UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

State Of Rest made a good impression when obliging on debut at Fairyhouse, and holds Group One entries, but it looks a stiff task to give almost a stone away to ELYSIUM. Noel Meade's filly had a luckless run on debut at Naas, but left that form behind when devouring the hill in Navan to win by a length and three quarters. Afterwards, Meade commented that she showed plenty of boot at home and was out of a mare who was second in the Chesham at Royal Ascot. The fourth home in that Navan race came out and won her maiden at Cork by five lengths. Elysium should enjoy this step up to seven furlongs. Ebeko was no match for the mightily impressive Cadillac at Leopardstown, but was best of the rest and has place prospects again.
Prediction : 1st Elysium 2nd State Of Rest 3rd Ebeko

The form of JM BARRIE's fifth in a mile handicap at Limerick has received a couple of boosts which give him a good chance here. Both the winner and the third from that race won on their next starts. He has been dropped 2lb by the handicapper which is a bonus. His best finish came over this trip in Dundalk when beaten a length into third. Take My Hand brings consistent form to this contest and has prospects of making the breakthrough. Since racing resumed in June, she has finished third on three occasions including over a mile in Limerick when keeping on well. The handicapper has eased her by 1lb. Tommy The Hat and Impetuous appeal most of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Jm Barrie 2nd Take My Hand 3rd Tommy The Hat

There is no doubting that CAESAR'S COMET is attractively weighted, so he is given the nod. With Joey Sheridan's 7lb claim factored in, he is effectively racing off a mark of 53 which ought to be within his compass. He was very well backed in Cork, under another 7lb claimer, to take advantage of the same rating and finished a close fourth, beaten just over a length. The horse a place in front of him has since won in a better grade. Silk Cravat was only caught close home on the Polytrack in Dundalk on Sunday. He competes off 9lb lower on turf, so has to be of interest with that good run under his belt. Palabres, in first-time blinkers, made all for victory in Leopardstown. She is 5lb higher but can attack from her draw in stall two. Her chance is respected. Accladora and Legendre are closely matched on their runs at Naas, when second and fifth respectively.
Prediction : 1st Caesars Comet 2nd Silk Cravat 3rd Palabres

GALILEO CHROME was in the mix for the Irish Derby before being ruled out with a stone bruise. He is clearly seen by connections as a stout stayer as he holds an entry in the Irish St Leger. There should be plenty more to come from him after his victory by a head in a 10-furlong maiden at the Curragh in June. He beat Serpentine into fifth there, and that horse subsequently made all in the Epsom Derby. Galileo Chrome is one of three horses that Joseph O'Brien saddles. His Degraves sets the standard with an official rating of 106. He won at Group 3 level last season, but hasn't been out since that race in October. He has only raced on rain-softened ground, and is markedly up in trip, so may be best watched. Delphi steps up in trip after winning his maiden over a mile, and then a race over a mile and a quarter. He doesn't win by far, but is a colt of considerable promise. You couldn't definitively rule out the other four runners, who have all won on their last starts, so this has the makings of an excellent race.
Prediction : 1st Galileo Chrome 2nd Degraves 3rd Delphi

Strongbowe was a warm order to win his maiden in Roscommon and duly obliged. He's hard to weigh up with a mark of 87 after two runs, but it would be fair to say that more may be needed to defy a horror draw in stall 17. Centroid was more than entitled to need the run, off a long absence, when unplaced at the Curragh last month. He can do better as he won his maiden over course and distance a couple of summers ago. ROCKY BLUE is the selection, though. His jumping exploits have put him on the map as he won a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at this venue over Christmas. There are still prizes to be won on the flat with him judging by his reappearance in second at Sligo in early July. Joey Sheridan claims 7lb off him, so he is running off a very light weight. It could be argued that this distance is a bit short for him, however, they will be going a shade quicker in this better-class race which will bring his stamina into play at the end. Kevin Prendergast had a double at Dundalk on Sunday, and his Aared is going to spark into life soon as his mark continues to slide. Globe Theatre should be monitored for market strength after switching to Joseph O'Brien after a long break.
Prediction : 1st Rocky Blue 2nd Strongbowe 3rd Centroid

GIN BLOSSOM was slowly away in Tipperary, but ran on strongly over an extended seven furlongs for fifth. She still looks like a filly that can win races after a pair of runner-up finishes over this trip as a juvenile. She clearly ran into one when beaten at odds-on by Lemista in Gowran Park last October, as that horse has gone on to better things in Listed and Group 3 company. Cheekpieces are fitted for the first time. Koola Buala finished a couple of places in front of Gin Blossom in third at Tipperary but Gin Blossom is fancied to reverse the form on 13lb better terms. Awkwafina didn't go unbacked when sixth on debut in the aforementioned race. That was a promising start and she is one that can go well at a price. Lilandra has been a beaten favourite on her two appearances. She has been placed in both, though, and is feared stepping up in trip. Soineanta is looking exposed, but has run some solid races and has a place chance.
Prediction : 1st Gin Blossom 2nd Lilandra 3rd Koola Buala

This appears to be an ideal opportunity for AZTEC PARADE to get off the mark. Johnny Murtagh's charge chased home the useful Napa Valley on debut over course and distance last month, and then kept the 88-rated Edward Hopper more than honest when only losing out by a short head to him in Naas. None of the others have form to rival Aztec Parade. Loved Out was a fair fourth, after attracting support, on his first racecourse appearance over an extended nine furlongs in Gowran Park. He didn't really progress when fifth in a 10-furlong race here at the start of the month. Perhaps the drop back in trip can see him to better effect.
Prediction : 1st Aztec Parade 2nd Loved Out 3rd Berlusconi