UK Horse Racing Tips: Killarney

NINTH LOCH showed promise in a bumper at the Punchestown festival before beating a subsequent winner at Kilbeggan in June. Willie Mullins' gelding was soundly beaten in a Flat maiden at Galway but at least that run will have advanced his fitness and he can make a winning debut in this sphere. The Wallpark was second in a 20-runner maiden hurdle at Down Royal last year for his previous handler and landed a Downpatrick bumper on his first start for Gordon Elliott in May. His jumping experience will be an asset, while Morph Speed is a five-time winner on the Flat and landed a valuable 1m6f handicap at this venue last year. Rated in the mid-80s on the level, he'll be a big player if taking to hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Ninth Loch 2nd The Wallpark 3rd Morph Speed

MR SOCIAL built on an encouraging fourth at Downpatrick to get off the mark over this distance at Tramore just over a week ago. The Getaway gelding has scope for further improvement and can defy a 6lb hike in the ratings. Battle Away won over C&D last July after an absence of almost three years. That was her first start for Ross O'Sullivan and she followed up at Cork. Her mark has come down enough for her to compete again in this grade and her layoff is obviously of no concern. Slaney Bank, fourth on handicap debut at Kilbeggan last month, has cheekpieces fitted for the first time and represents a yard whose runners always command respect.
Prediction : 1st Mr Social 2nd Battle Away 3rd Slaney Bank

The performance of Mr Social in the first division of this handicap will be of no little relevance to this contest as HARD TARGET chased home that horse at Tramore just over a week ago. The top weight, a winner at Clonmel during the winter, has strung together a sequence of creditable placed efforts this summer which includes a runner-up finish over C&D last month. Man After Midnight was five lengths behind the selection here in July and that was her best effort so far. If showing no ill effects from a fall at Wexford, she can throw down a challenge. Black Tonic kept on nicely into fifth at Kilbeggan on his first completed start for Richard O'Brien and this half-mile longer trip may see him in a better light.
Prediction : 1st Hard Target 2nd Man After Midnight 3rd Black Tonic

WE'LLHAVEWAN got a big hike in the ratings for a decisive success at Ballinrobe in May and had a break before being unplaced in two outings at the Galway Festival. He wasn't beaten far when sixth of 20 over this trip on his first run at Ballybrit and gets in at the foot of the weights here. Au Fleuron is the choice of Jack Kennedy over Gordon Elliott's other runner Tullybeg who landed a valuable prize over fences at Ballinrobe earlier in the summer. The Crillon gelding has been disappointing in recent starts but his run in the conditional riders' handicap at Cheltenham in March was creditable and he should benefit from this drop in grade. Futurum Regem had a pipe-opener on the Flat recently when showing up well at Leopardstown and has no weight on his back. Below par last year, a return to the form he showed in late 2021 would see him involved and he'll relish this trip.
Prediction : 1st Wellhavewan 2nd Au Fleuron 3rd Futurum Regem

CAPTAIN CONBY didn't quite live up to expectations over hurdles but still showed a high level of ability and can make a winning start over fences. A dual winner at Punchestown, Dusty Sheehy's charge ran creditably in competitive handicaps at that venue last term and went well for a long way when sixth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. Keith Donoghue is an ideal jockey to guide him around over the larger obstacles. Henry de Bromhead starts off Flat-breds Annexation and Great Bear over fences and both merit respect. The former was the higher-rated of the pair over hurdles and was second to an in-form rival at Downpatrick recently, while Great Bear, a winner on the Flat at this venue, landed a maiden at Cork on his penultimate start. Walnut Beach, narrowly beaten on his second chase start at Tipperary last month, ran as well as could be expected when third to Sharjah at Galway and his experience will be an asset.
Prediction : 1st Captain Conby 2nd Annexation 3rd Walnut Beach

The Gordon Elliott-trained SALVADOR ZIGGY can maintain his unbeaten record over fences by completing the hat-trick. Easily the best of these over hurdles, the seven-year-old showed that he was good enough to compete on the biggest stage when runner-up in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March. Since switching his attention to chasing, the gelding has impressed with two thoroughly professional efforts. It will take a smart novice to lower his colours at this early stage of the season. Toss Again was rated 20lb below Salvador Ziggy over flights but has looked a much better horse over fences in two starts to date. He, too, has a perfect record to protect as he bids for win number three. Solness, who has yet to finish outside the first two in five starts over fences, is entitled to make his presence felt.
Prediction : 1st Salvador Ziggy 2nd Toss Again 3rd Solness

Course specialist STEALTHY TOM has every chance of registering a fourth career win at this venue. The Enda Bolger-trained gelding arrives here at the top of his game, having won the Connacht National in June before finishing runner-up in the Midlands equivalent last month. The eight-year-old seems to come alive at this track more than any other, having won three and being brought down on his only other start here. Lifetime Ambition has his sights lowered somewhat, having run in the Aintree Grand National and Galway Plate on his two most recent outings. The Jessica Harrington-trained gelding has the valuable assistance of Conor Smithers 7lb claim on this occasion. The Little Yank was runner-up over shorter at this track last month but has won at this trip so also rates a live contender.
Prediction : 1st Stealthy Tom 2nd Lifetime Ambition 3rd The Little Yank

While AURORA VEGA is unlikely to interest too many casual racegoers in terms of being a punting proposition, those in attendance are almost certain to stay around to catch a glimpse of a potentially exciting racehorse. The daughter of Quevega, a full-sister to Facile Vega, made an impressive winning debut at Sligo in June. Having resisted the temptation to compete at the Galway Festival, connections now take in this winner's bumper on the next step up the ladder. It would be a major surprise of the five-year-old isn't able to maintain her unbeaten record. Huntsgrove has shown enough on two starts to date to suggest he can win races although the Kalanisi gelding will need to improve to trouble the likely favourite here. Rule Seventeen looks the pick of the newcomers on pedigree.
Prediction : 1st Aurora Vega 2nd Huntsgrove 3rd Rule Seventeen