UK Horse Racing Tips: Thurles

Aidan O'Brien runs a couple of expensive purchases in a race that has been won by some decent fillies in recent years. Seamie Heffernan partners GUSHING suggesting she is the stable choice and the American Pharoah filly could be good enough to make a winning debut. She was a $435,000 purchase and is out of a Listed-winning half-sister to US Champion Gio Ponti. Wootton Bassett filly Gleaning cost 500,000gns and she is out of a winning half-sister to Ocovango. It's unusual to see blinkers on one first time from Ballydoyle. Magical Circle is an interesting one on her first start for Jessica Harrington. The Too Darn Hot filly shaped with promise when fifth on her sole outing in England, for Richard Fahey, at Haydock in July. Kilworth Kate, third at Listowel last time, has to be respected but might be running into some nicer types now.
Prediction : 1st Gushing 2nd Magical Circle 3rd Kilworth Kate

CORNAHILT SOLDIER has a nice weight in this and can bag a deserved win after a couple of solid runner-up efforts. She chased home Sluice over seven furlongs at Down Royal last time in testing conditions having also filled the same position at that track previously on better ground. Going a bit further may help her now. She gets a nice lump of weight from Admiral Mae, who was a good third at Fairyhouse last time. The U S Navy Flag gelding finished off well that day when going down by a length to Siegel and should appreciate going back up to a mile now. The Dermot Weld-trained Brosna Town looks one to note in the market on his debut. The Awtaad gelding is a half-brother to Listed winner Moll.
Prediction : 1st Cornahilt Soldier 2nd Admiral Mae 3rd Brosna Town

WRIST ART bumped into a well handicapped rival in Drop The Dip down in Listowel a fortnight ago and can strike again here. The Sir Prancealot gelding had been a good winner at Punchestown previously and is holding his form well. He was no match for Drop The Dip last time but that rival has gone on to frank the form in Bellewstown. What Adaay probably doesn't want the ground too soft. She was a staying on third at Bellewstown in late August having won at the same track the previous month. The Adaay filly has been eased 3lb since her last run. Whatharm has run well to be placed on his last two starts and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Wrist Art 2nd What Adaay 3rd Whatharm

GOLDEN SANDBANKS confirmed his well-being with a close second in Dundalk last Friday. He is just 3lb higher than when winning over a similar trip on soft ground at Galway in September. Walnut Beach has been hitting the crossbar a lot, but has form on rain-softened ground and a 7lb claimer has been booked in a bid to make the breakthrough on the Flat. Dark Miss showed marked improvement in third in an apprentice maiden at Roscommon when only collared in the closing stages. She certainly has a shot on handicap debut. Alfalfa was third in this race last year and his stable is in form while Contrapposto is far from out of it. Second-reserve Fair Damsel would be a threat if getting a run as she took the runner-up berth in last year's renewal.
Prediction : 1st Golden Sandbanks 2nd Walnut Beach 3rd Dark Miss

DEAKIN readily justified favouritism in Roscommon by an easy six lengths and could follow up. The son of Australia has been strong in the market for all five of his races and there should be plenty more to come from him over this trip now that he has got his head in front. Immutable finished fifth when upped in trip to an extended 1m4f in Galway. Closer scrutiny of that race reveals that the first three home all won on their next starts, so the form looks very strong. He is well worth another crack at this trip. Ameerat Jumaira is climbing the weights and moves into deeper waters after victories in Killarney and Cork, so has to come under consideration. Quiz Test is proven over further which will be useful if this becomes a tactical affair.
Prediction : 1st Deakin 2nd Immutable 3rd Ameerat Jumaira

NOSTRA CASA has been staying on over shorter trips which bodes well for his second crack at 2m on the Flat. He made headway for third in a big field at the Curragh in August and it was just three runs back that he obliged by four lengths in an apprentice handicap over an extended 1m5f on testing ground at Sligo. Colin Keane is reunited with Barometer on whom he won over an extended 2m at Tramore in August last year. This eight-year-old gelding has finished third on his last three starts and should be involved. Sir Allen and Charlie Luciano are both more than useful over hurdles. Preference would be for the former on this ground and he should strip fitter for a comeback run at Listowel last month. Jake Peter is undoubtedly on a good mark with Alan Persse's 7lb claim factored in. He would want the ground to dry out a bit, though. Make Good has talent, but a long absence to overcome while Kings Prince is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Nostra Casa 2nd Barometer 3rd Sir Allen

There should be staying races on the Flat to be won with THE MODEL KINGDOM. She was a classy sort in bumpers in winning at Listed and Grade 3 level and has shown plenty of ability over flights, particularly when runner-up in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Punchestown in January. She has won off a break before, so her absence since April is less of a concern. The Mediator didn't run badly in third at Gowran Park last month. The runner-up has since taken a Tramore maiden and was second in Listed company in France to frank the form. The Mediator will welcome a return to slower ground. The Banger Doyle is race fit from a recent third in a Grade 3 novice chase at Roscommon. He has previously shown that a race of this standard should be within his compass when second in a qualified riders' maiden at Killarney in July. Votre Homme's form is on better ground, but he does stay this trip and Conor Stone-Walsh's 7lb claim is a bonus.
Prediction : 1st The Model Kingdom 2nd The Mediator 3rd The Banger Doyle