UK Horse Racing Tips: Kilbeggan

BRIDGEHEAD sets a good standard. He is returning from an absence of more than six months, but has finished runner-up in both starts over hurdles and the form looks strong. He was a close second in Punchestown, when last seen, and the winner went on to be placed in a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham. The horse that beat him by a head in Ballinrobe came out and won on his next start. This sharp track could suit Ages Of Man if he adopts front-running tactics.He attempted to make all on his last start in a Fairyhouse novice handicap hurdle and had to settle for second place. He has shown enough form to make the breakthrough particularly when third in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle last year. Wasthatok has finished behind some useful sorts in bumpers and is interesting on his hurdle debut.
Prediction : 1st Bridgehead 2nd Ages Of Man 3rd Wasthatok

CHARLIE LUCIANO has finished runner-up in two of his four hurdle races and wouldn't be winning out of turn. A spin on the Flat at Dundalk last month should have blown the cobwebs away. Gordon Elliott's Up And Out was pulled up on his last start when he got bogged down on heavy ground at Wexford in October. He is coming off a break, but has two placed efforts on better ground in the book. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him show up well. Starman ran freely when a beaten favourite in Clonmel. If he settles better, he could get in the mix. Hey Skipper is a half-brother to a horse that has won seven times over hurdles, so isn't without hope on debut.
Prediction : 1st Charlie Luciano 2nd Up And Out 3rd Starman

DOYENNA is a useful mare who could be worth chancing on her return to action. She was unplaced in a Grade 3 mares' novice hurdle at Down Royal in November, but that was on unsuitable soft ground. She had earned a crack at that company by posting two victories over flights in Tramore and Fairyhouse. She will welcome this drying ground. Tipp For Mac was still in with a chance when unseating his rider at the last in Downpatrick. Rachael Blackmore stays loyal and the pair have brighter prospects than most. Second Subaltern showed ability in bumpers and could make an impact on handicap hurdle debut. The Big Chap and Steppenwolf will have their supporters. First-reserve I Don't Get It won off the front in Downpatrick and is likely to make this a searching test if getting a run.
Prediction : 1st Doyenna 2nd Tipp For Mac 3rd Second Subaltern

GOLDEN SANDBANKS could exploit a hurdle mark 11lb lower than his chase rating. His second place in a rated novice chase at Cork in October reads very well as the winner has landed another three races since then, including a Grade B handicap chase at Leopardstown. Golden Sandbanks has been in decent nick on the Flat in winning at Dundalk in November and returning with a close fourth at the same venue last month. She's Tobias has switched to Ciaran Murphy and looks dangerous. She was second in maiden company at Roscommon in September before being a beaten favourite in third in a Sligo handicap hurdle the following month. The two horses that beat her have both scored since. Bal De Rio has won two of his last three. Those races were on testing ground, however, he has back form on better ground. Mister Twist is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Golden Sandbanks 2nd Shes Tobias 3rd Bal De Rio

Drying ground will will have a big part to play in this race. BALLYGLASS BEAUTY ran a fair race in third, in the same grade, on soft ground at Thurles in March. His sole victory came on better ground over a similar trip at this track last September. Townhill Penny won over an extended 2m5f at Downpatrick last August. That success came on better ground, so she should relish this assignment. Prominent-racer Cheerful Chap has a shot at his second victory over hurdles. He was only beaten half a length into second over an extended 3m at Punchestown in February. He may prefer the ground to be a bit slower, though. Ray Barron takes 7lb off Desert Heather's back and this mare is performing consistently since graduating to the track after three point-to-point successes.
Prediction : 1st Ballyglass Beauty 2nd Townhill Penny 3rd Cheerful Chap

While FINAL DECISION is one of the more exposed mares in this contest, the Anthony McCann-trained four-year-old sets a reasonable standard for the opposition to match. Following a promising debut at Doncaster in November, the daughter of Iffraaj has posted fair efforts in three subsequent outings. If anything, her latest run, when a close third at Thurles in February, was her best piece of form to date. River Tara looks opposable on bare form but the very fact she makes her debut for Willie Mullins now makes her one to be interested in. Although her Killarney fifth probably wouldn't suffice, improvement should be forthcoming. I Am Shadow is a relatively consistent mare who also looks capable of going close in this ordinary affair.
Prediction : 1st Final Decision 2nd River Tara 3rd I Am Shadow

SOLDANTE should find this easier, having competed in stronger races since making his racecourse debut at Galway in October. Since then, the five-year-old has finished runner-up on two occasions and acquitted himself well on the other start. In a race which doesn't appear to hold too many surprises, he can get his head in front for the first time. Better was clearly expected of Chrisco when the Willie Mullins-trained gelding was a beaten odds-on favourite on his debut at Fairyhouse back in January. Given plenty of time to recover from those exertions, it would be surprising if we don't see a much better performance now. Brandt also failed to deliver when heading the market on his initial foray under rules but, he too, can show his true potential in this finale.
Prediction : 1st Soldante 2nd Chrisco 3rd Brandt