Weekend NAP - March 22nd

Curragh 4.15 - Silver Tide

Season to date: +1.25

This year's Lincoln looks a weak renewal and the top few in the betting look readily opposable: Designated Decoy (attitude), Rock And Roll Kid (trip) and Estrela Brage (badly weighted). A chance is taken on Silver Tide who is essentially a 9f specialist but my stats tell me that proven ability over further than the race distance is a positive and the strongly run mile will suit her ideally. A prep run at Dundalk should have her spot on and the 5yo is pretty consistent with cut. Of the others, I'd fear Crooked Throw and Pollen, though you're not getting many sweets with the latter's prices, especially considering that she flopped on her sole handicap run when fancied.
I'm loathe to tip an unraced horse in any race but there are sound reasons for suggesting Cluain Alainn in the last at the Curragh. The likely favourite Toraidhe is one to get as he looked to have a most unwilling attitude in 2 starts last term and his yard habitually start slowly; Bolger has had just 2 winners from 42 runners in March in the last 4 years. John Oxx on the other hand loves to target this race and his runners since 2004 have ran:12341172. Cluain Alainn is from the family of Ridgewood Pearl and I hope he can kick-start what could be a pretty special year for the Oxx three-year-olds.