WITH the big Newbury and Ayr cards (Scottish National) moved to Sunday, this afternoon’s action lacks plenty of strength on depth.

However, whatever the grade of race there has to be a winner and arguably the best value wager of the day could come on The Curragh card in Ireland which harbours the biggest and most competitive fields of the weekend.

At first glance the 22-runner handicap due off at 4.15 looks impossible to solve with at least eight of the entries well handicapped on their best form and five coming into the race off more than fair last-time-out runs.

However, the TAURAN SHAMAN (nap) looks by far the most interesting runner having finally been handed some mercy by the assessor.

Last of five in the Group Two Daniel Wildenstein Stakes as a three-year-old, he has consistently run to a smart level of form in handicaps since over a mile through to a mile and a quarter, although there is little doubt that the shorter trip suits him best.

His third of 16 to Nebo over a mile at Cork off a rating of 95 showed what he was capable of and running off 87 on his comeback run at Leopardstown on unsuitably soft ground was a more than adequate way to resume action.

With regular partner Shane Foley on board, despite a low draw, he is handicapped to go very close here especially on his preferred drying ground.

Of his rivals, the two I fear most in this big field are the unexposed Dance Jupiter from the Joseph O’Brien yard and further down the weights stable mate of the selection and last-time-out winner at Navan Pepperoni Pete who is well in at the weights with the 10lbs claimer Charlie O’Dwyer taking a massive 10lbs off his back.

Also on the Curragh card have a second look at the lightly raced filly KNOW IT ALL in the feature Group Three Gladness Stakes over seven furlongs at 2.35.

This looks a really competitive renewal of the race with the likes of Lancaster Gate, Speak in Colours, Brad The Brief and Lustown Baba all rated within four pounds of each other.

The selection is the other qualifier for this group. The four-year-old is by far the least exposed of the 12-runner field, but has already achieved as much as her more experienced rivals.

Her outstanding piece of form from eight runs came on her final start in 2020 when she weakened close to home in the Group One Matron Stakes, beaten just the three lengths by Champs Elysees. This drop back to seven furlongs chasing a fast pace looks like her optimum set up and the bay filly has a cracking chance of taking care of her 11 rivals.

Broome is almost certain to start favourite for the Group Three Alleged Stakes over a mile and a quarter at 3.10. A really flexible horse, effective from this trip to a mile and three quarters and possibly further in time, he comes here tight fit following his success in the Listed Devoy Stakes, but in turn makes the market for the rest of the field.

That makes the value bet THUNDERING NIGHTS who completed a double last year culminating in the Group Three Snow Fairy Stakes before being outstayed and possibly outclassed in the Group One Fillies and Mares on Champions Day at Ascot, this looks a more realistic target.

On the mainland, NOORBAN (nb) could be worth siding with in the three-year-old handicap at 11.40. The David O’Meara charge eased home in a Beverley maiden, but failed to make a mark, admittedly in much higher class, in the Lowther Stakes and a big sales event at Newmarket.

A first run in handicap company off a mark of 84 seems very reasonable when you consider the daughter of Sepoy was considered good enough to go for some black type at York.

Later on, have a second look at FREEDOM FLYER who looks a very interesting runner for Ruth Carr in the six furlong handicap at 1.10.

The four-year-old gelding was very free on his comeback run at Wolverhampton, but still managed to get to within four lengths of Declaring Love and has been dropped a pound for this. Blessed with a tidy draw in stall 10, he looks the value here with that race hopefully having taken the buzz out of him.

Finally a quick word about Sunday’s Coral Scottish Grand National in which THE HOLLOW GINGE could prove a snippet of value for the Twiston-Davies yard.

A running on fourth in the Ladbrokes Trophy behind Cloth Cap earlier in the season, he is arguably the best handicapped horse in the race if he can put in a clear round having raced on unsuitably deep winter ground this season.

Of course in such a big field there are plenty of runners that you could make a huge case for including the ultra consistent and likely favourite Aye Right and then further down the handicap the likes of The Ferrymaster and the hailing from a massively in form yard, the Alan King-trained Notachance.