UK Horse Racing Tips: Killarney

HIAWATHA is a brother to stablemate Luxembourg and cost 1.2m euros as a yearling. Ballydoyle won this race in 2019 with subsequent Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck, while 2,000 Guineas-third Luxembourg won on debut over course and distance last July (in a median sires maiden) and Seamie Heffernan steered Breeders Cup winner Iridessa to score on debut over course and distance in 2018. Alder's trainer won this race last year with Piz Badile and while Alder showed promise on debut, looks vulnerable to smart types. Valiant King is by ill-fated first-season sire Roaring Lion and is out of a well-bred winning dam while stablemate Mister Mister, a 165,000gns yearling, is from capable German family. Sea Spray, a 50,000gns yearling, is out of a Listed-placed winning dam. Blazing Sunset could make Dermot Weld's sub's bench, behind Tiverton, for Galway and is a son of a winning dam who is a sister to two Group 1 winners.
Prediction : 1st Hiawatha 2nd Alder 3rd Valiant King

MCTIGUE is capable at this trip and on good ground. He has won just once from seven runs but has competed at Group 1 level, was runner-up in a Premier Handicap in June and ran another solid race when third at Leopardstown on Thursday. In contrast to the selection being an open book, Didn'thavemuchtodo is a puzzle and showed big improvement to win at 40-1 at Naas. The beaten odds-on favourite, and runner-up, may have underperformed however and while she has the size and profile to continue progressing, faces a tough challenge against the street-wise selection. Relevant Range has shown consistent form but has 19lb to find with the selection and has been beaten in three maidens.
Prediction : 1st Mctigue 2nd Didnthavemuchtodo 3rd Relevant Range

INDEPENDENT EXPERT is ground-versatile and has consistent form over similar distances. She has top weight and is 1lb higher than when third at Tipperary but her 7lb claiming jockey is back on board having won on her at the Curragh in May. Aristovic won on easy ground at Tipperary but is similarly ground-versatile and while raised 5lb for her win, should hold fifth-placed Cherub Rock, albeit who may be better suited by today's sounder surface. Three Laws, third in a barrier trial, was handicapped on two maiden runs but was well held at Leopardstown last month (Starsong was sixth). Similarly owned handicap debutante Scarlet Angel was well beaten at Gowran but had previously shown form at Cork. Notwithstanding ran ok on handicap debut at Leopardstown and can get involved, dropping to a smaller field in a slightly less competitive race.
Prediction : 1st Independent Expert 2nd Aristovic 3rd Three Laws

At first glance, it may seem that IMPOSING SUPREME needs to go right-handed given his record at Galway and last month's victory at Ballinrobe but his record over C&D belies that. The six-year-old has been placed on all three visits to Killarney and has twice been beaten less than a length. Tom Gibney's good servant can go close despite a 6lb hike for his latest success. Giuseppe Cassioli has only run three times on turf in 25 career starts but his third at Naas was encouraging and his rider's 7lb claim will be a big help. Pierre Lapin has a big chance on his fourth of 27 in a very valuable handicap at the Curragh in May. Hale Bopp didn't build on his Naas win last time but coming back to 1m will suit.
Prediction : 1st Imposing Supreme 2nd Giuseppe Cassioli 3rd Hale Bopp

NOT UNCERTAIN can't beat Ark on ratings but her stable is flying and improvement may be forthcoming with headgear fitted. The Deep Impact filly wasn't beaten far at Sligo and this extra furlong should be fine. Standard-setting Ark has been making the running before getting outpaced in the closing stages of her races. She's consistent but clearly vulnerable. Stablemate Honeycomb was six lengths behind Ark at the Curragh in May but has only had two starts and could easily improve past her. The well-bred Stellar Storm, related to three winners including one at stakes level, wouldn't have to be any kind of star to take this on debut. It's been a chastening year for the Weld stable but there have been a few green shoots recently as Galway comes into view.
Prediction : 1st Not Uncertain 2nd Ark 3rd Stellar Storm

Paddy Twomey took this last year with stable star La Petite Coco and can again collect the prize with SPASIBA. The son of French champion two-year-old Ultra was third to Shark Bay on debut at Cork before winning decisively at Roscommon. Using the third that day as a yardstick, he ran to a mark of around 90 and has been given seven weeks to strengthen up further. Good Heavens was a five-length maiden winner at Leopardstown in the autumn before running creditably in a stakes race at the same venue. He should be better for his comeback third at Roscommon and his mark is some way clear of the others who have one. Willesee, who beat Good Heavens in Curragh maiden last year, ran creditably when second in a small-field handicap at Ballinrobe and may be capable of better.
Prediction : 1st Spasiba 2nd Good Heavens 3rd Willesee

LITTERATUS had Surac back in fifth when second in an all-aged handicap at Tipperary. She's a relatively exposed eleven-race maiden but that was a creditable effort and she's likely to be ridden handy again on this occasion over a furlong shorter. Butterfly Garden was pipped over an extended 1m1f at Ballinrobe and ran another solid race when beaten less than two lengths at Naas. An in-form claimer negates her cumulative 5lb rise but her stamina for this trip is a slight concern. Top weight Rock Of Candy should stay and is better than she showed when behind Butterfly Garden at Naas. A return to the form of her previous placed efforts would see her go close. Alice Diamond, fitted with headgear for the first time, finished in front of the selection when fifth at Limerick and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Litteratus 2nd Butterfly Garden 3rd Rock Of Candy