UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

Rain is forecast but shouldn't inconvenience VASSULA RYDEN, who offered encouragement on soft on debut. Out of a Listed winner and a half-sister to a triple Group 3 winner, she was slowly away but ran well at Galway, conceding 2lb to her conquerors, and has a light weight now dropping in distance. Barley Cove conceded 5lb to the subsequent Birdcatcher winner when third behind her recently and has claims, despite being rated 69. Mint Man, a 31,000gns yearling, is a brother to a Group 3 winner, while Xaustdwithpleasure is from an Aga Khan family but has already been gelded. Tiger King was an 85,000-euro yearling, but was sold in July for just 5,500gns. Bruce Lightning showed promise on his soft-ground debut, while Goldrush Kid hasn't run since an encouraging May introduction. Apachetwohundred is tried in blinkers having disappointed on soft at the Curragh.
Prediction : 1st Vassula Ryden 2nd Barley Cove 3rd Mint Man

UNIVERSALLY raced at middle-distances in France last year and, again, initially in Ireland this summer, but has found his niche over sprint trips. He likes soft ground, wasn't beaten far at the Curragh, and had previously beaten two subsequent winners into second and third at Fairyhouse. Finishing fourth in that race was Step Back In Time, who also ran well subsequently. Gobi Star finished narrowly ahead of Art Of Unity (winless since September 2021) and dual course winner Teddy Boy over C&D earlier this month and all have obvious claims as soft-ground performers. Sounds Of Spring is a dual C&D winner whose rating has fallen recently.
Prediction : 1st Universally 2nd Step Back In Time 3rd Sounds Of Spring

EMPEROR OF ROME was beaten 33 lengths in Sunday's Birdcatcher, but met significant trouble and reverts to an ordinary maiden. By a leading sprinting sire, his form is nothing too special, although he did bump into the smart Pipsy at the Curragh. Meeting interference certainly didn't cost him the Birdcatcher, but he was in the firing line at the time and faces lesser opponents. Heavenly Being has recent form but while she handles soft ground, might find the selection too strong. Beano Power also handles soft and has place claims, while Answer Me Nay is tried in cheekpieces. Mama Bear is out of a winning dam whose pedigree includes top sprinter Slade Power.
Prediction : 1st Emperor Of Rome 2nd Heavenly Being 3rd Beano Power

GREEK FLOWER ran well over 7f at Down Royal last month, but is suited by this distance and likes soft ground. Despite being a 12-race maiden, her form is useful and she contests a winnable maiden. Nouvel Espoir ran with some promise on debut but while he can progress, he was well held by the winner, with the runner-up being a 23-race maiden. First Gentleman is rated 73 and, on best form, could win but he folded tamely behind Nouvel Espoir at the Curragh, with blinkers now left off in favour of cheekpieces. Never Cry Never was himself well held in that Curragh maiden but can be counted upon to progress. Billboa ran OK on soft ground at Cork in April, but was well held subsequently and now returns from a layoff.
Prediction : 1st Greek Flower 2nd Nouvel Espoir 3rd First Gentleman

SCREEN SIREN was a touch unlucky at the Curragh last time, when meeting trouble in running, and looks capable of striking off her current mark. The Slade Power mare had to switch out to get a run inside the final furlong and finished off well when a close fourth to Tawaazon. She was a winner over C&D in June and is versatile ground-wise. Collective Power is another C&D winner who has to be given strong consideration. He was a solid third here a fortnight ago and remains on the same mark. Rathbranchurch won his penultimate start here and has run well since to finish third at the Curragh. He's another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Screen Siren 2nd Collective Power 3rd Rathbranchurch

THE MEDIATOR has been placed in a couple of Flat maidens recently and looks capable of landing a race of this standard. The Maxios gelding ran well when third to Immelmann over 2m at Thurles on his most recent outing and a similar effort may be enough to get the job done now. There are a few in this with questions to answer. Ikigai Star has a rating of 79 and if he ran near that, he'd be a big player, but he hasn't shown that level in recent outings. Golden Temple, with a mark of 77, was well beaten at the Curragh last time and needs to improve on that. A bigger danger may be the 76-rated Votre Homme, who ran well when chasing home Crassus in the Ulster Cesarewitch at Down Royal.
Prediction : 1st The Mediator 2nd Votre Homme 3rd Ikigai Star

OAKLEY looked like a big galloper on his Irish debut at Cork in late August, when just getting run down late on over a mile and a half. There was good support for the German import that day and, off just a 3lb higher mark, he can gain compensation now over a longer trip. Molly Hall was a good winner over 2m at Clonmel last month and she has to be respected, despite a 6lb rise. It's interesting to see the three-year-old Lady Christa take a significant jump up in trip. Sheila Lavery's charge was a touch unlucky at Navan last time, when hampered by a loose horse and then being pipped on the line. That was over 10 furlongs and she goes another half-mile now.
Prediction : 1st Oakley 2nd Molly Hall 3rd Lady Christa

Connections will be hoping for the perfect send-off here for ZOFFANY BAY in the race named in his honour, and the nine-year-old looks to have a big shout. He ran well off this mark to finish third at Tramore last month when not quite getting home over 2m. Ben Coen, who won on him at Tramore over a mile and a half in July, takes the mount again. Rock Ya Boy Ya has been running well over jumps and, most recently, on the level at Thurles. He could be a danger. Flier is another arriving off a good run, having been runner-up here last time. She takes a big jump up in trip now.
Prediction : 1st Zoffany Bay 2nd Rock Ya Boy Ya 3rd Flier