UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

DENSE STAR made a promising debut at Naas last week. The daughter of Starspangledbanner had a couple of these behind when keeping on from an outside draw to take fourth behind More Beautiful, and the form was given a boost when Measure Of Magic (fifth) won at Tipperary. The Joseph O'Brien-trained filly can be expected to progress from the experience which should give her an edge over the newcomers including Brosna Empress. The Holy Roman Emperor filly hails from a yard in good form and her pedigree is full of juvenile winners.
Prediction : 1st Brosna Empress 2nd Dense Star 3rd Miss Amulet

THE BLUE PANTHER has plenty going for him here and gets in off a nice weight by virtue of a cheap purchase price as a yearling. The Mick Mulvany-trained colt has been placed on both outings on varying ground conditions including when beating all bar Chief Little Hawk here earlier this month. The winner was subsequently far from disgraced in mid-division behind Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot. Laws Of Indices is the only other one with previous experience and showed some promise at Naas. Vafortino has to give weight away all-round having cost 60,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale and is bred to get further in time. Any market move for Street Kid would be interesting, while riding arrangements suggest Thebeaujolaispope is preferred of Noel Meade's pair.
Prediction : 1st The Blue Panther 2nd Laws Of Indices 3rd Vafortino

Blastofmagic beat TICKS THE BOXES and Athas An Bhean over the course and distance earlier this month and the trio now renew rivalry along with Plough Boy, fifth on that occasion before bringing his career wins to 15 at Fairyhouse last week. Leanne Breen has made an impression in her first year as a trainer including with impressive Naas winner Parkers Hill and Ticks The Boxes, a six-time winner in England, remains on a competitive mark. Boughtinthedark easily won the other division of that course and distance handicap and should go well despite a 16lb hike, while Naas runner-up Doonard Prince will appreciate every drop of rain.
Prediction : 1st Ticks The Boxes 2nd Blastofmagic 3rd Athas An Bhean

ILLETAS showed some promise when staying on late on debut at Dundalk last year and stepped up on that effort when prominent throughout behind You'resobeautiful over course and distance earlier this month. The form of that maiden got a major boost at Naas on Saturday with the winner and Na Blianta Beo both running so well behind Lady Penelope in the Listed Polonia Stakes. Shooting Spirit has a similar profile and was a much shorter price than the selection when about four lengths further back in that maiden here 13 days ago. He could progress quite a bit from that run to narrow the gap. I Am Thunder cost 130,000 at the Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale last year. He's bred to want a lot further than this with plenty of stamina on the dam's side and it will be interesting to see if the market speaks in his favour.
Prediction : 1st Illetas 2nd Shooting Spirit 3rd I Am Thunder

LADY MAURA might prove best in this ordinary handicap. She has proven herself at this grade in three previous handicap starts and while most of her racing has been done over six furlongs and latterly at seven, she has placed form at this trip in Dundalk and has the running-rail draw in 1 today.Top weight Too Hard to Hold has Colin Keane's assistance and he has solid claims. He was beaten 6L at Naas recently but did stay on nicely late-on, has previously won at 5f when trained in Britain and should prove competitive from his mark. Pixel Power showed promise in two six furlongs maidens last year and while well enough held at Gowran recently she is interesting today on handicap debut. She races over this trip for the first time today but should get involved.
Prediction : 1st Lady Alcazar 2nd Too Hard To Hold 3rd Pixel Power

ZANAHIYR has shown enough to suggest he might win this ordinary staying maiden. He showed up well enough on debut and stayed on nicely when well enough held at the Curragh recently. The step up to 1m5f should suit and more improvement is probable. Lilli Milena ran in the hot Thurles maiden last October and while well held, the winner is now a Classic winner while the fourth placed filly is also quite smart. She has an Irish Oaks entry and with improvement very likely (her winning dam is a sister to two Group 1 winners) stepping up in trip, she should give the selection a race. Ayre's Hawk is the first foal from a winning dam who is out of Irish Oaks winner Petrushka and while he should have ability, it is a little concern that he makes his debut at this staying trip. Monolopy needs to improve on debut effort while stablemate Hy Brasil is a notable newcomer being a half-brother to an American Grade 1 winner. Hook Head is a half-brother to Puncher Clynch but runs in first-time cheek-pieces on debut. Sonny Bill is out of a Group placed dam and is already gelded for this debut run.
Prediction : 1st Zanahiyr 2nd Lilli Milena 3rd Ayres Hawk

There was a time when some of Dermot Weld's Galway festival winners had run fabulous trials at Fairyhouse's June fixture and while it may be fanciful to suggest NOSTRA CASA can mop up Galway handicaps, he can win this. By Dubawi and a half-brother to top stayer Forgotten Rules, NOSTRA CASA showed little in his maidens and was then laboured in the early stage of his recent Fairyhouse run. However he finished quite strongly and with a visor now applied stepping up a furlong, he appears well handicapped if showing a smidgeon more enthusiasm early-on. Conor Hogan is a consistent sort and while not necessarily ahead of the handicapper, might do a little better stepping up to this trip for the first time. Princess Zoe showed useful form in Germany, winning twice, but might be best watched on Irish debut while Walking On Glass was a course and distance winner here 13 months ago and with today's race surely high on his agenda, should go well despite lacking a recent outing. Bog War has been a fine servant but is now 10 and might struggle to win.
Prediction : 1st Nostra Casa 2nd Conor Hogan 3rd Princess Zoe

COOL COLONNADE could make a winning return to the flat here. He has done well over jumps for Willie Mullins, winning three races in total and is currently rated 133 over fences. That makes him Requinto's only jumps winner and while his initial four runs in 2017 were predictably over a mile or less, today's 1m5f trip is likely to bring about improvement and he should go well from his 58 rating, and notably also holds another entry on Thursday. Switch Around, by Galileo is out of an American Grade 1 winning dam and while she has yet to show any star qualities, she has nonetheless shown a consistent level of ability and today's significant step up in trip could also bring about plenty improvement on handicap debut. Zoffalee progressed well last summer and while beaten on his latest flat start, that was in the Ladies Derby and he has also dropped a further 2lbs. Power Drive is interesting reverting back to the flat but now competes from a career high mark. Ashleagh Fawn is a useful performer at this grade and while she might not be ahead of the handicapper, is nonetheless a previous course winner with good recent run to her name.
Prediction : 1st Cool Colonnade 2nd Zoffalee 3rd Power Drive