Curtis Draws Level With Carroll in Irish Title Thriller

In what promises to be a grandstand finish to the race for the Irish apprentice jockey’s title, Ben Curtis has drawn level with Gary Carroll, following a sparkling 71/1 double at Dundalk on Sunday afternoon, writes Elliot Slater.

Carroll struck first on Sunday when scoring on 2/1 betting tips favourite Sampers for trainer Mick Halford in the second race on the all-weather card, taking him two clear of Curtis, who in turn started the afternoon three clear of JP O’Brien. With just two more fixtures to go (both at Dundalk) until the end of the season, it looked as if Carroll had earned himself something of a breathing space, but within half an hour his lead had been cut again to just one after Curtis popped up on surprise 16/1 winner Valbonne, trained by JJ Murphy.

Those looking at Irish horse racing tips note that Curtis nearly levelled the title race in the 7f handicap when only denied by the shortest of short-heads when placed second on Crystal Belle, but in the very last race of the day Curtis drove out the 7/2 jf Home Secretary for trainer Garvan Connelly, to bring the title race dead level with Carroll on 39 winners apiece.

JP O’Brien, five winners back in third now looks to have an almost impossible task to get back into the race with just two meetings left as the battle comes down squarely to last year’s winner Carroll and the up-and-coming Curtis. Racing at Dundalk is scheduled to take place on both Tuesday and Friday (weather permitting) and the battle between the two young apprentices looks sure to create plenty of media interest in Ireland and put 100’s on the gate at the country’s only all-weather circuit.