UK Horse Racing Tips: Bellewstown

FAST TARA beat Love Mocha last October and might confirm placings and win. Both the selection and Barrier-Trialled Love Mocha had previous experience going into Dundalk and while Love Mocha is 4lb better off, FAST TARA has a slight edge. Both are by soft-ground-liking stallions. Gunsight ran well on soft at Killarney but disappointed on his latest run in October. Similarly 75-rated Hokusai was keen last year but also showed ability while Vikki Wall, which showed ability on debut, is best watched stepping up to a mile on testing ground. Newcomers are at a disadvantage here although Hotton Glen, already gelded, is out of an Ascot Stakes-winning mare and is by a sprinting stallion. Grey Leader is a half-brother to two capable winners.
Prediction : 1st Fast Tara 2nd Love Mocha 3rd Gunsight

GIVEMEFIVE debuts in handicaps. A half-brother to Sandringham Stakes-winning stablemate Create Belief and smart Star Girls Aamaal, he contested hot maidens last year and while well held, nonetheless showed ability, has been gelded since, has a soft-ground pedigree and handicaps should see him in a better light. Rhythm King has useful soft-ground handicap form and ran well enough in the Birdcatcher in November but is vulnerable to an unexposed type. The Snapper defeated the selection in a maiden but was behind Rhythm King last October and reappears in a first-time tongue-tie. Master Garvey has testing-ground form and has place claims. Knockmore Prince has been running well on the all-weather (beating Indian Outlaw last month) but reverts to testing conditions and runs in first-time blinkers.
Prediction : 1st Givemefive 2nd Rhythm King 3rd The Snapper

ELMOS FIRE was well held on his last runs of 2022 but won in June and likes testing ground. He won his maiden over this distance in June and while he failed to build on that, has slipped down the ratings and contests a winnable handicap. Skontonovski's form figures are also uninspiring but has all-weather form this winter and notably won a soft-ground handicap last October, so should get involved. Both Above It All and My Little Tip's form is over seven furlongs on faster surfaces, while Ten To Ten debuts in handicaps from a poor draw. Scarlet Dancer has won just once and would prefer better ground but has slipped to a career low mark. James Henry is due to run at Leopardstown on Wednesday.
Prediction : 1st Elmos Fire 2nd Skontonovski 3rd Above It All

LOVEJOY won a big-field maiden on debut and returns to a suitable surface. The form of her maiden win has worked out nicely (fourth was runner-up recently, fifth-placed won twice subsequently) and while probably unsuited by the all-weather subsequently, has has a break and remains unexposed. Course and distance winner Escaping Thejungle finished second in that Dundalk race and has strong claims but her best form is on a sounder surface. She defeated Polar Bear to win here in September although is now 9lb worse off and Polar Bear has winning soft-ground form, albeit over six-furlongs. Sam's Xpress won two recent all-weather handicaps but reverts to contrasting ground conditions, which is a concern. CD maiden winner Charming Lady was well held on her last handicap run although has form on testing ground. Thunderbear's form is on good ground and runs in first-time blinkers.
Prediction : 1st Lovejoy 2nd Escaping Thejungle 3rd Polar Bear

TAWAAZON has yet to win on turf but has recent heavy-ground form and is suited by five furlongs. He has been in fine form this winter and was beaten by a 4lb-well-in rival at Navan eight days ago (Ecclesiastical finished sixth, It'll Do My Day seventh)m so should comfortably cope with a 3lb hike. Iva Batt is suited by testing conditions and while well held on recent runs, has had a winter's break and drops to a career low rating. Tai Sing Yeh is better over six furlongs and would prefer better ground while Distillate should find the distance too sharp. That's Mad returns from a long layoff.
Prediction : 1st Tawaazon 2nd Iva Batt 3rd Tai Sing Yeh

STELLIFY is an absolute mud-lover and might return to her best. All her form is on testing ground and while well held on recent runs, contested a stronger race at Navan, has dropped 2lb and is race-fit. Bolero is an eight-year-old 16-race maiden mare but has her chance, despite a poor draw in 17. She too is suited by testing conditions and while she has thrice been beaten by the selection, her most recent runs were consistent, today's rider claims 5lb and has returned following a break. Theonewedreamof has form both on the flat and over hurdles and is race-fit while Carslake improved on heavy ground over hurdles recently and has place claims under a feather weight. Quirky but capable Dollar Value will be unsuited by testing ground while Too Bright has winning form on easy ground but mightn't want heavy.
Prediction : 1st Stellify 2nd Bolero 3rd Theonewedreamof

Lightly-raced STAR KISSED ran well in two maidens last year and is suited by soft ground. A half-sister to Group 3-winning stablemate Thunder Kiss, she was beaten by an 86-rated stakes-placed winner at Killarney and a reproduction, albeit on her reappearance, might suffice. The Gossiper is quite capable on his day and beat subsequently smart hurdler Ashroe Diamond to win a 2021 Galway festival bumper. However he has clearly had setbacks and might struggle to beat an on-song selection on his first run for 282 days. Douglas DC is useful but needs to improve to win, although has place claims on seasonal return. Bumper winner Art Of Silence's form is on good ground.
Prediction : 1st Star Kissed 2nd The Gossiper 3rd Douglas Dc