UK Horse Racing Tips: Limerick

SHAJAK is a standout on form and might get through the likely soft ground. Listed-placed and rated 95 on the flat last year, he ran a nice race on jumps debut and while slightly disappointing when narrowly beaten at Sligo, conceded 7lb to the winner, who subsequently won on the flat, with the pair pulling well clear. Verbal Sparring is an eight-race maiden but was rated 75 on the flat. He was staying on when unseating his rider at Fairyhouse in February but hasn't run since although has proven ability to handle testing ground. Lady Masquerade is out of a half-sister to three capable jumpers, Can't Think is out of an unraced half-sister to a French Listed hurdle winner while R S Ambush is out of a half-sister to Irish National winner General Principle. Dolly Watkins is a half-sister to five-time winner Minx Tiara while No Mean Feat was pulled up when tailed off on point-to-point debut last April but is surely capable of better.
Prediction : 1st Shajak 2nd Verbal Sparring 3rd Lady Masquerade

SHEER BRAVADO landed a gamble on debut for his trainer at Cork and should comfortably defy an 8lb hike. Once rated 91 on the flat, he won easily on his reappearance run and a reproduction would see him hard to beat, and he has previous form on soft ground. Crowsatedappletart has won just once from 15 starts but that win came over a similar distance on today's course in March and didn't seem quite as effective over fences on his most recent runs. Jack Holiday is dependable and able at this distance but prefers a sound surface while Hard Rain is a 17-race maiden who ran well enough over fences recently and has been placed in similar hurdles in the past. Charlies Pride and Future Proof are held by the selection on Cork form. Florey Spud, a 17-race maiden but with useful recent form, and race-fit Leroy Leroy are declared to run at Ballinrobe on Tuesday.
Prediction : 1st Sheer Bravado 2nd Crowsatedappletart 3rd Jack Holiday

GORGEOUS SUSPECT has clearly had setbacks but should improve from a recent chase run and could be suited by this distance. His May 2021 debut, behind Banbridge, was very encouraging and while lightly-raced since, showed a glimpse of his old ability at Wexford, should improve fitness-wise and seems ground-versatile. Misty's Gift has failed in 11 previous maidens but is a stayer with form. Out of a sister to Rock On Ruby, he won two bumpers in 2021 and while he has subsequently failed to concede a winners' penalty in maiden hurdles, is dependable and was giving vain chase to Kinvara, which subsequently won at Cartmel by 18 lengths, at Wexford recently. He holds consistent Down Around on that form but might struggle against an on-song selection. Keeffelee was beaten by an easy winner at Tipperary while Sixhandsinmypocket has bits of useful form. Forest Breeze, in a hood, and Inchidaly Robin, wearing cheekpieces, step up from point-to-points while Gino Drummer Boy is declared to run on Tuesday.
Prediction : 1st Gorgeous Suspect 2nd Mistys Gift 3rd Down Around

HOW DECC is largely unproven on today's likely soft ground but is well handicapped on his best form. He caught the eye when finishing well in a hot summer maiden at Killarney last August, finishing between capable hurdlers, and while inconsistent, returned to form against higher-rated hurdlers in a recent Tipperary chase. He competes from a low mark of 88 today, upped slightly in distance and under a 5lb claimer. In-form Tuff Days is dependable, likes this distance but all his form is on a sound surface while Walking The Walk is a useful staying chaser who has some hurdlers form but nonetheless is an 11-race maiden in this sphere. Ranger Billy is similarly able in this grade but finished behind Tuff Days at Kilbeggan recently.
Prediction : 1st How Decc 2nd Tuff Days 3rd Walking The Walk

C'EST QUELQU'UN ran well behind a subsequent easy winner on debut for Gordon Elliott recently and is suited by soft ground. Ex-French, he was beaten 25 lengths by subsequent Kerry National winner Busselton on career debut in 2020 - with one State Man finishing second, and while his form is in-and-out, his debut for Elliott was encouraging with the Downpatrick winner now being rated 120. Winnie Woodnutt is in-form and herself finished third to a subsequent winner at Downpatrick recently. A three-time point-to-point winner, she is holding her consistent form in chases and hurdles but would prefer a sound surface. Inchidaly Copper is another three-time points winner who is suited by this distance but would prefer good ground and is absent for 411 days. Tango Theatre is a 16-race maiden but has been running well while 11-race maiden Galmar is also in-form.
Prediction : 1st CEst Quelquun 2nd Winnie Woodnutt 3rd Inchidaly Copper

DANCING JEREMY likes today's likely soft ground and reverts to handicaps company having run ok in a recent smart race at Cork. His best form is over slightly shorter distances but ran well over this distance against higher-rated horses at Cork and had also run well in May. In-form Meehall is ground-versatile, stays well and should get involved reverting to hurdles. The Abbey is well handicapped on his good recent chase form and is rated 17lb lower in this sphere but soft ground would be concerning. Similarly Hand Over Fist's good recent efforts have been on good ground although her French-bred dam's side has soft-ground form. Sean Og's form is also on good ground while Smallcraftwarning, by Gale Force Ten, could also be scuppered by rain. Movie King is declared to run on Tuesday.
Prediction : 1st Dancing Jeremy 2nd Meehall 3rd The Abbey

HUNTSGROVE has a nice pedigree and showed promise on debut in a Curragh winners' bumper. The runner-up and sixth-placed horses have both won subsequently and while he runs over a longer distance and is likely to encounter more testing conditions, today's race is a lesser contest. Polly's Fortune ran well here last October and while she hung left when a disappointing favourite on testing ground at Fairyhouse in December, her form is nothing special and might possibly prefer a sound surface. Fathom Two has winning point-to-point form on soft and runner-up in an ordinary Downpatrick bumper, is race-fit and reliable. Wolfhill is a notable newcomer being out of a Grade 2-winning mare who has already produced three winners. The Shantou King showed improved form at Killarney while Isolde's Voice has a fine flat pedigree but debuts aged seven.
Prediction : 1st Huntsgrove 2nd Pollys Fortune 3rd Fathom Two