UK Horse Racing Tips: Sligo

Firm Footings beat HORANTZAU D'AIRY by a length in a Navan maiden hurdle last season but the Willie Mullins-trained gelding has been kept busier since and may gain his revenge. The selection went on to land a Punchestown maiden also over two miles and beat all bar Man O Work last month in the valuable Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at the Listowel Festival meeting. Firm Footings was beaten less than six lengths in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and riding arrangements suggest he's preferred to long-time absent Deployed. Byker also ran a cracker at Cheltenham last March when only going down by a neck to Jazzy Matty in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Prediction : 1st Horantzau Dairy 2nd Firm Footings 3rd Byker

Blenheim Belle beat GETABELLE by half a length over a similar trip at Cork but the pair had contrasting fortunes on their only outing since. The former was pulled up after being badly hampered around halfway in Listowel while the Liam Cusack-trained mare went one better on her return to Cork when drawing clear after the last. She's progressing nicely and can defy a 9lb hike in the ratings. Caoimhes Pet handles soft ground and opened her account at Killarney last time. That victory came after a break of over eight months and she should have further scope for improvement, while Downpatrick maiden winner Gaye Winnie, Lady Iseult and the consistent Angelsworknovrtime are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Getabelle 2nd Caoimhes Pet 3rd Blenheim Belle

ZAIDI won a point-to-point for Ellmarie Holden and made a bright start for current connections when a wide margin winner of a Thurles bumper this spring. He's filled the runner-up spot on both completed outings since in maiden hurdles including after a summer break when just touched off by Mint Boy at Gowran Park. The latter's stablemate Charming Fortune may now prove one of the main threats having been placed on both recent outings under Rules including a Downpatrick maiden hurdle last time. Dual point-to-point winner Kalanisi Flash has been placed both in bumpers and maiden hurdles this year, while D'jo Dela Barriere has shown promise in bumpers and, if learning to settle, could take a hand in the finish.
Prediction : 1st Zaidi 2nd Kalanisi Flash 3rd Charming Fortune

BREAGAGH has strung together a consistent series of results under both codes this year and may finally open his account after 37 starts. The five-year-old gelding appears versatile in terms of ground conditions and ran well over this trip on his penultimate start at Punchestown. The locally trained Rossies Tara ran well here last year and has shown definite promise again this season including when fourth to Hutchie over 2m6f at Galway last month, with Onefortheditch about five lengths behind. The latter subsequently advertised her claims when runner-up to Getabelle at Cork, while others for the shortlist include Gamigin, Reserve Judgement and Frazel Express.
Prediction : 1st Breagagh 2nd Rossies Tara 3rd Onefortheditch

WILL DO looks the one to beat. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding was placed behind some useful sorts in bumpers last season before signing off the campaign by scoring at the Cork Easter meeting. The son of Walk In The Park also has a decent run over hurdles under his belt when runner-up to Monbeg Park over 2m5f at Punchestown and the winner wound up the season with a rating of 137. Just Three had Silver Gazette about a length behind when making a promising debut over three miles at the Listowel Festival and again shaped well at the same venue just five days later. Rowdy Romeo was placed twice in staying maiden hurdles earlier this year, while Insouciant Dallier switches to hurdles and may be suited by a test of stamina.
Prediction : 1st Will Do 2nd Just Three 3rd Rowdy Romeo

MICK CHARLIE won twice over 2m4f at Kilbeggan but was sidelined for two years before showing much improved form on his third run back at Fairyhouse earlier this month. The Declan Queally-trained gelding appreciated three miles and soft ground when landing a gamble and could well follow up off an 8lb higher mark. Old Chap won over C&D in August and was only beaten about two lengths last time behind the progressive Londonofficecallin at Killarney. Influential Lady was placed here on her latest hurdle start back in August, while Goodnightngodbless has been generally campaigned over fences in the past two years and stays well. Gigantamax Eevee held place claims when a penultimate flight faller at Listowel, while the veteran Drumcliff wasn't disgraced when reapearing at Ballinrobe last month.
Prediction : 1st Mick Charlie 2nd Old Chap 3rd Influential Lady

BLEU DE VASSY was second on his only point-to-point start for Paddy Turley and is obviously held in high regard having subsequently made 235,000 at the Punchestown Festival Sale this spring. It will be interesting to see how strong he is in the market. Locorotondo had Mister Vic 14 lengths behind when going close at Roscommon last month and the booking of Patrick Mullins catches the eye. Dorans Law made an encouraging start at the Punchestown Festival and now reverts to a bumper after keeping on into third behind the odds-on Fascile Mode at the same venue earlier this month. John Gleeson is an interesting booking on Will Wilde.
Prediction : 1st Bleu De Vassy 2nd Locorotondo 3rd Dorans Law