UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

Aidan O'Brien had his first two-year-old winner of the season here on Tuesday and saddles EMPEROR OF ROME in this. The No Nay Never colt is obviously showing a bit at home given that he is out so early. His dam is an unraced half-sister to a US listed winner. O'Brien's son Donnacha introduces Gloucester, a son of Ten Sovereigns who had his first winner with Brighter here the other day. This colt is a half-brother to a smart sort in Great House, a winner for the trainer a few years ago before going on to land two Group 3 contests in Australia. Excel In Space ran well on his debut here a fortnight ago when third to Buyin Buyin. He made the running then before giving way a furlong from home and that experience will be a big asset.
Prediction : 1st Emperor Of Rome 2nd Gloucester 3rd Excel In Space

IT'LL DO MY DAY may prove the pick here in a tricky looking contest. He ran well when chasing home the in-form Tawaazon at Bellewstown eight days ago and runs off a pound lower mark now. Seven furlongs looked too far on his sole previous outing at this venue and he looks on a winnable mark over this kind of trip. Hero Of The Hour comes here in fine form and won well, after getting a run, here last time. He got a 7lb rise for that victory and his run style suggests he might be better over six furlongs. Disco Bear showed much more on her handicap debut at Navan last time but that was on much softer conditions.
Prediction : 1st Itll Do My Day 2nd Hero Of The Hour 3rd Disco Bear

There aren't too many horses running in the Magnier colours off a mark of 54 and UNCHAINED MELODY can gain a valuable bracket here. The Fastnet Rock filly is out of an unraced Galileo mare who is a full-sister to Listed winner Wild Irish Rose, from the family of Islington and Greek Dance. She is obviously no world beater but it was a nice run to finish third to the improver Duke Of Leggagh at Navan last time and going up to a mile-and-a-half now there looks to be a race in her at this level. Cherokee Run ran well on his handicap debut here in February when a close fourth to Autocrat and should be a big player now. That rival has been well beaten at Leopardstown since but that came in very testing conditions and he has to be considered back on this surface.
Prediction : 1st Unchained Melody 2nd Cherokee Run 3rd Autocrat

EMERIC can land back-to-back victories at the track after a cosy victory here a fortnight ago. Colin Keane gave the Elusive Pimpernel gelding a confident ride then and he was value for more than his two-and-a-half length winning margin over Dark Street. An 8lb rise for that doesn't look harsh. The runner-up is entitled to get a bit closer now on revised terms. Barretstown was also a winner here last time, in early February, and in comparison to the selection a 5lb rise for a head victory looks tougher.
Prediction : 1st Emeric 2nd Dark Street 3rd Barretstown

UNLESS ran well on her return this season when losing out by half a length to the highly rated Honey Girl and can open her account now. She was collared inside the final furlong then, after making the running, and went down by half a length to the 102-rated rival at the Curragh. This looks a slightly easier task. The 90-rated Navalny could be the danger now. This No Nay Never filly showed up well when fifth in Listed company here last September before ending last season by finishing fourth in a Naas maiden. She has shown enough to give her a big chance in this company. Ger Lyons introduces Juddmonte filly Smote and markets moves for her would be interesting. The Dark Angel filly is out of a stakes placed full-sister to Showcasing.
Prediction : 1st Unless 2nd Navalny 3rd Smote

The 88-rated CLOUNMACON looks up to winning a race of this standard. The Kodi Bear filly lost out narrowly on her debut last season before chasing home subsequent Breeders Cup winner Victoria Road at Gowran Park. She was staying on over six furlongs on her final start in softer ground at the Curragh and going back up in trip on a better surface should suit better now. Blue News was placed five times from seven runs last season and became a touch frustrating. He had some solid form though and was runner-up three times here so is entitled to be thereabouts again. Phases Of Venus is an interesting newcomer for Paddy Twomey. The Galileo Gold filly is a half-sister to Listed winners Redolent and Pepita.
Prediction : 1st Clounmacon 2nd Blue News 3rd Phases Of Venus

Colin Keane partners ROCKBURY LAD on his return to action. The Showcasing gelding had a couple of decent runs off higher marks on the turf last season and could be nicely treated now. He competed of a mark of 67 on all four runs last season and having slipped 4lb over the winter he gets his first chance in the lowest grade now. Storm Eric was well beaten in testing conditions at the Curragh last time but had been knocking on the door here previously and could go well again back on the all-weather. Memorial Verse hasn't been far away on her last couple of runs here and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Rockbury Lad 2nd Storm Eric 3rd Memorial Verse

ROYAL TRIBUTE was beaten favourite here on Tuesday but may be worth siding with, with Colin Keane taking the ride again. The Kingman gelding has been very consistent on the all-weather over the winter and gained both his previous wins over this trip. Kuwait Direction ran well when third here three weeks ago but this seven furlongs may stretch the Kodiac gelding, who seems to be best when forcing the pace. Blue Wood ran well when a close third here over a mile a fortnight ago. This could be his ideal trip and the Requinto gelding hasn't many miles on the clock despite being seven.
Prediction : 1st Royal Tribute 2nd Kuwait Direction 3rd Blue Wood