Megan Nicholls Racing Tips – Haydock, Goodwood & the Curragh

BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls gives her thoughts on the horse racing world, bringing her insightful opinions and first-rate knowledge exclusively to our blog every week.

This time the former jockey – now a celebrated TV pundit – previews the big races from the meetings at Haydock, Goodwood and the Curragh on Saturday.

Haydock 1.50 – Temple Stakes

Beautiful Diamond (7/1) had a really good comeback run when very narrowly beaten at Newmarket behind a couple of decent horses.

She’s handled good-to-soft ground before when winning up at Ayr on that surface. Hopefully it’s going to be on the slow side at Haydock and, because of the ground, I think she will reverse the form with Seven Questions (12/1), who won at Newmarket earlier this month.

I also think the ground will not be to the liking of a couple of other horses. While I’m not sure it’s Beautiful Diamond’s optimum ground I think she will handle it with fitness on her side and Karl Burke’s yard in great form.

Megan’s Selection: Beautiful Diamond WIN

Goodwood 2.05 – Height Of Fashion Stakes

It’s a small field so I would be trying to pick a winner rather than looking at the placings here. As a result, I am going with Regal Jubilee (7/2).

She ran very well in a trial at Newbury on her comeback. That day she finished ahead of Elmalka, who went on to 1000 Guineas glory. That is red-hot form.

Regal Jubilee herself ran disappointingly in the Guineas but I think it was too bad to be true and we can put a line through that.

She takes a step up in trip here; providing she can relax I don’t think that will be a problem. I still think this filly has plenty of potential.

It’s a tricky race to work out but if Regal Jubilee was going straight here off the back of Newbury she would be a short-priced favourite – and I think she is a bit of value.

Megan’s Selection: Regal Jubilee WIN

Curragh 3.40 – Irish 2000 Guineas

Very simple this one: Rosallion (5/6 fav) deserves to take home the Irish 2000 Guineas.

He put up a good effort at Newmarket in the English Guineas, was obviously a very talented two-year-old and looks to have taken another step forward at three.

I am looking forward to seeing River Tiber (7/2) back in action. He was one of the Aidan O’Brien juveniles last year that had size and scope and I felt that he would be a horse that would get the mile.

However, it is obviously a tricky ask returning to the mile on his first time out as a three-year-old in a Guineas so I suppose he has got it to prove.

River Tiber has good two-year-old form, if not quite to the same heights as Rosallion, and therefore I’m going to keep it simple and go with the favourite here.

I do think River Tiber is a smart horse, though, and some of his form last year is looking very strong.

Megan’s Selection: Rosallion WIN

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation