UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

Given the good record of trainer Ger Lyons in claiming races, his representative PLANKTON has to be a leading fancy. The three-year-old colt has only had a handful of starts and remains largely unexposed. He should also appreciate stepping back up in trip here, having raced over 6f on his most recent outings. Sister Lola makes a quick reappearance having run well in a stronger contest at Naas on Monday. The James McAuley-trained mare should do better returned to what appears her optimum distance. Stablemate Mischief Star has already won three claimers this year and has to be respected.
Prediction : 1st Plankton 2nd Sister Lola 3rd Mischief Star

BANTRY needs to put a disappointing effort at Listowel behind him but holds every chance on the form of his previous Gowran second. That latter race has been well advertised in the interim, while the John Joseph Murphy-trained gelding had excuses at Listowel. He is well drawn on this occasion and has the services of the champion jockey. Neve Bennett has built up a good relationship with Sondheim, who has every chance on the basis of two good recent efforts. No Patience was just touched off by the latter horse at Cork but has since run very well at Galway. He, too, has a live chance in a wide-open affair. Cleveleys has a difficult draw to negotiate but ran well on his previous visit to this track last month.
Prediction : 1st Bantry 2nd Sondheim 3rd No Patience

TAURAN SHAMAN can give weight and a beating to his five rivals. The Jessica Harrington-trained six-year-old has a tendency to miss the break but on a track such as this, he can get away with it. Shane Foley will be hoping that they go hard in front, setting the race up for a closer. Entropy had been in good form for his new connections prior to finishing down the field here last time. That was a better run than the bare form suggests, so it would be a mistake to discount him on the basis of that effort. Safecracker finished runner-up in two decent premier handicaps before disappointing at the Curragh last time. He is undoubtedly better than that run and has to be greatly respected in a first-time hood.
Prediction : 1st Tauran Shaman 2nd Entropy 3rd Safecracker

LAYFAYETTE can resume winning ways here despite having to concede weight all round. The Noel Meade-trained son of French Navy had looked a very progressive horse prior to running down the field at Ascot last time. Aside from the competitive nature of that Group 2 contest, he may also have found the quick ground against him. Beamish is a difficult horse to assess, as he remains unbeaten after three starts. A winner at this track on his racecourse debut, he followed up at Killarney before taking the step up into listed class in his stride at Roscommon. Duke De Sessa has yet to tackle this trip but is bred to get it. He was a leading Irish juvenile last season and could well have more to offer at this level. Gear Up is another to consider following a good run at the Curragh in June.
Prediction : 1st Layfayette 2nd Beamish 3rd Duke De Sessa

MIDDLEMARCH should take all the beating if behaving himself better than on his debut at Gowran Park in May. On that occasion the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt was reluctant to load, before being slowly into stride. However, once finding his feet, the son of Caravaggio really caught the eye with the amount of late ground he made up. With the form of that maiden working out nicely, he looks the one to be on now. Zoffman was disappointing at Killarney last time but faced a difficult task from his wide draw. He had run some solid races in maiden company prior to that and is interesting in first-time blinkers. Roman Bull has to concede weight to his three-year-old rivals but should be involved. The form of his Limerick second was well advertised at Galway last week.
Prediction : 1st Middlemarch 2nd Zoffman 3rd Roman Bull

SUPPOSEDTOBE should be difficult to beat on just his second start for Gavin Cromwell. Well fancied on his stable debut at Navan last month, he did very well to finish fourth, considering he had to break from stall 22. Much better housed on this occasion, the four-year-old should have a clearer passage under Seamie Heffernan. High Altitude returned to something like his best when runner-up at Killarney last month. Connections have diverted from the usual summer trip to Galway, so arrive here with a fresh, well handicapped horse. Cleopatra's Needle never saw daylight when seventh over course and distance last time but showed signs of ability nonetheless. It won't be easy from this wide draw but granted luck in running, she can play a leading role.
Prediction : 1st Supposedtobe 2nd High Altitude 3rd Cleopatras Needle

STORMY JENN holds a leading chance of gaining compensation for a luckless run over a mile at Naas last time. In a big field apprentice handicap, the gaps just never appeared for the five-year-old, who ran on strongly close home. Granted better fortune this time, the Peter Cluskey-trained mare can get her head in front. Riccardi Medici kept on well when fifth on his handicap debut here last month. With the benefit of that experience, he looks sure to be involved in this open affair. Tara Power was just beaten at Bellewstown last month, before enjoying a luckless passage at Dundalk subsequently. The four-year-old is capable of a big run under Shane Foley. Chambery Prince has run well in two races at Limerick that have since worked out exceptionally well.
Prediction : 1st Stormy Jenn 2nd Riccardi Medici 3rd Chambery Prince

RICH BELIEF who shaped well when fourth at Galway last week can take this prize for trainer Karl Thornton. A three-time winner over hurdles, the gelding has yet to get his head in front on the flat but has gone close on a couple of occasions recently. Stepping up in trip seems to have brought about further improvement in the son of Make Believe. Derrinlaur has been hugely consistent all season and deserves to get his turn. He will find this easier than the Killarney contest in which he finished third in May. Arabian King made a winning debut over hurdles for Matthew Smith but disappointed at Galway when reverting to the flat. He has a bit to prove here but it's interesting that Colin Keane takes the ride.
Prediction : 1st Rich Belief 2nd Derrinlaur 3rd Arabian King