Some decent action in Ireland on Sunday, that includes the competitive Irish Cesarewitch Handicap – and we’ve got Andy Newton’s Curragh horse racing tips, looking at the best three races on the card.
Curragh Horse Racing Tips On Sunday – Including Irish Cesarewitch Best Bets
Across the Irish Sea sees a decent eight-race card at the Curragh on Sunday, that includes two Group Three contests and the Irish Cesarewitch.
At 2:37pm the Weld Stakes will see nine horses head to post in a race trainer Aidan O’Brien has won seven times. He tries for more success with Amelia Earhart and Minerva entered.
Then at 3:12pm the sprinters take to the stage for the Renaissance Stakes, where all eyes will be on last year’s winner My Mate Alfie.
The Irish Cesarewitch Handicap at 4:22pm is the big betting race on the card, as a competitive 30-runner field will do battle for th3 €324k prize.
Ebor Handicap runner-up Ascending will be a big fancy for trainer Henry De Bromhead.
On the day Andy also has his horse racing tips daily that give FOUR best bets in a Lucky 15, plus we highlight any horses that are running that won the same races last year.
Plus, you can follow Andy on his ‘X’ handle @NewtsDailyLays where he also picks out one horse each day to take on (lay) and follow him on The Final Furlong Podcast each week.
Andy Newton’s Curragh Racing Tips On Sunday 28th September 2025
2:37 – Weld Park Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (2yo) 7f RTV
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has mopped up seven wins in the Weld Stakes over the years, including last year with Heavens Gate.
He tries to add another with recent Doncaster second Amelia Earhart and Minerva – but both fillies have a bit to prove based on recent runs.
Three of the last seven winners came from gate 7, which might be deemed a plus for the Ger Lyons-trained Smexy – who won at Leopardstown last time out.
On form in the book, Pivotal Attack looks the one to beat – having already beaten Amelia Earhart easily and wasn’t disgraced last time in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes (6th). Is back in grade here and certainly sets the standard.
Joseph O’Brien has won this race in 2019 and 2022.
He runs Zous And Me and Alibah – both for the Go Racing Limited owners, with the last-named looking the most interesting.
But the slightly better value can come from KENSINGTON LANE, who bolted up at Gowran Park last time by 5 lengths.
The second that day (Luna Mia) has since franked the form to win and prior to that run ran the useful Geryon (running on Saturday at the Curragh) to 1 1/4 lengths.
🥇KENSINGTON LANE (e/w)
🥈PIVOTAL ATTACK
🥉ALIBAH
3:12 – Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Renaissance Stakes (Group 3) (3yo+) 6f RTV
Winning the lottery has seemed easier at times than trying to find a winner in some of the UK and Irish sprints – and that theory looks in play again here.
The slightly better news is there are only 11 runners – that also include a few past winners.
Art Power, who is now 8, won this in 2021 and 2022 – while MY MATE ALFIE took the prize last year and looks the safest option to go in again.
He loves it here at the Curragh, with overall form that reads 1-6-3-1-1-5-2-2 at the track.
And these figures improve to 1-3-1-2-2 when running here in only Listed and G3 races.
My Mate Alfie is still only aged 4 and was last in action here in August when running another top race – second in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes. You feel a repeat of that will see this Ger Lyons runner go close.
Big Gossey was second last year – beaten 3/4 of a length – and is respected too. He’s not getting any younger at 8, but we could easily see a repeat of last year’s 1-2 here.
While if there’s a bit more rain the second British raider other that Art Power, Spycatcher would certainly enter the mix.
🥇MY MATE ALFIE
🥈BIG GOSSEY
🥉SPYCATCHER
4:22 – Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch (Premier Handicap) (3yo+ 0-110) 2m1f RTV
With 30 runners heading to post here, then cases can be made for many.
These include recent Ebor Handicap Ascending, who is only a pound higher than that York run. While prior to that was a winner of the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
However, the horse that was runner-up that day NURBURGRING is taken to turn the tables on 2lbs better terms.
This Joseph O’Brien runner was also 4th in this race last year (watch below) so we know he acts well in this contest.
Is rated 5lbs higher this time but has been running well over the sticks since that Ascot run (winning at Killarney) and the first-time blinkers are also an interesting move today.
Draw 15 looks ideal too, having come from gate 13 last year – he ticks a lot of boxes.
Sixandahalf was third last year and is back rated 5lbs higher, so can’t be dismissed either.
While recent Leopardstown winner Happy Pharoah will be popular.
As will the many Willie Mullins runners Highwind, Sea Of Sands, Sirius, Plontier, Tounsivator and Too Bossy For Us.
Mullins has won this three times since 2015.
But the other interesting one, is another horse that ran well in the race last year – DAWN RISING.
This Joseph O’Brien runner was 5th in 2024 but is back on a 5lb lower mark and likes it here at the track 4-2-3-3-5-1.
He was down the field in the Ascot Stakes in June, but probably didn’t stay that day, so the drop back in trip will suit and looks cracking each-way value in a race we know he’s gone well in before.
🥇DAWN RISING (e/w)
🥈NURBURGRING
🥉ASCENDING
