UK Horse Racing Tips: Fairyhouse

It's good to see this event quickly relocated after Gowran fell to the elements on Saturday. The Jessica Harrington yard has triumphed in the extended nine furlong heat for the past two years, and now hold strong claims again with jockey bookings suggesting VILLAGE VOICE is preferred of her trio. The daughter of Zarak has displayed her best form on a soft surface, taking a Thurles maiden and the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Navan earlier this year. Village Voice showed up well last time too, when second to Jackie Oh in the Group 3 Rathbride Stakes. Sounds Of Heaven finished in the bronze medal spot behind Tahiyra in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot while Starry Heavens reached a career high when registering a Listed race win at Longchamp just over a fortnight ago. American Sonja also won a Listed race at Longchamp earlier this season, and was just denied in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Stakes at the Curragh last time. Archie Watson's raider Pink Carnation also handles soft ground.
Prediction : 1st Village Voice 2nd Sounds Of Heaven 3rd American Sonja

The blinkers THE BEAR TRAP sported at Down Royal are now replaced with a visor. A commendable effort was recorded by the selection at the northern venue as he lost out to Velvet Skies by just three parts of a length. The assessor deemed that run to be worthy of a 5Ib hike in the ratings which brings him level with one of the opponents in this field, Tartaraghan. That John McConnell runner isn't without a chance whilst both himself and The Bear Trap have a little to make up on Vangelis going by official figures. The latter is helped by apprentice James Ryan's 7lb claim. He of course is figuring nicely in the upper echelons of the winning apprentices' table for this campaign. Ruling out anything with conviction would look a dangerous approach and as such smaller stakes would seem the sensible play.
Prediction : 1st The Bear Trap 2nd Vangelis 3rd Tartaraghan

Connections of RATHBRANCHURCH have been flirting with sprinting with their Buratino chestnut, but they've upped their charge to what looks like this more suitable trip again now. Mick Mulvany kept the selection busy at his local Navan venue at the end of last month into early September. In truth Rathbranchurch didn't do much wrong when placing on either occasion. Doubtless he's been a bit frustrating to follow and the key may be Wesley Joyce's presence in the plate for the first time and that valuable 4lb allowance. On her initial appearance for the Cian Collins yard, Chica Power is potentially interesting whilst similar comments apply to Ampeson beginning for Gavin Cromwell.
Prediction : 1st Rathbranchurch 2nd Chica Power 3rd Ampeson

Combining forces doesn't seem to have done Tracey Collins and Michael Halford any harm at all, and another pair to have come on the scene now with a dual licence are Darren Bunyan and Ger O'Leary. They begin their venture with HELLO POWER and the Slade Power filly may be up to supplementing recent Gowran gains. It won't be easy with the handicapper asking a stiffer question and dropping in distance, but Hello Power already has a seven furlong win to her name. Trust Chris Hayes, who has ridden her before, to get things right on the bottom weight. The aforementioned Collins and Halford alliance are unlikely to be far away with Vadiana, after her second placing at Cork last month. All Lies Ahead and Plume Noire ought to be nicely primed to get involved off decent Roscommon efforts.
Prediction : 1st Hello Power 2nd Vadiana 3rd Plume Noire

Agent for the Good Wives Syndicate, Eoin Gallagher, will be a familiar name to many long-time followers of the game. The ownership grouping appear to have a nice filly on their hands in the shape of RATTLETHEONIONBAG, judging by her encouraging third place finish on debut at the Curragh a month ago. Dagoda put her experience to good use to gain a deserved win on that occasion. However, there was certainly the promise of more to come from Rattletheonionbag, given her finishing spurt which gained a bronze medal close home then. Going up to seven furlongs now can only surely play in favour of Willie Browne and Declan McDonogh's hope. With a somewhat similar profile Spanish Rose has the capacity to be a huge player and leave Muhaarar's Girl and Rebecca's Girl out of calculations at your peril.
Prediction : 1st Rattletheonionbag 2nd Spanish Rose 3rd Muhaarars Girl

In an imaginary match bet this observer would be taking the three apprentice riders here, versus their more senior weighing room colleagues. The O'Brien-brothers, Donnacha and Joseph, have two good youngsters, Paddy Harnett and Conor Stone-Walsh aboard their representatives, Gloucester and Gold Coast Galleon. This pair obviously can't be left out of calculations. Wesley Joyce is difficult to ignore on VELVET SKIES though, as Mick Mulvany gets his charge out quickly after a fourth place finish in a big sales race at Naas last week. These are calmer waters and veteran owner Frank McNulty may well have a progressive sort to enjoy for the rest of this season into next. Best of the rest may be Glamorously.
Prediction : 1st Velvet Skies 2nd Gold Coast Galleon 3rd Glamorously

He lost out by half a length at Group 3 level last time, and perhaps MANSA MUSA can make the most of dropping back to keeping Listed company. There was certainly no disgrace in Mansa Musa coming up short against Paddy Twomey's Letsbefrankaboutit in the Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh. Gate one over six furlongs at this venue looks an ideal mix for a Ten Sovereigns colt that clearly likes to employ a forceful running style. Edwardian plainly has to do an awful lot better than he did at York last time, and that's entirely feasible as this represents a different sort of test. He reportedly hung right-handed then, and Fairyhouse ought to be better for him. Matter Of Fact is likely to keep coming forward. On her third start the Naas maiden scorer has the potential to make her presence felt in a big way.
Prediction : 1st Mansa Musa 2nd Edwardian 3rd Matter Of Fact

It shouldn't be long more that Eoghan O'Neill has to wait for another Irish winner, after No Niki No provided him with a first success since relocating to his native land. That was back in June but plenty from O'Neill's County Kildare yard have been showing up well in the meantime, and he's two-handed here with UNIVERSALLY and Maponus. The pair will certainly lack nothing from the saddle with Chris Hayes and Declan McDonogh booked, and the former can get Universally back on track after a lacklustre performance at Navan. The draw hasn't been kind and hopes might be pinned on Hayes plotting a passage down the outer in the straight. The Fog Horn and Step Back In Time aren't long about jumping off the page as last time out scorers. In a maximum field handicap like this though, many others need considering also.
Prediction : 1st Universally 2nd The Fog Horn 3rd Step Back In Time