UK Horse Racing Tips: Limerick

AIDE DE CAMP was pulled up recently but has form. Clearly no star and running in first-time cheekpieces, he is nonetheless a fresh five year old who finished fourth in a course Listed bumper last March, has form on testing ground and can be forgiven his Punchestown run, being one of ten to pull up. Carrig Cathal is a five-time winner who is holding form, despite being 12. He is suited by conditions and while his rider claims 7lbs, has plenty weight. Bal De Rio and Female Approach are yard second and third-strings, probably in that order, while Makfils has reasonable form and competes from a low weight. Nevendon would prefer better ground while Elusive Sea has form but disappointed on recent runs. Like Ta Ma steps up from point-to-pointing but is in form.
Prediction : 1st Aide De Camp 2nd Carrig Cathal 3rd Bal De Rio

CARBON KING landed a gamble in December and ran well just six days ago, when meeting some traffic in-running. A quick turnaround isn't ideal and he is 3lb higher, but remains unexposed and can progress further. Buddy One carries a 7lb penalty for winning an unplaced horses' maiden on Saturday and while his rating hasn't been reassessed at the time of writing, looks ahead of the handicapper. However he competes in his first handicap and has an even shorter turnaround time. Tomjackwilliam has winning good course and distance form but is 7lb higher than his Christmas win, when his rider also claimed 7lb. A Different World reappears but is exposed and would prefer better ground. West Of Carrig makes his handicap debut, having won a November point-to-point.
Prediction : 1st Carbon King 2nd Buddy One 3rd Tomjackwilliam

WALK WITH PAUL has shown promise on two course runs. Once registered to be owned by John Magnier, she made a belated debut when running well on the inside-course in November and while well held during Christmas, the winner and runner-up have won since and she drops to a weaker maiden. One Cool Lady, also lightly-raced, has also shown promise but was well held on recent jumps debut and might struggle to beat the selection. Eight year old Hi Ski was second here in November (beating Hot Shimmer into third) but was well held subsequently. Roccos Inspriation was reported post race normal when pulling up at Thurles and returns from a mini-break while Alo's Vision won a recent point-to-point and steps up in grade.
Prediction : 1st Walk With Paul 2nd One Cool Lady 3rd Hi Ski

TRUST ME NATE is race-fit and has hurdling experience. Runner-up on bumper debut, he was well held at Thurles but the winner subsequently landed a Grade 2, the runner-up is now rated 121 and some of the other beaten horses have form. Paul Marvel is an obvious danger for formidable connections, despite debuting aged six. By the same sire as Teahupoo, his dam is closely related to smart French winners and his yard has an excellent form line in maiden hurdles. Lucky Zebo has point-to-point form and ran well at Tramore recently but drops back in distance and probably needs to improve to win. Fine Margin showed promise in bumpers and has jumping experience while Knocknakilla is a 22-race flat maiden. Captain Dillo is out of a French winner, whose half-sister won a Grade 1.
Prediction : 1st Trust Me Nate 2nd Paul Marvel 3rd Lucky Zebo

A very weak race where recent meaningful form is thin on the ground. VENTNOR likes to race prominently and has an each-way chance. His runner-up spot over this trip in a much higher grade at Cork in November shows what he is capable of. Kieran Callaghan's claim puts him on bottom-weight for this contest. Natural Breeze is hard to recommend as he has been off for well over 500 days. A market move for him would be more than interesting, though, as he was in decent nick with a win and three places accrued from six runs in 2021. Lovely Reaction and Mahlers Cove both enter handicap company for the first time after finishing unplaced in maidens won by very useful horses.
Prediction : 1st Ventnor 2nd Natural Breeze 3rd Lovely Reaction

CAOIMHES PET looks the part. She was well backed in a big field at Punchestown and travelled into contention before blundering at the penultimate flight. Jockey Gary Noonan performed wonders to maintain the partnership and his mount soon went for home. Perhaps those exertions told as she was picked off at the last and came in second. She actually races off 1lb lower as Noonan is able to claim 4lb under the conditions of this race. Pont Audemer has finished unplaced in four races to date, however, he was noted keeping on in a higher grade over C&D last month. The form of Gavin Cromwell's stable means that he should be considered. Fons Vivus disappointed on her last start in Tramore. She takes quite a drop in trip, but is more than capable of racing off the front so could go well for some way. Fiery Brown had little chance behind a 1/10 favourite in a mares' maiden hurdle at Punchestown, but did come in a remote second.
Prediction : 1st Caoimhes Pet 2nd Pont Audemer 3rd Fons Vivus

Willie Mullins holds a very strong hand as he fields both Captain Cody and BLIZZARD OF OZ. To complicate matters, the pair faced off in Punchestown last month with the former finishing a place ahead of the latter in second. Blizzard Of Oz went off odds-on favourite and travelled well before failing to pick up in the closing stages. He should be wiser on his second racecourse start. He is 3lb better off with Captain Cody and was only three-quarters of a length behind him in Punchestown. Patrick Mullins stays loyal. One Big Bang graduates to the track after winning a point-to-point under Finny Maguire. He retains the ride and will give him a good steer.
Prediction : 1st Blizzard Of Oz 2nd Captain Cody 3rd One Big Bang