UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

MOWGLI is a good ride for an apprentice and may be able to reverse 6f Curragh form with Seeingisbelieving over this shorter trip. Willie McCreery's charge was a well beaten favourite in this last year having scored at the Curragh a few days previously but he has a course win to his name and will enjoy conditions. Seeingisbelieving, from a yard which has their horses in good nick, has some useful back-form to his name and went close to a first win when going down by half a length at headquarters. There's no doubt he's well-handicapped at the moment and he was a length in front of the selection last time but five furlongs may be a bit sharp for him. Tawaazon has been thriving for his new connections at Dundalk where he bolted up on Friday and, even with his penalty, he's better treated on turf but the ground will be against him.
Prediction : 1st Mogwli 2nd Seeingisbelieving 3rd Tawaazon

Paddy Twomey has his first runner of the season here and FRENCH CLAIM will be hard to beat. Bill Lee's mount likes it soft and has won first time out for the last two seasons. His Irish Derby third and respectable run in the St Leger (beaten five lengths) is the best form on offer. Okita Soushi is fit from a couple of wins at Dundalk and stays well but testing ground is a concern for him. Taipan finished in front of both the selection and Okita Soushi in last year's Irish Cesarewitch but was soundly beaten on his final two starts. His only win came on heavy and he can contend for minor honours.
Prediction : 1st French Claim 2nd Okita Soushi 3rd Taipan

BLACK HAWK EAGLE is entitled to come on a bit for this first start in nearly six months but gets the nod despite that concern. One of a few in here with form over hurdles, he was placed in his first three handicaps in this sphere last term including when runner-up over 1m4f on soft ground at Roscommon. Noel Meade's charge looks to be on a winnable mark. Secret Rock won an ordinary maiden hurdle at Wexford a few weeks ago with plenty up his sleeve. He showed very little on the Flat last year but has probably taken time to mature and a tongue-tie goes on for the first time. Paradise Lost has been running well in juvenile contests over hurdles and race-fitness will be an asset on this handicap debut.
Prediction : 1st Black Hawk Eagle 2nd Secret Rock 3rd Paradise Lost

Ballydoyle registered a couple of winners at Naas on Sunday and are represented by a pair of Derby entries in this maiden. GOOLOOGONG should have learned plenty from a spin at Dundalk at the back-end where he made some late headway after a slow start and Ryan Moore takes the ride. As we saw at Naas, that doesn't always mean he's on the right one and the Camelot colt King Leodegrance, a half-brother to dual Group winner Mohawk, might be up to the job if forward enough for this debut. Young Ireland has a healthy rating but his form tailed off a bit after a busy time of things in the autumn and he looks vulnerable. Nation's Call had a nice run on debut at the Curragh when not far behind third-placed Young Ireland but didn't build on that next time at Naas. He may be capable of better this year.
Prediction : 1st Gooloogong 2nd King Leodegrance 3rd Nations Call

Nursery winner DUKE OF LEGGAGH ran a stormer when second in the Madrid Handicap at Naas on Sunday and is turned out quickly before being reassessed. He ran off 81 then as he was 12lb out of the handicap so a fair hike is inevitable. Having made the running over seven furlongs, he was outpaced by the winning favourite Paddington before plugging on well up the hill and that suggests he may be able to see out this longer trip. Tea Olive didn't give her running at the Curragh on her final start at two but a repeat of her third over a mile at Leopardstown would see her firmly in the mix. She did good late work that day and is a sister to a winner over this trip. More than half of these are handicap debutants including Sapristi. She ran a couple of nice races in back-end maidens and is bred to improve for this step-up in trip.
Prediction : 1st Duke Of Leggagh 2nd Tea Olive 3rd Sapristi

The softer the better for DERRY LAD and he has the added advantage of being fit from hurdling. Kevin Coleman's runner has placed form over further but both his wins have come at around this trip. He wasn't beaten far by Brave Troop when third over C&D in October and has a nice pull at the weights with that rival now. Brave Troop has also been running over flights in recent weeks. He's up 8lb in the ratings for that win here last term which came on soft ground and there may well be more to come from him as a fairly lightly-raced four-year-old. Right down at the bottom of the card Everylittlestep is another to consider. Her final start last year was a disappointing effort at this venue but she had been placed four times in a row before then and was unfortunate to bump into the very progressive Dunum a couple of times during that consistent run of form.
Prediction : 1st Derry Lad 2nd Brave Troop 3rd Everylittlestep

Paddy Twomey is a trainer whose Group entries are always noteworthy because they are certainly not made without very good reason. That makes Irish 2,000 Guineas and Irish Derby entrant CAPTAIN JOHN BARRY of significant interest and the homebred Saxon Warrior colt is out of a mare who won a maiden over 1m2f for Luca Cumani. Aidan O'Brien introduces Drumroll who is a full-brother to the aforementioned Saxon Warrior but has no fancy entries, whereas stable companion Ballsbridge holds an engagement in the Irish Guineas. The latter, who is out of dual Group 1 winner Happily, sports blinkers for this debut, however, which is hardly a great sign. With those who have already run looking beatable, the market will be revealing in this finale and Time Tells All is another who will have the bookies on their guard. Well entered up in the Classics, the Sea The Stars colt is a half-brother to last year's impressive Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs.
Prediction : 1st Captain John Barry 2nd Time Tells All 3rd Ballsbridge