UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

HARBOUR GEM made a promising debut over a mile at Thurles earlier this month and, given normal improvement, should go close. The Barry Fitzgerald-trained filly had fellow newcomer Gushing six lengths back in fourth and the form received a boost when runner-up Alpheratz scored in good style at Gowran on Tuesday. Fleur De Chine also made an encouraging start over this trip at Naas in the maiden won by Kitty Rose and the form of that race has worked out particularly well since with the winner going on to land a Listed race and the second, fourth and seventh all winning maidens next time out. She looks a big threat if handling this much softer ground. Flight Of Fancy and Go Girl Go are others to consider along with a list of interesting newcomers including Azada, Bizarre Dreams and Ocean Diamond.
Prediction : 1st Harbour Gem 2nd Fleur De Chine 3rd Flight Of Fancy

SHAMSUDDIN took a good step forward from his Curragh debut when beating all bar Ocean Conquest at Punchestown earlier this month with Rocking Tree over four lengths back in fourth. The latter has since gone close at Navan and hopefully Johnny Murtagh's charge can cope with these much softer conditions. Master Of The Hunt shaped well on debut when third behind smart stablemate Henry Longfellow at the Curragh but having failed at long odds-on in Listowel, is now fitted with blinkers. Guildenstern also made a bright start in a Curragh maiden but subsequently struggled on soft ground. Spoken Truth catches the eye on pedigree being a brother to Homeless Songs, while Autumn Winter and Ocean Manifest are others to consider on debut.
Prediction : 1st Shamsuddin 2nd Master Of The Hunt 3rd Spoken Truth

A small but competitive field with all bar one of the quintet having won last time out and perhaps GLAMOROUSLY can complete a hat-trick. The daughter of Mehmas hails from a yard in top form at present and should be suited by this step up in trip after needing every yard of the six furlongs at Naas last weekend. She's proven on testing ground and is now reunited with 10lb claimer Keithen Kennedy who was aboard when successful previously at Navan. Sun Never Sets overcame the inconvenience of a slipped saddle when successful on heavy ground at Bellewstown last month, while Sli Na Ghealai has form on various ground conditions and now tackles handicap company for the first time after making all over this trip at Down Royal.
Prediction : 1st Glamorously 2nd Sun Never Sets 3rd Sli Na Ghealai

MILITARY was backed as if defeat was out of the question on debut at Naas and duly landed cramped odds in decisive fashion. The Siyouni colt was then stepped up in class to tackle a Group 3 at Newmarket and the form of that race looks solid as the winner and third went on to fill the places behind City Of Troy in the Dewhurst Stakes last Saturday. The likely extreme ground conditions is a question mark about a number of these including Atlantic Coast who has a similar profile to the selection having won a Curragh maiden on debut before finishing third to Diego Velazquez in a Group 2 here on Irish Champions Weekend. Instant Appeal likes to race prominently and opened his account last time when beating Starliner (won since) at Gowran, while Sluice handled this ground when scoring on debut at Down Royal. Bright Stripes finished well in the valuable Ballyhane Stakes before returning to Naas when landing the odds last month.
Prediction : 1st Military 2nd Atlantic Coast 3rd Instant Appeal

NAVAL FORCE made a pleasing start when successful over a mile at Killarney last month and the form of that race received a timely boost when the third, The Euphrates, won at Gowran Park on Tuesday. The Churchill gelding finished strongly and should be suited by this extra furlong. The same remark applies to Grosvenor Square who won a Galway maiden on debut and again put in his best work at the finish when third to Deepone in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh. Look At The Stars took a big step forward from his debut when relishing heavy ground at the Listowel Festival last month, while these conditions will also hold no fears for Zaphod who stayed on really strongly when making an impressive debut over this trip at Tipperary.
Prediction : 1st Naval Force 2nd Grosvenor Square 3rd Zaphod

ANDROMEDA has filled the runner-up spot on both previous outings with cut in the ground and is taken to open her account at the third attempt. The Galileo filly beat all bar odds-on stablemate and subsequent Group 1 winner Opera Singer on debut over C&D and was only collared in the closing stages subsequently at Tipperary with Camelot Alexander over five lengths behind. There is very little to choose between Whisper A Prayer and Higher Leaves on their running behind Ezeliya over this trip at Cork. The Henry de Bromhead-trained filly finished well from off the pace when making her debut in that race and should have scope for further improvement. Sara Valentina, Realt Na Ri and Cheeky Wink are three newcomers to note in the market.
Prediction : 1st Andromeda 2nd Higher Leaves 3rd Whisper A Prayer

KINESIOLOGY made little impression after a slow start on debut at Killarney in July but was prominent throughout the following month when making Chief Little Rock work hard to land prohibitive odds over this C&D. The winner has been placed on both outings since including when runner-up to Deepone in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes. Invention never really got involved on debut in the 1m1f Curragh maiden won in impressive fashion by Illinois but did come home well and looks sure to benefit from the experience. Vestigia handled soft ground when just denied in a Curragh nursery and could progress further over this extra furlong, while riding arrangements suggest Ocean Of Dreams may prove the pick of a trio of well-bred newcomers from Ballydoyle.
Prediction : 1st Kinesiology 2nd Invention 3rd Ocean Of Dreams

NOBLE ANTHEM won the first leg of this series over a similar trip at Naas in August before finishing second to Fair Damsel over 1m4f in the second leg at the Curragh. There's no doubt he should have won on the latter occasion as well when his rider eased down well before the line and he can make amends over this more suitable trip. Fair Damsel was second under Colin Keane in a handicap at Gowran on Monday and relishes testing ground so looks a big player again. Adhuil also went close at Gowran on Monday when second over an extended 1m1f and the horse that beat him followed up back at the Kilkenny venue the following afternoon.
Prediction : 1st Noble Anthem 2nd Fair Damsel 3rd Adhuil