UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

With a name like SPECIAL WAN, it might be worth taking a chance on the Pat Foley-trained debutant. A half-sister to Yerwanthere, who managed to win here on debut last summer, the Belardo bay won't have to be a star to claim this weak affair. There was just half-a-length between Danvers Gold and Local Girl when they finished second and third at Roscommon earlier this month, and the 79-rated former should be able to confirm the form now. Finsceal Go Deo is without a win in eight starts and while she should give a good account of herself, she may have to settle for minor honours yet again. Apache Squaw is out of a sister to dual-Group 3 winner Sruthan and it'll be interesting to see how she fares on debut, while fellow debutant Spirit Of Paradise is another that warrants respect.
Prediction : 1st Special Wan 2nd Danvers Gold 3rd Finsceal Go Deo

With seven debutants in the line-up and not much form to go on, the market should be informative. A fine third on debut over the course and distance last month, SLI NA GHEALAI is one of the safer options. She stayed on nicely in the closing stages on that occasion and finished a place ahead of Mary The Priest, who had won on her previous start at Listowel. Courageous Strike also ran a fine race on debut, finishing second at Roscommon in May, with subsequent winner Lia Fail back in fifth. The chestnut colt is a half-brother to Rich, who managed to win on debut, finishing down the field on her most recent start in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. With Ger Lyons saddling two of the 18 set to take part, it's interesting that Colin Keane is aboard the Noel Meade-trained Caught U Looking. Sixth behind the impressive Ylang Ylang on debut at the Curragh, she should be able to build on that performance. Stromberg, Mo Ghille Mar and Edvard Grieg are the most interesting of the newcomers.
Prediction : 1st Sli Na Ghealai 2nd Courageous Strike 3rd Caught U Looking

Very few can be safely ruled out in this competitive affair. Fitted with a first-time tongue-strap, WHO NOT WHAT went down by just a neck here early last month. Headed in the closing stages on that occasion, he should be suited by this slight drop in trip to seven-furlongs. The aforementioned tongue-strap remains in place, with cheekpieces added now. A five-time winner in the UK, Invincible Larne ran a cracker on his debut for John McConnell over the course and distance, finishing second after attempting to make all. Cillian McConnell retains the ride and again claims a valuable 7lb. Eastern Wind also attempted to do it from the front here last week, ultimately going down narrowly by a short head and a head. Already a course winner, it'll come as no surprise if she manages to take this. Successful in a claimer at Bellewstown recently, Sunday Sovereign is sure to have plenty of supporters, while other leading hopes are Super Cub and Dabana.
Prediction : 1st Who Not What 2nd Invincible Larne 3rd Eastern Wind

The regally bred Ballydoyle pair look the two to focus on here, with preference for OPERA SINGER, who is the choice of Ryan Moore. The Justify bay is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Brave Anna and Hit It A Bomb, and while she didn't show a whole lot on debut, after being bumped early, she can be expected to come on plenty for that experience. Newcomer Andromeda is the other Aidan O'Brien representative, with this one a sister to 2020 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Peaceful. Joseph O'Brien introduces Kalispera and like the aforementioned pair, she holds some big race entries. Enthralling was behind the selection on debut and is best watched here, while Improvista will need to improve from finishing fifth in a barrier trial if she is to feature.
Prediction : 1st Opera Singer 2nd Andromeda 3rd Kalispera

A case can be made for all eight runners. CORDOUAN was successful on his debut for Adrian McGuinness at Laytown in September and while he hasn't managed to win since, he has been pretty consistent. A close-up fourth in the valuable Nasrullah Handicap over the course and distance last Thursday, it'll come as no surprise if he manages to go a few places better now. While his form is quite erratic, Chavajod is given second preference. Successful here in May, he disappointed on his next start before filling the runner-up spot on his most recent outing at Roscommon. If putting his best foot forward, he is capable of making an impact. Noel Meade has his horses in flying form at present and so Tea Olive warrants respect, while course and distance winner No Niki No and Ladies Derby runner-up Higher Kingdom are other leading hopes.
Prediction : 1st Cordouan 2nd Chavajod 3rd Tea Olive

BOLD DISCOVERY might be able to upstage likely favourite Trustyourinstinct. The latter is two from two but faces his stiffest task to date and may come up short against the classy, battle-hardened selection. After disappointing in two May starts, the Jessica Harrington-trained bay was subsequently treated for allergies and showed his true colours when claiming a Listed contest on his most recent outing. He should be well able for this step-up in trip to nine-furlongs and it'll be disappointing if he is not involved towards the business end. A half-brother to the brilliant 2021 dual Oaks winner Snowfall, Alfred Munnings was a well-beaten third on his return to action at the Curragh. He is entitled to come on plenty for that effort though, as it was his first in over a year. Self Belief has been ultimately disappointing so far this season and will need to bounce back to his best if he is to feature. Empress Of Beauty went down by just a head in Listed company at Naas last month and should give a good account of herself.
Prediction : 1st Bold Discovery 2nd Trustyourinstinct 3rd Alfred Munnings

The first foal out of brilliant four-time Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri, SATURN is the standout name. While friendless on debut at the Curragh on Derby weekend, the grey colt went down fighting and was beaten by just half-a-length. He is sure to come on plenty for that experience and looks the one to beat. Kadeen has two solid efforts to his name but was two-and-three-quarters of a length behind the selection at the Curragh and it's difficult to see him reversing the form now. Tommy Thug made some late gains when eighth behind the aforementioned pair on debut and it'll be interesting to see if he can build on that effort. The 80 rated Teorie is sure to have plenty of supporters, while others that warrant respect are Velvet And Vine and newcomer Rioja Alta.
Prediction : 1st Saturn 2nd Kadeen 3rd Tommy Thug

A competitive contest to round off proceedings, where it might be worth taking a chance on BAILE LOCHA RIACH. A 200,000 pound yearling purchase, he has been disappointing, however his most recent effort at Down Royal was his best to date, and he might be able to build on that performance. Despite still showing signs of greenness, he kept on in the closing stages to finish fifth and fitted with a tongue-strap for the first time now, it should help his cause. Named after the hometown of his owner Michael Burke, a trip to Galway could also be on the cards for this Siyouni chestnut. Pinot Gris made the breakthrough at Down Royal, with the selection back in fifth, and it'll come as little surprise if he manages to follow-up. It'll be interesting to see how Loughisle Lady fares, making her debut for Ciaran Murphy while also returning from a lengthy absence. Union Flag, Darraby, Grey Fable and On The Money are others to keep on side.
Prediction : 1st Baile Locha Riach 2nd Pinot Gris 3rd Loughisle Lady