UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

A very deep race. The form of OODNADATTA'S victory over course and distance is working out very well so she gets the vote. The runner-up has gone on to land a Group 3 while the horses in third and sixth have since won. Pretty Gorgeous cost a pretty fee and was very good on debut at Bellewstown when winning by five lengths. She is respected. Meala (who was third to Oodnadatta) was visually very impressive in demolishing her rivals by 11 lengths on yielding ground at Galway. She has stall one and could be hard to peg back if she works her way to the front. A Ma Chere won by a neck on debut at the Curragh and is open to any amount of improvement stepping up in trip. Finest put her experience to good use when getting off the mark by a nose at Limerick, on her fourth start. The runner-up has since gone in to strengthen the form. Finest's stablemate Snowfall scored on her third outing. Shale (who was sixth to Oodnadatta) was then a comfortable winner in Gowran Park.
Prediction : 1st Oodnadatta 2nd A Ma Chere 3rd Snowfall

CADILLAC absolutely cruised home by nine lengths over course and distance last month, and looks well worth a step up to Group 3 company. He asserted inside the final furlong to come in a whopping nine lengths clear. The second horse was firmly put in his place, but then came out and won on his next start. Vafortino has very solid form in the book which brings him into contention. His close fourth behind Laws Of Indices at Navan was endorsed when that winner grabbed Group 2 glory in the Curragh. Vafortino then shed his maiden tag at this track and the runner-up (Meala, who contests the opening race on the card) has since obliged by 11 lengths at Galway. It is very hard to definitively rule out any of the runners, and there could be considerable improvement in the likes of Masen, Southern Cape, State Of Rest, Military Style and Van Gogh.
Prediction : 1st Cadillac 2nd Vafortino 3rd Masen

TAI SING YEH ran on well to be a never nearer fourth over course and distance from a bad draw a couple of weeks ago, so is a major contender. A couple of Galway winners came out of that Leopardstown handicap, and Tai Sing Yeh is in pole position from stall one for this assignment which gives jockey Donagh O'Connor options. Dance Emperor isn't as well drawn but can get involved. A recent third at the Galway Festival has been franked by the runner-up, and Dance Emperor has won over a mile here before. Take My Hand, who was pipped by a short head in Ballybrit, has plenty going for her, but the horror draw in 21 is going to be difficult to win from. Caesar's Comet won by a short head on his last spin around seven furlongs at this venue and has his chance. The handicapper has had his say, though. Tyrconnell is consistent, but has a wide draw and has been extensively campaigned on the all-weather over the last nine months.
Prediction : 1st Tai Sing Yeh 2nd Take My Hand 3rd Caesars Comet

THUNDERING NIGHTS appeared to be a filly with a bright future after she swooped to win over an extended mile at Galway in the autumn, and could double her win tally here. She was a big price that day in Ballybrit, but proved it was no fluke with a cracking seasonal reappearance in the Curragh last month. Stepped up to 10 furlongs, she was only headed close home in a competitive handicap at the Curragh. She holds a Group 3 entry for the weekend. Amma Grace won a good fillies' maiden at this racecourse towards the end of last season. In this campaign, she has finished fourth in a pair of Group 3s here, and has to have a good chance in the first-time visor. She is rated 3lbs higher than Thundering Nights and they meet off level weights. The Galileo filly has entries up to and including Group One level.
Prediction : 1st Thundering Nights 2nd Amma Grace 3rd Cerro Bayo

NICKAJACK CAVE came from last to first to claim Listed glory at this track in June. That race was over a mile and six furlongs, so he has stamina to burn. He's the highest rated on a mark of 109 which entitles him to plenty of respect. Furthermore, Twilight Payment whom he beat into second has since won Group 3 and Group 2 contests in good style to really boost the form. Pondus is a solid stayer who has the chance to follow up on his Roscommon success. He ploughed through the testing ground and put away Camphor by two and a quarter lengths in that Listed contest. The runner-up paid a compliment to the form by winning nicely at the Galway Festival. Pondus doesn't require heavy ground as he has a fast-ground victory in the book from Sandown. This is a lowering of sights for Mythical, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him get in the mix.
Prediction : 1st Nickajack Cave 2nd Pondus 3rd Mythical

DAY DREAMIN' showed much more ability when fourth over a similar trip at Killarney and looks worth a bet. She is on the same mark of 59, but Gavin Ryan has been booked to take 5lbs off her back for this test. She won't be lacking in any assistance from the saddle from her in-form jockey. Blackstone Cliff was hampered at Down Royal but kept on for fifth, beaten four lengths. That race was over an extended 10 furlongs, so he is interesting at this new distance. Back surgery appears to have worked the oracle on Oromo who began his season in grand style in June with a pair of handicap victories at Fairyhouse on decent ground. He wasn't at his best on rain-softened ground at the Curragh last month, but it could be a different story on this better ground. Happy Company, placed in his last two starts, ought to give his backers a good run for their money.
Prediction : 1st Day Dreamin 2nd Blackstone Cliff 3rd Oromo

Full Moon Magic is of obvious interest under the 6lb penalty for winning here on seasonal debut last Friday. She could make hay from a good draw, but has a big weight on her back, therefore, slight preference is for SWEET AFFECTION. Dermot Weld's charge was beaten by a head over a similar trip at this track in July by Wilderness who was then a close second in the Ulster Oaks. With Gavin Ryan's claim factored in, she races off 2lbs higher and should be more than competitive. Final Endeavour was cut down late on at this venue last Friday, and can put in another good shift. See The Eagle Fly and Killarney winner Harvey Specter are others with claims.
Prediction : 1st Sweet Affection 2nd Full Moon Magic 3rd Final Endeavour

DALILEO could reward each-way support at a price. He was a never nearer eighth in the feature race on day one of the Galway Festival, the qualified riders' handicap. Closer scrutiny of the race sees that he was beaten just over two lengths, as he came home well over that extended two mile trip. Two horses that finished in front of him have come out and won (at the Galway Festival), so a big run looks possible from Dalileo. The rain put paid to Peregrine Run's chance in the Galway Plate. This 17-time winner contests his first flat handicap now, and a mark of 76 should be well within his compass on ground he will love. He is the horse to beat. Shanroe, Tonkinese and Allora Yeats (who stayed on strongly for second at Galway on Saturday) all add spice to the mix.
Prediction : 1st Dalileo 2nd Peregrine Run 3rd Shanroe