UK Horse Racing Tips: Killarney

KEATS showed promise in a couple of outings last year and has progressed when ridden prominently this term. The Galileo colt out of a Group 1 winning dam beat Frank Arthur in a Gowran Park maiden and now drops back to this trip after filling the runner-up spot behind better-fancied stablemate Napa Valley at the Curragh. Shehreen handled testing ground well as a juvenile winning a Galway maiden and wasn't beaten far behind Fancy Blue in the Listed Staffordstown Stud Stakes at the Curragh. However, she needs to bounce back after a disappointing effort over ten furlongs at Naas. Masteroffoxhounds won a Naas mile maiden and now takes a drop in class after running in a Group 3 at Leopardstown, while Epona Plays may find this mile a bit sharp.
Prediction : 1st Keats 2nd Shehreen 3rd Masteroffoxhounds

SHARP FOCUS beat Havana Breeze (now 10lb better off) over this course and distance last year and looks primed for a repeat after shaping well over an inadequate seven furlongs at Leopardstown on Saturday. The Rock Of Gibraltar gelding was noted staying on well in the closing stages and is now drawn on the rail in stall one. Havana Breeze merits respect on these terms and was far from disgraced in two outings last month. Clifftop didn't enjoy the run of the race when keeping on into third behind the progressive Wilderness (completed a hat-trick at Leopardstown on Saturday) and has winning form over this trip at Bellewstown last year. Mk Drama and Scorpion Black are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Sharp Focus 2nd Havana Breeze 3rd Clifftop

KOYBIG has won over a mile here at the July meeting for the past two years and arrives in decent form seeking a seventh career success. The eight-year-old gelding ran into a blot on the handicap in the shape of Patrick Sarsfield when a creditable fourth at Leopardstown last month. High Altitude also likes Killarney having won three times over this course and distance including twice at the August Festival last year, while Gee Rex and Mary Salome are others to note. The latter was slightly hampered in the straight behind Lord Rapscallion at Bellewstown earlier this month and remains on a competitive mark.
Prediction : 1st Koybig 2nd High Altitude 3rd Gee Rex

REDDIAC was rated in the low 70s as a juvenile with Ed Dunlop and hasn't enjoyed the best of luck in running on both outings this season over a mile for Henry de Bromhead. The Kodiac gelding has shown he stays at least ten furlongs and has dropped down to an attractive mark. Day Dreamin' was far from disgraced on her reappearance at Navan earlier this month and any market move for the Tony Martin-trained filly would be significant with Colin Keane booked. Amlad had Drummer and Harvey Specter behind when beating all bar Noble Intention at Navan last time. The Andy McNamara-trained gelding, who held a mark of 87 two years ago, was heavily supported in the morning before that race and Shane Foley now takes over in the saddle.
Prediction : 1st Reddiac 2nd Day Dreamin 3rd Amlad

The O'Briens are strongly represented here with three for Joseph and one for Aidan. There is also dual representation from Jessica Harrington, Noel Meade and 'Sneezy' Foster. Tony Martin gives French import Belgoprince his first taste of Irish action and the County Meath handler also has first reserve Sky God in the mix. A bit of a muddled picture all told then. However, with Declan McDonogh on BLIGH for Joseph O'Brien, the Camelot colt looks a major contender on his handicap debut. He appears sure to be suited to going up in trip, and he can come on from his latest start which was his first in 259 days. Typically for an event of this nature it wouldn't surprise to see some of them take a significant step forward. Celtic Crown didn't get a clear run at Naas and could outrun her likely odds.
Prediction : 1st Bligh 2nd Celtic Crown 3rd Belgoprince

Many will likely focus in on course specialist Peregrine Run here, and he looks sure to go well. A fantastic servant to connections, the King's Theatre gelding won a chase here last week but he's clearly got the pace for this sort of assignment as he showed at Limerick at the end of last month. Jockey Seamus Perry is seeking a first win, though, and preference is for Finny Maguire aboard POLISHED STEEL. This son of Jeremy was lit up by the transition to racing over fences at Tipperary last time. So good on that occasion, the six-year-old has a big chance if transferring that level of performance to his Flat race debut now. Cheltenham Festival hero Chosen Mate didn't figure in Graded company over hurdles when returning at Tipperary on June 26th. He has the potential to be much more of a player here.
Prediction : 1st Polished Steel 2nd Peregrine Run 3rd Chosen Mate

SUPASUNDAE didn't take up a recent engagement at Kilbeggan as the going wasn't deemed suitable. The Galileo gelding, an eight-time winner, three of which were recorded at the highest level over hurdles, makes his Flat debut now at the age of ten. He did win a couple of bumpers at the start of his career and his class might see him through here. Trainer Jessica Harrington recently described the selection as "an ordinary horse now," but he's still a huge fish in this sort of pond. The fascinating one amongst the opposition is Accompanied. We all remember Accompanied's dam, Unaccompanied, and this Distorted Humor gelding is her first foal. Unaccompanied won between a mile and a mile and six, including at Listed level on the Flat, and she was a very smart two mile hurdle victor (twice in Grade Ones). This is the family of Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Trusted Partner. Accompanied missed an intended appearance at Fairyhouse in mid-June and Derek O'Connor takes the reins now for his debut. Coincidentally his dam won at this venue.
Prediction : 1st Supasundae 2nd Accompanied 3rd Rocket Lad