UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

Galileo filly GRATEFUL is out of Breeders' Cup Mile and six-time top-level winner Tepin, and was very green on debut. She was never in contention at the Curragh but if she breaks well and races with the pace, is likely to improve dramatically. Camelot Alexander, out of a Group 3 winner, ran well on debut at Tipperary and while well held by the winner, holds experienced 84-rated Glor Tire on that form. Settlement showed ability when leading on her Curragh introduction, but her trainer's stable jockey rides at Gowran, while Masaiya needs to improve from her Leopardstown debut and runs in a first-time tongue-tie. Foxtrot Zulu is a half-sister to pacey Group 1 and Group 3 winners, but it is a possible negative that she debuts over a mile as a juvenile. There are capable winners in Unreasonable's pedigree.
Prediction : 1st Grateful 2nd Camelot Alexander 3rd Glor Tire

THE FIRST AND LAST has had a light campaign this summer, but his C&D short-head defeat in April was useful. He faces a slightly lesser task than when finishing fifth at Leopardstown last month, which was also his first run for 52 days. Muhaarar's Girl is suited by this distance and while she appears limited, a return to drier ground could help. Highland Rahy was well behind the selection here last April, but has shown much better form since and has place claims. Ninth Life ran OK over C&D in May and returns from a mini-break, while Lord Vader, second in a Naas charity race recently, needs to improve and runs in first-time cheekpieces. Vera's Secret is a half-sister to an 11-time winner but makes a belated debut aged four.
Prediction : 1st The First And Last 2nd Muhaarars Girl 3rd Highland Rahy

KING CUAN met significant trouble in running on debut and is clearly capable. The form of that Curragh maiden has worked out very well, with the winner and fifth-placed horses each winning subsequently, while the runner-up was later fifth in the Phoenix Stakes. He conceded weight to those rivals but today receives 9lb from principal opponent McTenett, a maiden winner recently. McTenett himself conceded weight in winning at Naas, but faces a tougher task now aiming to do the same to the selection. Bodyguard, a 30,000-euro yearling, is by a sprinting stallion and could be useful, while Sovereign City has place claims. Pipsy is out of an unraced half-sister to a French Group 2 winner but debuts in a first-time tongue-tie.
Prediction : 1st King Cuan 2nd McTenett 3rd Bodyguard

WAVE MACHINE is in form, ground-versatile and suited by this distance. Winner of November's Birdcatcher Nursery, she has done well in recent months and is now 4lb lower than when second at Naas last month, with today's rider again claiming 7lb. Polar Bear finished half a length ahead of Tamazu at Bellewstown and the pair meet on similar terms. However, Polar Bear might prefer slightly easier ground, while Tamazu's best form is over five furlongs. Linger For Longer steps up in grade from a recent C&D triumph and while 4lb higher, that is more than offset by her 5lb claimer. Collective Power has been running well under a 7lb claimer recently and is suited by this distance and drying ground.
Prediction : 1st Wave Machine 2nd Polar Bear 3rd Linger For Longer

RAGGA BOMB was one of just two newcomers to debut in a valuable sales race at Naas last month, but he performed with promise and beat some capable rivals. Slowly away before finishing well, he should progress and will also be better suited by a sounder surface. Carnegie Hall is consistent and experienced, but is vulnerable to progressive types. His course neck defeat by subsequent Listed winner Asean reads very well but he failed to build on that run, although he may have been unsuited by 7f at the Curragh last time. Take Me To Church was a notable 38,000-euro breeze-up purchase in May and could finish third, while Dabirsim Flyer and Wrestling Revenue have ability but need to improve.
Prediction : 1st Ragga Bomb 2nd Carnegie Hall 3rd Take Me To Church

QUEEN OF THUNDER caught the eye when slowly away on debut and should better today's unofficial 80 perch. That Curragh introduction was confined to newcomers and while initially asleep in the stalls, she showed ability to get involved. She has notable big-race entries and has a fine pedigree. Dandy Lichious is 3lb wrong at these weights and while 7lb-claimer ridden when running well at the Curragh recently, seems progressive and is suited by good ground and this distance. Maiden winner The Caribbean races in blinkers, has been well held in two stakes races and tries this trip for the first time. Perfect Judgement also steps up to 7f, has run two consistent races and can get involved. Miss Black Jack did really well to finish fourth, having almost jumped a railing mid-race, at Fairyhouse in June but was well held here subsequently, although steps up a furlong. Uncle Albert is 11lb wrong but his rider claims 5lb and he bumped into a subsequent winner at Sligo last month.
Prediction : 1st Queen Of Thunder 2nd Dandy Lichious 3rd The Caribbean

Seven of these contested two divisions of a C&D handicap last week and HOPE AND INNOCENCE, drawn on the stands side, might prove best in first-time cheekpieces. Nicely bred, she finished her race strongly behind Trueba and might turn the form around, with Wesley Joyce now claiming 7lb. Trueba's 3lb penalty for winning has been eroded by the handicapper's decision to drop all horses, for inflationary reasons, that same weight in recent days. He beat Gurkha Girl (second) and She's Local (third) last week and each has claims, although the selection might have an ounce more in hand. Von Krolock finished second in last week's other divide (Angel's Feather was sixth and Rose Of Malta was eighth) and while he is a 13-race maiden, has a stands-side draw and is now ridden by a 7lb claimer. Han Solo's best form is over a mile but he ran well at Killarney in July, while Ferrybank will appreciate drying ground. Goldmoyne's jockey reported he hung right on a bend at Leopardstown last month.
Prediction : 1st Hope And Innocence 2nd Trueba 3rd Gurkha Girl