UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

This looks an open contest and it might be worth siding with EVENING'S EMPIRE. Slow into stride on debut at Bellewstown, the grey filly came home well to finish a never nearer fourth. She can be expected to come on plenty for that effort and it'll be disappointing if she is not involved towards the business end. Blue News has two solid efforts to his name and is given second preference. Third on debut at Cork, he finished ahead of Polar Bear who re-opposes now. He since finished a solid fifth of 18 at the Curragh and it'll come as no surprise if he manages to make the breakthrough now. Tir Tairngire came in for plenty of market-support on debut at Cork and ran well there to finish sixth of 13. She too looks to have solid claims. Andy Oliver and David Marnane both saddle two newcomers. Oliver's Toughen Up is a half-brother to dual-Group 3 winner Nayef Road and it'll be interesting to see how he fares.
Prediction : 1st Evenings Empire 2nd Blue News 3rd Tir Tairngire

Kodi Noir sprang a massive 125/1 surprise for Adrian Murray at Fairyhouse on Wednesday and the Co Westmeath trainer might be able to strike again here with KODI RED. The 83 rated colt has some solid efforts to his name and should be able to make his presence felt in a contest of this quality. Palace Gardens and Reinforce were second and third to Apache Outlaw at Fairyhouse early last month and the pair are leading contenders here. The former since disappointed at Roscommon but may not have been suited by the testing conditions, and back on quick ground a much-improved performance looks likely. John O'Donoghue was successful with Cailin Cliste at Fairyhouse on Wednesday and he gave Reinforce a favourable mention when talking to parade ring MC David Jennings in a post-race interview. Approach The Bear and Wild Rover are others for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Kodi Red 2nd Reinforce 3rd Palace Gardens

STUDIO CITY can make the breakthrough. Michael O'Callaghan's charge must have been showing up well at home as he went off favourite on debut at Cork before finishing fourth. He then took the runner-up berth behind a clear winner over C&D, and the horse that beat him has since delivered in Listed company to enhance the form. Hilltop Gold showed marked improvement to come home second over an extended 5f in Bellewstown. She should have a part to play. Andrew Oliver runs two newcomers and his Zing Up is a half-sister to a four-time winner (including two valuable sprint handicaps).
Prediction : 1st Studio City 2nd Hilltop Gold 3rd Zing Up

SPEEDACUS appeals dropping in class. On his penultimate start, over 5f in the Curragh, he was a fair fourth behind a horse who has since emphatically franked the form in the valuable Rockingham. Speedacus enjoys this track with a victory and a runner-up spot in his two starts here. The handicapper has dropped him by 2lb and he gets first-time blinkers. This stiff finish plays to Curraheen Princess' strengths and she was victorious in her last two visits. Paddy Harnett's 7lb claim helps lessen her burden. A line can be put through Amazing Emma's run in Bellewstown where she stumbled and unseated Colin Keane. She keeps threatening another success and a hood is tried for the first time. Jazzy Dancer was very good off the front over C&D last month when comfortably scoring by two and a quarter lengths. He has been hit with a 10lb hike in the weights, but should still be competitive.
Prediction : 1st Speedacus 2nd Curraheen Princess 3rd Amazing Emma

FUMATA was fourth over C&D in the spring and showed he had come on nicely for that first run when winning over 1m4f at Leopardstown in May. Connections feel that trip is the minimum of his distance requirements but he may be up to winning this if he's ridden positively. The placed horses in that Leopardstown maiden have won since and he's open to more improvement. Sussex was given a 10lb hike for finishing fourth in the Group 2 Curragh Cup and cuts back half a mile in trip. Whether he is worthy of his new mark remains to be seen. Shajak was very disappointing in the Ulster Derby having won a 1m4f Tipperary maiden while Jezebel Queen has been running respectably in stakes company but needs to find a bit more.
Prediction : 1st Fumata 2nd Sussex 3rd Jezebel Queen

SUPAGIRL has notched two victories over this trip this season including a course win in March. She also scored at Leopardstown in May and was a creditable fourth in a premier handicap over C&D on her penultimate start. Positive tactics are usually employed on her and she might be able to bounce back after being well held at Down Royal three weeks ago. Prime Chief was fancied the same afternoon at Down Royal but could manage only fifth in a race he had won the year before. That was his first run of the year and he's entitled to come on for it. Dudley's Bar was another to underperform at Down Royal in June but his previous two handicap starts were encouraging while the selection's stablemate Airglow, a half-sister to a useful dual-purpose mare, may improve for stepping up to this trip for her second handicap outing.
Prediction : 1st Supagirl 2nd Prime Chief 3rd Dudleys Bar

No doubt bookmakers will tread warily with regard to Willie Mullins' German import ARRIBA, who finished third in four of her five races in her native land. She's a half-sister to Aramon, who won on the Flat and landed the Galway Hurdle for Mullins two years ago, and useful jumper Aramax and cost 28,000 Euros when sold shortly after her most recent outing last August. The absence since then is of little concern and a mark of 60 looks potentially lenient. Satono Chevalier has been running quite well this term and was third in a higher grade at Ballinrobe last time. Rodney Bay has been acquitting himself well under both codes and made the frame over 1m4f at Bellewstown. Philly's Hope has been knocking on the door of late and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Arriba 2nd Satono Chevalier 3rd Rodney Bay