran at the head of the betting, as is the case here with Big Gossey, I'll nearly always look for a younger, less-exposed opponent to side with.
Ger Lyons' twice-raced three-year-old filly Silk Braid fits that bill to a tee as she takes on older rivals for the first time and gets a generous weight-for-age allowance.
She won on her debut last season in a C&D maiden before being put away for the winter and then performed with credit on her comeback when second to Charles Darwin, who had a quite a big reputation at that point.
Granted, the wheels have rather fallen off that one in the last couple of starts but Silk Braid's own potential remains firmly intact and I'm happy to her on side here.
Back Silk Braid to win 14:10 Curragh
Curragh, 15:20 - International Stakes: Back Isaac Newton @ 9/25.50
This year's renewal of the International Stakes has an intriguing look to it and it would be no surprise to see a few of these making their mark above this Group 3 level before the season is out.
Juddmonte-owned Purview is the obvious starting point as he looks to build on an impressive comeback success in a listed race over two furlongs further than this here last month. He looks a very good horse in the making, though his current price of 11/102.11 looks tight enough.
Crown Of Oaks is the English raider for William Haggas and he was a good winner of a competitive Ascot handicap when last seen in October, though is now asked to step up in grade while conceding race fitness to all his rivals.
While respectful of both their chances, I'm siding with another three-year-old against elders.
Isaac Newton started the season on the Derby trail, but a couple of early disappointments saw him dropped down to listed company at Navan last time, where he made no mistake under Ryan Moore.
That could well have been the confidence booster he needed and he looks ready to step back up in class here.
Back Isaac Newton to win 15:20 Curragh
Curragh, 16:35 - Irish Derby: Back Raaheeb @ 9/43.25
Aidan O'Brien's record in the Irish Derby is unparalleled and he heads into this year's renewal looking for a remarkable eighteenth success in the race.
The master of Ballydoyle fields half of the eight runners, including the winner of the Epsom equivalent Christmas Day, along with Benvenuto Cellini, who was controversially declared a retrospective non-runner in that race having got his foot caught in the stalls mechanism.
Action and Pierre Bonard were back in the ruck at Epsom and they complete the Coolmore quartet.
However, I'm going against the might of 'The Lads' and putting my faith in the unbeaten Raaheeb, who could hardly have created a bigger impression when winning the Sandown Classic Trial last time.
Connections opted for a patient approach with the blue-blooded son of Sea The Stars after that, electing to bypass Epsom so he could come into this race fresher than his rivals, and I'm hopeful those softly-softly tactics are rewarded with success here.
Back Raaheeb to win 16:35 Curragh