UK Horse Racing Tips: Bellewstown

The form of the valuable handicap hurdle at Killarney that GORDONS AURA finished fourth in looks strong with the winner being considered for the Galway Hurdle, and the horse behind him in fifth delivering twice since then. Any rain will be to Gordons Aura's advantage. Charlie Luciano has won his last two hurdle races and was notably tough in Downpatrick. He won't be easily passed. Calico, a stablemate of Gordons Aura, was a beaten favourite at Ballinrobe, but that was in her bid for a hat-trick and she looks dangerous off a handy weight. After a string of placed efforts, Mister Wilson made the breakthrough over flights in Listowel and has a part to play.
Prediction : 1st Gordons Aura 2nd Charlie Luciano 3rd Calico

ENCANTO BRUNO can go well on his eagerly-awaited debut over hurdles. John McConnell's charge won two bumpers including one at Cheltenham which has thrown up a plethora of winners. That earned him a shot at the festival at the same track where he finished mid-division in the Grade 1 champion bumper after racing keenly on ground that was arguably too slow for him. He is sure to be well schooled for this jumping assignment. Now Is The Hour is an intriguing track debutant for Gavin Cromwell after cruising home by 30 lengths in a Cragmore point-to-point in January. Baby Chou is in good hands and has been placed on her last couple of maiden hurdles. Cromwell also saddles Dutch Schultz and Fameaftertheglory who are closely matched on ratings, while Finans Bay won twice on the Flat and is worth a market check on jumping debut for Henry de Bromhead.
Prediction : 1st Encanto Bruno 2nd Now Is The Hour 3rd Baby Chou

MAGNOR GLORY has viable credentials based on the form of his last three outings. He won a Grade B handicap hurdle at Listowel in September by three lengths and resumed this season with placed efforts in valuable handicap hurdles at Fairyhouse and Killarney. Gordon Elliott holds a strong hand in this race and his Amir Kabir is dropping down from graded company to compete off top-weight on handicap debut, so has to be given plenty of respect. Elliott's Set Point looks ready for a step up in class after winning in Downpatrick and then a shade cosily in Tramore. The handicapper has had his say, but this son of Sea The Stars appears to be progressive. Global Export blew away the cobwebs with a never nearer third on the Flat in Listowel and this looks an ideal trip for her, while Elliott's By Your Side and his conqueror in Downpatrick, Rock On Seamie, are others in the hunt for a cheque.
Prediction : 1st Magnor Glory 2nd Amir Kabir 3rd Set Point

TINA MEEHAN is returning off a long absence but, such was the manner of her victory in a Tramore bumper, she is hard to get away from on hurdling debut. She put the field to the sword by 14 lengths and the runner-up was good enough to win a bumper on her next start. Ginnets Girl was put in her place in second over further at Punchestown last month, but is entitled to come on from that first run since November. Miss Fourie made a good start to life with Peter Fahey when runner-up at Wexford in June, while Winning Mischief has improved on each run over hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Tina Meehan 2nd Ginnets Girl 3rd Miss Fourie

There should be a big run in CHAPEL STREET. He was a comprehensive winner, in a higher class, over a similar trip at Wexford over a year ago and then finished third behind two subsequent winners at the same track on his reappearance at the end of May. Sarah Kavanagh takes 4lb off his back and he is weighted to go well. Hand Over Fist can improve upon a promising third place in Tramore that came off an absence of more than six months. That run came in a higher grade and he remains on the same handicap mark of 95. Jenny Flex is a well-bred sort and there is likely to be more to come from this former point-to-point winner.
Prediction : 1st Chapel Street 2nd Hand Over Fist 3rd Jenny Flex

JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN showed promise in bumpers and ran his best race over hurdles when placed at Downpatrick last month. This longer trip is a slight concern but he's bred to stay and this isn't the stiffest of tracks. Our Bobby is still 9lb higher than when gaining his only hurdles win at Wexford last summer. He has been placed several times since, including over this trip, and performed well when fitted with a first-time hood at Punchestown in May. Top Line Tommy won a 2m5f beginners' chase at Tramore last month and found 2m too sharp when runner-up in a handicap at Clonmel. He has plenty of placed form in this discipline and is rated 10lb lower over hurdles compared to his chase rating.
Prediction : 1st Joshua Chamberlain 2nd Our Bobby 3rd Top Line Tommy

ATTABOYARCHIE ran plenty of good races in bumpers under Emma Sweeney, notably when second to subsequent Grade 1-winning hurdler Good Land, and the family-owned gelding can again give his rider a good spin on handicap hurdle debut. Runner-up in a Navan maiden last year, he was a little disappointing when a beaten favourite over 2m4f at Wexford last time but this longer trip may play to his strengths. Mary Cassatt was a decisive winner of a 2m6f maiden at Killarney and again showed her liking for a test of stamina when beaten less than a length in a Cartmel handicap over 3m1f. Still only four, she's open to plenty of improvement. Easy Fella is another that stays well and was a wide-margin winner of a Punchestown maiden last month. He's been given a 6lb hike for that but could still be on good mark for his first handicap.
Prediction : 1st Attaboyarchie 2nd Mary Cassatt 3rd Easy Fella

It could be a mistake to oppose Willie Mullins in a bumper but INTENSE APPROACH is taken to score for local handler John McConnell. An expensive purchase from the point-to-point sphere after winning at Farmacaffley for Constitution Hill's original handler Warren Ewing, the son of Jack Hobbs was pipped by a Mullins' inmate at Ballinrobe in May. That year-older rival had solid bumper form in the book and, with the benefit of that experience, the selection can go one better. Many won't look beyond the Mullins-trained Ivana who readily justified favouritism on her debut at Limerick in May. The runner-up is due to put that form to the test at Wexford on Friday. Downpatrick third Gone For Tea is entitled to improve with that run under her belt but may have to settle for minor honours again,
Prediction : 1st Intense Approach 2nd Ivana 3rd Gone For Tea