UK Horse Racing Tips: Listowel

TAG MAN appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to finally shed his maiden status over flights. A bumper winner at the Punchestown festival last year, the Henry De Bromhead-trained gelding has shaped well on six runs over hurdles. A handicap mark of 128 is a fair standard in a race of this nature, so it will certainly take a smart performance if one is to beat him here. Just Three belied odds of 66-1 when runner-up at this meeting on his racecourse debut earlier in the week. The Soldier Of Fortune gelding should be sharper for that experience if the race doesn't come too soon. River Tara was a beaten favourite on her hurdling debut at Wexford last month but the former bumper winner has to be respected given her connections.
Prediction : 1st Tag Man 2nd Just Three 3rd River Tara

The lightly-raced VOLANTIS should be capable of making his presence felt from the foot of the handicap. An impressive maiden winner at Fairyhouse back in February, the Ross O'Sullivan-trained five-year-old travelled well throughout when runner-up on just his second start in handicap company at Galway last month. Indeed, if the gaps had appeared at the right time, he may well have got out in time to land the main prize. Filey Bay disappointed on the flat at Tipperary last time but can readily be forgiven that run over a totally inadequate trip. The Galway Hurdle fifth should be a serious contender now that he has his optimum conditions. Icare Allen was a place in front of the latter at Ballybrit but is worse off at the revised weights as he was claimer ridden at the festival.
Prediction : 1st Volantis 2nd Filey Bay 3rd Icare Allen

PUNK ROCK GIRL who ran her best race to date when third at Bangor earlier this month is sure to have been laid out for this meeting. Given her local connections, which include Kerry senior footballer Paudie Clifford, the five-year-old mare will almost certainly be peaking at this time of year. A first-time tongue tie may have contributed to the improvement last time, so it's encouraging that that aid is retained now. Heart of Rome is a lightly raced gelding who should be capable of playing a leading role in a moderate affair such as this. The Paul Nolan-trained representative was third at Down Royal on his latest start. Dunleer Phoenix, another to reach the frame on his most recent outing, is one who should also be involved.
Prediction : 1st Punk Rock Girl 2nd Heart Of Rome 3rd Dunleer Phoenix

SPRING STREET can make it back-to-back wins having registered a first career success at Down Royal earlier this month. The five-year-old was subsequently raised 6lbs for that victory but the hike is largely offset by the excellent Danny Gilligan taking 5lb off now. In a race where very few come into it in any sort of meaningful recent form, the Champs Elysses gelding holds strong claims. Local trainer Eoin McCarthy always targets this particular meeting so his Jesina is an obvious contender. A winner at Ballinrobe in July, the former Jessica Harrington-trained mare was brought down on her next start, before running creditably at Sligo last time. Mr Social has been running consistently of late but needs to prove his stamina for this distance.
Prediction : 1st Spring Street 2nd Jesina 3rd Mr Social

CAVE COURT catches the eye reverting to fences off a mark which is 14lb lower than his hurdling rating. The Noel Kelly-trained six-year-old has won his last two starts in the latter discipline but remains totally unexposed as a chaser after just the sole run. Stepping up in distance could well bring about further improvement as he bids for a quick hat-trick. Dancing Jeremy also has the potential to progress over fences, given that he has only had the three starts. A winner at Cork last year for Tom Cooper, the grey has raced mainly over hurdles of late. Cahirdown Boy ran very well at Killarney last time given that the late change to soft ground was against him. The more it dries out the better the chance of the locally owned eight-year-old.
Prediction : 1st Cave Court 2nd Dancing Jeremy 3rd Cahirdown Boy

BARNACULLIA can turn the tables on his Galway conqueror Fighting Fit at these revised weights. The Michael Mulvaney-trained gelding has been busy on the flat subsequently, finishing second at Bellewstown before running fifth in the Ulster Cesarewitch. While he has had a long season, if on song, the six-year-old looks the most likely winner. Fighting Fit had been out of form prior to his festival success last month but will be a serious threat if repeating that Galway effort. Punters are sure to pile in on the gelding ridden by local jockey Gavin Brouder. Roseys Hollow is well handicapped over fences relative to her hurdles form but has yet to exploit what is almost certainly a lenient mark.
Prediction : 1st Barnacullia 2nd Fighting Fit 3rd Roseys Hollow

Killarney runner-up MINELLA MATE can register his second success on the flat. The former bumper winner won a decent renewal of the Q.R. Maiden at the Galway festival last month, before just failing to follow up at the County Kerry venue last time. Having travelled like the best horse in the race, the John Nallen-trained gelding was just out-battled inside the last half a furlong. Dropping back in trip should be very much in his favour now and it would be something of a surprise if he were beaten. Mr Rango has the next best official rating of those to attain a mark, although it is 10lb below the Nallen representative. With a slight doubt about his stamina over this distance, the five-year-old could be vulnerable. Coeur Sublime hasn't run on the flat since making a winning racecourse debut in 2018 but has progressed into a high-class National Hunt horse in the interim.
Prediction : 1st Minella Mate 2nd Mr Rango 3rd Coeur Sublime

It may be worth taking a chance on racecourse debutant SPRINGS A GIRL in this finale. Trainer Richard O'Brien, who does exceptionally well with the few horses he runs in this sphere, is almost certain to have one lined up for a track that is relatively local to him. A half-sister to a dual winner for Gordon Elliott, the four-year-old will be worth monitoring in the market. Mount Sinai will have plenty of supporters too hailing from the Willie Mullins yard. A beaten favourite on her debut at Sligo, the daughter of Mount Nelson is surely capable of better. Point-to-point winner Miss Oreo has arguably the best form of those to have run under rules to date and Shark Hanlon is another trainer that loves to target this festival meeting.
Prediction : 1st Springs A Girl 2nd Mount Sinai 3rd Miss Oreo