Horsbetting.com experts give their 2018 Curragh Cup betting tips for the 1m 6f Group 2 contest over in Ireland on Sunday, 1 July. Giuseppe Garibaldi is strongly fancied to provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a fifth success in the race. Twilight Payment rates the main danger, whilst Pallasator also looks a player after his Royal Ascot success. Read our 2018 Curragh Cup betting tips preview to find out more.Giuseppe Garibaldi the class act in Curragh CupGiuseppe Garibaldi looks to hold outstanding claims of proving top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien with another winner in the 1m 6f Group 2 Curragh Cup on at The Curragh on Sunday, 1 July (17:15).
The Ballydoyle handler has won the race four times, including three of the last for renewals.
In Giuseppe Garibaldi, he has a progressive three-year-old who posted a career best effort last time out at Royal Ascot when a cracking third of nine to Old Persian in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes over 1m 4f.
After racing in touch, the son of Galileo made good headway to throw down a strong challenge at the furlong marker. He then only weakened late on and lost second close home to be beaten two lengths.
It was an effort which suggested there was more to come from Giuseppe Garibaldi, who had won his two previous races – including a Listed contest at Leopardstown – in good style.
The step up to 1m 6f also promises to suit this imposing sort, so taking everything into account he is going to be very hard to beat judged on his run at Royal Ascot which sets the standard in this.Twilight Payment a key playerTwilight Payment ran a cracker when runner-up on seasonal reappearance and, with proven form over the trip, looks the obvious danger.
The Jim Bolger trained five-year-old gave top class stayer Order Of St George a real fright in the Listed Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown.
Twilight Payment stuck to the task really well to go down by just three-quarters of a length. with the pair pulling 8 1/2 lengths clear of the third home. That represents solid form and a reproduction is sure to see the son of Teofilo go close.
However, this is tougher and Twilight Payment finds it hard to get his head in front and has not won since landing a Listed contest over 2m here back in September 2016.
He has also now reached his peak, unlike Giuseppe Garibaldi who remains open to stacks more progress.Pallasator can’t be discountedPallasator rolled back the years when winning last time out at Royal Ascot and commands plenty of respect, despite having to give Giuseppe Garibaldi a whopping 14lb weight for age allowance.
The strapping nine-year-old was given a peach of a ride by Jamie Spencer when beating Renetti by 1 1/2 lengths in the Queen Alexandra Stakes.
Spencer got him quickly settled and travelling sweetly on the inside in mid-division. He then switched Pallasator to see some daylight two from home and he pulled himself to the front approaching the final furlong.
The Gordon Elliott trained gelding then quickened up smartly when asked before veering left and being straightened up by Spencer to win a cosily.
Pallasator didn’t concentrate on the job after arguably hitting the front too soon but was well in command at the line despite his antics.
This demands more, but he did have some top class Group form to his name in the past when in the care of Sir Mark Prescott and is clearly in rude health at present.Your Next Bet
