UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

AIRD ran well on debut and should improve from her recent reappearance, when performing well. From a smart Shadwell family, she was beaten a length and three-quarters by Scarlett O'Hara at the Curragh but stayed well and progression is very likely. Sugaree was similarly beaten a length and three-quarters by Scarlett O'Hara here in May and while she, too, is well-related, is open to less progression than the selection, having had a run the previous month. Astar has been frustrating and while vulnerable to progressive types, is by Sea The Stars so stepping up to this distance is likely to bring about some improvement. World Peace showed little on debut but is by Frankel and hails from a top-class female line. Regally bred Deadly Nightshade is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Above The Curve and is out of a half-sister to Giant's Causeway but makes a somewhat belated debut and has no big race entries. Alalcance is a half-sister to two winners but also debuts.
Prediction : 1st Aird 2nd Sugaree 3rd Astar

AKKADIAN EMPEROR concedes plenty weight but met interference here on debut and could be capable. Out of an unraced half-sister to three stakes performers, he was only 4/1 on debut and was staying on from off the pace until hampered in the final furlong. The fourth-placed horse won well subsequently and the selection should improve. Mary The Priest beat Port Louis by a half-length at the Curragh on May 1 and both have won subsequently, are dependable and ground-versatile - although Port Louis is now 4lb better off. Sea Singer finished nicely on debut and can progress, while Hispanolita was green on debut and is also open to progression under a light weight. Lightly weighted Sli Na Ghealai's unraced dam is a sister to Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune. Declan McDonogh does a light weight on Basilah Bear, a half-sister to two Italian winners, while better-bred stablemate Alpha Cephei is a half-brother to Group 3 and Listed winners but is the apparent second string. Dramatic Entrance's dam is a half-sister to the dam of 2,000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder but failed to sell at 45,000gns at an April breeze-up sale. Cloud Seeker's half-brother was a juvenile winner.
Prediction : 1st Akkadian Emperor 2nd Port Louis 3rd Mary The Priest

Both AMANIRENAS's wins have been over this course and distance, on good ground. A winner when rated 67 last July, she lost form subsequently but was a comfortable winner here last week and while she carries a fixed 7lb penalty (and runs from her correct rating), her same rider claims an extra 3lb today. Fastman has run well twice here recently and has obvious claims, although dropping a furlong isn't ideal. Storm Eric is an all-weather winner who might not have been suited by soft ground at Cork. He should be better suited by both this surface and today's extra furlong, and competes from just 1lb higher than his winning Dundalk rating.
Prediction : 1st Amanirenas 2nd Fastman 3rd Storm Eric

BENAVENTE ran very well in a more competitive handicap over course and distance recently. An eye-catcher on career debut in a hot 2020 maiden, he has yet to place in six turf runs but is well suited to a mile and stayed on well late on here recently, having raced keenly. He has dropped 2lb and this looks winnable. Cnodian got the rub of the green when rain arrived and the stalls were taken away at Limerick recently and while just 5lb higher, would prefer easy ground and has a largely exposed profile. Zero Fighter is an unexposed three-year-old but steps in in grade having won an ordinary Roscommon claimer last month. Fellow three-year-old Jim's Cracker stayed a mile as a juvenile and is probably best watched on reappearance at this same distance.
Prediction : 1st Benavente 2nd Cnodian 3rd Zero Fighter

This is a minefield for punters. Andy Oliver's SEMBLANCE OF ORDER is a gritty competitor who keeps running his race and he is just 1lb higher after getting to within a head of his stablemate in a good handicap at the Curragh last month. He gets first-time blinkers, while National Emblem's maiden success at Gowran Park last summer has been well franked. He made his seasonal reappearance, and handicap debut, in a slightly higher grade at Naas last month and is entitled to come on from that sixth-placed finish. He has been dropped 2lb by the handicapper and Scott McCullagh claims 3lb. Hero Blues has to enter the equation after running on well to land a Fairyhouse maiden just under a fortnight ago. Slieve Binnian is markedly up in class, but was impressive in winning by a wide margin at Dundalk in November. Dawn Session won his maiden over further at Gowran Park which will help his cause if this turns into a battle.
Prediction : 1st Semblance Of Order 2nd National Emblem 3rd Hero Blues

Tom McCourt's SHINING AITCH was only collared in the final strides of a 1m2f handicap at Navan and is clearly on a competitive mark. His last victory in Wolverhampton in October 2021 came off 12lb higher. McCourt's Rampage lost out by a head and a nose in a thrilling finish to a C&D handicap last week and the same pilot, James Ryan, is on board again. Reverberation is threatening another victory. Skontonovski stayed on for third over C&D. He is likely to be coming home stronger than most. Atbay could enjoy this extra distance after running on for fourth over 1m at Listowel, while Colin Keane is an eye-catching booking for Everylittlestep.
Prediction : 1st Shining Aitch 2nd Rampage 3rd Reverberation

KING LEODEGRANCE experienced a similar trip when second in Tipperary and the winner followed up in Naas to strengthen the form. There should be plenty more to come from Aidan O'Brien's colt. Dubawi Delight is regally bred being by Dubawi out of a multiple Group 1-winning mare and he showed marked improvement on his second start (and first time on better ground) when chasing home the winner at the Curragh. The horses that sandwiched him in first and third both won on their next starts. Teorie put in good late work for second over a slightly shorter trip in Tipperary, while Balnarring Beach and Waltham are newcomers to check in the betting.
Prediction : 1st King Leodegrance 2nd Dubawi Delight 3rd Teorie

An intriguing contest. Sir Mark Prescott Bt sends over Whatawit from his stable in Britain and this five-year-old gelding couldn't be arriving in better form, following wide-margin victories at Huntingdon and in a match race at Ffos Las. It wouldn't be surprising to see him go very well, but MON COEUR has plenty of ability and ran as well as could be expected in second behind a horse with a triple-figure rating at Listowel. Nikini flopped in a staying maiden at Sligo in May, but is a very talented hurdler and could have a major say. Enniskerry hasn't been seen since December but, on his penultimate start, he won a Grade 3 novice chase at Roscommon. Aussie Warrior was tough off the front in a Roscommon maiden hurdle recently, while Sea The Stars filly Bella Nebula makes her debut for a shrewd stable.
Prediction : 1st Mon Coeur 2nd Whatawit 3rd Nikini