Racing tips: Art Power aims to make 5/5 at the Curragh in the Flying Five Stakes

It was a painful Saturday, which isn't a surprise with it being the hardest day of the week, but still, it was a poor day. Just Beautiful was the only return on the day with a small EW return.

Curragh 2:55 – Art Power 5/1 (1pt Bet365)

I've been wanting to back Art Power for a very long time for this race, but I couldn't find an Ante-post option for this race, so he's getting put up as my only selection for Sunday.

It's common knowledge that Art Power performs best in Ireland, especially at the Curragh where he is unbeaten in four visits to the track. In those four wins he has won two Group 3s and two Group 2s, so this is by far the toughest race of his career on Irish soil with this being a Group 1 and a proper Group 1 at that with the likes of Highfield Princess and Bradsell coming over, as well as the French raider, Bouttemont.

Based on form, this race should be between Highfield Princess and Bradsell who are tied in close from their recent runs which saw Bradsell with at Royal Ascot and then the pair of them finished 2nd and 3rd in the Nunthorpe just over two weeks ago. However, for some reason, Art Power just loves the Curragh and this would've been his main aim of the entire season. He was poor when I tipped him up at Deauville which saw him finish 5th/10, but like I've said this is his playing ground and it doesn't concern me that he didn't perform last time out on a different track, as he tends to do that everywhere other than the Curragh/Ireland these days. He does like to run from the front, and I don't mind if Oisin Murphy goes with those tactics in this race, as he stays further than the 5f, and he was taken on for the lead at the Curragh last time out, but he coped with that with ease, albeit in a weaker race. His best part of the run at the Curragh the time before last was the final furlong where he lengthened clear of the field.

I believe that the horses who went to the Nunthorpe will be in great condition, but Highfield Princes has been a busy mare this season and it might be taking it out of her now. Art Power had a rest from Deavuille so will be in prime condition for this and at the odds I think he is the play in this race.