UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

KITTY ROSE impressed when winning on her debut at Naas 13 days ago and is fancied to handle the step up in class. She quickened up nicely to beat the short-priced Tannola, and the big daughter of Invincible Army looks open to plenty of improvement. Content was a convincing winner over C&D and has to be a leading contender. She failed to settle at Royal Ascot in June, but was always in control in maiden company last time and there looks more to come from the regally-bred daughter of Galileo. Sea The Boss turns out quickly enough after winning her maiden at Tipperary last Sunday and is another with the potential to improve.
Prediction : 1st Kitty Rose 2nd Content 3rd Sea The Boss

DIEGO VELAZQUEZ looked an exciting prospect when winning at the Curragh last month and can confirm that promise here. The son of Frankel, a half-brother to Broome and Point Lonsdale, cost 2.4 million pounds as a yearling and started to justify that investment when powering clear in the closing stages to score first time up. With plenty of improvement likely, he could prove hard to beat. Atlantic Coast also won in fine style on his debut at the Curragh and is a likely danger. The Kodiac colt opened up late on to win by three and a quarter lengths from Formal Display. The form looks solid, with a few that were in behind placed again since. Deepone has already been placed at stakes level, having lost out by three-parts of a length to Warnie in a Listed contest at Tipperary. He was a bit free that day and may appreciate going back up in trip.
Prediction : 1st Diego Velazquez 2nd Atlantic Coast 3rd Deepone

It's hard to oppose TAHIYRA, who returns from a mid-season break. The Siyouni filly has already bagged two top-level races this season, in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes, and looks the leading filly of her generation at a mile. She wasn't quite cherry ripe when beaten in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket first time up this year so coming here off a break would be a slight concern, but she should prove the class act. Stablemate Homeless Songs, a brilliant winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas last season, disappointed on a couple of occasions after her Classic triumph. She shaped with promise when losing out narrowly in a Listed race on her return this season, but that came back in April and she has a few questions to answer now. Zarinsk is having a terrific season and could be the danger to the selection. The Kodiac filly recorded her third victory of the year when landing the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes here in late July. She is a tough and consistent performer and deserves her crack at the top level now.
Prediction : 1st Tahiyra 2nd Zarinsk 3rd Homeless Songs

AUGUSTE RODIN looks likely to head to stud at the end of this season and getting a 10-furlong Group 1 on his CV would be massive for him as a stallion prospect. Aidan O'Brien has already worked wonders to get his charge to the Derby in prime form after a disappointing effort in the 2000 Guineas and bids to repeat the trick here after a shocking performance in the King George at Ascot in late July. Recent reports have been good and market support during the week is another positive. King Of Steel was run down by Auguste Rodin late on at Epsom, having got first run on his rival and kicking clear over a furlong from home. He fared best of the Classic generation when a solid third in the King George and could still be improving. Alflaila was supplemented for the race and has been rising through the ranks. He beat a solid field in Group 2 company at York, but is still unproven at this level. Nashwa also has to be on the shortlist in a deep renewal which includes last year's one-two Luxembourg and Onesto.
Prediction : 1st Auguste Rodin 2nd King Of Steel 3rd Nashwa

Although having a bit to prove following a lacklustre three-year-old debut last month, VICTORIA ROAD is afforded another chance to show that he has trained on. A leading juvenile last season, the Saxon Warrior colt won his final four starts, ending the campaign with Grade 1 victory at the Breeders' Cup. While his disappointing Deauville effort is an obvious concern, it wouldn't be the first time this season his trainer has brought a horse back from a poor run. While Buckaroo has thus far fallen short of the highest level, the Joseph O'Brien-trained colt is a very dependable performer in this grade. The four-year-old ran arguably a career best when successful over C&D in April. Lord Massusus has been a revelation for connections this season and may not be finished yet. He produced a fine performance when winning here last time out.
Prediction : 1st Victoria Road 2nd Buckaroo 3rd Lord Massusus

Irish Derby runner-up ADELAIDE RIVER can gain a second career win now that he drops slightly in class. The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt may have been sent off a 33-1 outsider at the Curragh, but he showed that form to be no fluke when second to a very highly regarded horse at Longchamp on his next start. White Birch finished behind Adelaide River last time but had run a much better race when clear of that same rival at Epsom previously. While the Irish Derby run was clearly not his true form, the John Joseph Murphy-trained grey does have a bit to prove now. English raider Al Aasy was a hugely promising horse before injury intervened. However, having won his latest two starts, the William Haggas-trained six-year-old is returning to something like his best form.
Prediction : 1st Adelaide River 2nd White Birch 3rd Al Aasy

The Joseph O'Brien-trained COMFORT ZONE catches the eye on his return to the Flat. A three-time winner over hurdles last winter, the JP McManus-owned gelding looks favourably treated off a mark of 86 in this discipline. On his most recent run on the level, the son of Churchill made significant late ground when third in the October Handicap at this course. Satin had looked a real improver for Jessica Harrington prior to slightly disappointing at Ascot last time. Perhaps the application of first-time cheekpieces will bring about a revival. Nusret boasts a similar profile to his stablemate Comfort Zone. A Grade 2 winner at Kempton in February, he made a winning reappearance at the Curragh in a race that has worked out well subsequently.
Prediction : 1st Comfort Zone 2nd Satin 3rd Nusret

The incredible story of DUNUM could be set for another chapter in a race that looks likely to be run to suit. Natalia Lupini has done a commendable job with the five-year-old, who she took charge of when rated just 58 last May. Following six wins, including at premier handicap level on his most recent start, the gelding is well worth his place in this field. The quicker they go the better for the son of Ivawood. Broadhurst lacks the experience of the majority of his rivals but the lightly-raced Aidan O'Brien-trained colt appeals nonetheless. When his stable run horses in handicaps such as this one, they are seldom far away. Mutasarref has dropped a few pounds in the handicap this season so could be a serious threat over what is unquestionably his optimum distance.
Prediction : 1st Dunum 2nd Broadhurst 3rd Mutasarref