UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

SOUNDS OF HEAVEN cost 650,000gns as a yearling and ran well in a smart Gowran maiden. By Kingman and out of a sister to three Group 1 winners, she finished that race well with the runner-up subsequently winning a Group 3. E1,500,000 yearling Starry Eyed is the first foal from a Grade 1 winner, ran well on debut when finishing well and looks sure to benefit for stepping to a mile. Dubawi-sired stablemate Boogie Woogie is out of a Group 1 winner and while well held in that Dundalk race, was off the bridle for a long way and should improve.
Prediction : 1st Sounds Of Heaven 2nd Starry Eyed 3rd Boogie Woogie

PEKING OPERA, by Galileo, shaped well on debut, can improve and should be suited by a mile. Out of a winning sister to Air Force Blue, he was no match for the winner at Naas but did nice work late on, with the third-horse winning subsequently. Sea Gardens has an excellent pedigree being a half-brother to a Group 1 winner and out of a Group 3 winning half-sister to Lope De Vega. Bertinelli is out of a blue-blooded Group 1 winner who has already produced three blacktype performers but should improve for a run.
Prediction : 1st Peking Opera 2nd Sea Gardens 3rd Bertinelli

Noel Meade had a strong hand at the entry stage for this nursery and TEA OLIVE, with Colin Keane on board, looks his main contender. The daughter of Mukhadram caught the eye when sixth in a Galway maiden and the third and fourth on that occasion have won since. Her mid-field finish at Naas last time is also form that is working out nicely and, on both pedigree and running style, this step up in trip to 1m should suit. Bottom weight Grange Lady, a stablemate of the selection, is another who has been shaping like she wants further and her last two runs have been mildly promising. Johnny Murtagh has won five nurseries this term and Tiymara, third in a useful maiden at Roscommon, has to be respected. She was unfortunate to clip heels when favourite at Listowel and her rider, who still claims a valuable 7lb, has had an excellent season.
Prediction : 1st Tea Olive 2nd Tiymara 3rd Grange Lady

It's a compressed handicap and RUN THE JEWELS may be able to continue his progression despite a hefty weight on his back. He's won three of his last five starts and was well on top over 1m at Listowel last time. He's won over this trip, and was narrowly beaten over C&D in the spring, so has plenty in his favour. Star Of Cashel was another to win at the Harvest festival where he took advantage of a mark that had fallen 24lb since the start of the season. There was little wrong with his second under a penalty in a big-field Curragh contest and he's still well treated. The return to a turning track will help him as well. Dazzling Spirit has turned a corner recently with two wins from her last three starts. They have come over longer trips, though, and she'll need a strong pace to aim at as she drops to 7f.
Prediction : 1st Run The Jewels 2nd Star Of Cashel 3rd Dazzling Spirit

CAIRO wasn't all that impressive when just holding on to beat a subsequent winner over 1m at the Curragh after which Aidan O'Brien remarked that he wouldn't be averse to dropping him back to 7f. He was true to his word and the Quality Road colt lost little caste in defeat in a Listed contest at Dundalk last month because the filly that beat him looks smart. Even in a relatively small field, his draw isn't ideal but he may be able to overcome that disadvantage. Bold Discovery wasn't missed in the market when making a winning debut at Naas. He had a subsequent winner back in third when making all and is open to plenty of improvement. King Of Scotia is held by Bold Discovery on a line through the horse that beat him at Dundalk but he may be better judged on his debut second at the Curragh with the winner having gone on to claim a Group 3 in France subsequently.
Prediction : 1st Cairo 2nd Bold Discovery 3rd King Of Scotia

GOODIE TWO SHOES looks to be a filly going places and can take the next step on the ladder. She won a fillies' maiden by almost five lengths on debut at Killarney and followed up in Punchestown. Crucially, she is proven over further as this is a deep race. The last time Aikhal ran over this trip he was a ready winner in a Group 3 at the Curragh in June. He hasn't been in the same form since, however, that was in Group 2 class and a Listed race on the Polytrack in Dundalk. He has to be dangerous with a mark of 110. Monaasib was beaten half a length into second by Goodie Two Shoes in Punchestown. He was then beaten a neck in Listed company over 1m at Cork. That form got a massive boost when the winner took a Group 3 by more than five lengths. Monaasib looks well worth a crack at this longer trip. Goodie Two Shoes' stablemate, Neptune Rock, is likely to be coming home strongly. She was fully 11th at the furlong pole in a Listed race at Listowel and surged in to get up close home. Self Belief and Lyrical Poetry are other serious contenders.
Prediction : 1st Goodie Two Shoes 2nd Aikhal 3rd Monaasib

REALISM's third place in the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh is very strong form. As a 66/1 shot, he was beaten just over four lengths by subsequent Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes hero Luxembourg and Insinuendo who is a Group 2 winner. Of course there is the danger that he was flattered by that run in a small field, but it does show his aptitude for this trip. It is no surprise to see Fawkner Park up in trip after a running-on third at Killarney. The horse behind him in fourth came out and delivered on his next start. Rare Middleton ran a cracker on debut over this trip at the Curragh. He was only caught in the final strides and there are races to be won with him. Newcomer Imaginarium should be checked for market strength.
Prediction : 1st Realism 2nd Fawkner Park 3rd Rare Middleton

A very competitive race. SAFECRACKER is holding his form well and another big run looks possible. He was a close second at Leopardstown in August and six days later delivered in Gowran Park over a similar trip to this one. He kept on nicely for second in a valuable premier handicap at the Curragh over Irish Champions Weekend. Golden Twilight only lost out by the minimum margin of a nose in a premier handicap at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend. That effort came on the back of a victory at Dundalk, so he is a major threat. Zoffman beat 23 rivals in the Curragh last month, so this big field won't faze him. Jamie Powell takes 7lb off his back and the pair have to be respected. Among a host of others with claims are Teed Up, Lunar Power and Flying Dolphin.
Prediction : 1st Safecracker 2nd Golden Twilight 3rd Zoffman