UK Horse Racing Tips: Limerick

WHIMSY has twice filled the runner-up spot behind Willie Mullins-trained odds-on shots this winter and may have found a good opportunity to open her account over hurdles. The daughter of Charming Thought won twice on the Flat for Andrew Balding as a three-year-old and has proved a model of consistency since sent hurdling this term. Lazer Wolf has yet to score in point-to-points, bumpers or hurdles but has certainly been knocking on the door. The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding will not lack for experience and probably ran a career best last time when runner-up to American Money at Naas. Eco Pete won a bumper for John McConnell and was placed a couple of times over hurdles but is unproven on testing ground.
Prediction : 1st Whimsy 2nd Lazer Wolf 3rd Eco Pete

SPLASHING OUT won over C&D back in November and went close to following up again at this venue over Christmas. The Eoin Griffin-trained mare obviously handles heavy ground well and now takes a drop in class after finishing down the field in a valuable handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival. Queen Nell left previous maiden form well behind when justifying support in very testing ground at Gowran Park earlier this month. She easily drew clear in the closing stages to land that 16-runner maiden and has scope for further improvement. Miss Agusta was an expensive purchase just after finishing second in the 2022 Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown. She made a successful start over hurdles at Galway last autumn but has disappointed twice since.
Prediction : 1st Splashing Out 2nd Queen Nel 3rd Miss Agusta

DESERT FRIEND won four times on the Flat in the UK and also scored both over hurdles and fences for Denis Hogan. The selection has shaped well on both outings since joining Snezzy Foster this winter including when third to Whiskeywealth (won again since) at Naas last month. Champagne Mahler made all for a convincing win at Gowran Park on Thyestes Chase day and was far from disgraced subsequently off an 11lb higher mark at Naas. Mag Dillane won over C&D last time while Zeeband also comes here off the back of a maiden win at Leopardstown. Grace Faraday drops back in trip and can't be lightly discounted while Surf Club appears one of the lesser lights at Closutton but any market move on handicap debut would be interesting.
Prediction : 1st Desert Friend 2nd Champagne Mahler 3rd Zeeband

SUMMER MELODY beat Found A Fifty in a Navan bumper and showed promise over hurdles including when beaten only two lengths behind Longhouse Poet over 2m4f here at the 2022 Christmas Festival. The Charles Byrnes-trained gelding has obviously had training issues since as he's only run once when disappointing in a Listed race here last October and some market support would be encouraging. The well-bred Gold In The Rivers cost 220,000 euro at the Derby Sale and has shown some promise in three outings including behind stablemate Twoohthree at Leopardstown earlier this month, while Moudan is another to consider after finishing third behind the odds-on Angostura at Gowran.
Prediction : 1st Summer Melody 2nd Gold In The Rivers 3rd Moudan

Point-to-point winner LETS GO CHAMP won over hurdles last year and was also second in a valuable handicap at the Punchestown Festival. The brother to Scarlet And Dove is likely to prove better suited to fences and may open his chasing account here after coming up against some smart types this term. Dancing Jeremy recorded a fourth career win over an extended two miles at Thurles last month with Hgranca De Thaix, who should enjoy this longer trip, about ten lengths back in third. The lightly raced Coqolino gave encouragement when third to Idas Boy at Punchestown in November but has been disappointing since.
Prediction : 1st Lets Go Champ 2nd Dancing Jeremy 3rd Hgranca De Thaix

FOLLY MASTER relished a step up in trip when landing a gamble over hurdles at Punchestown, with Made in the Woods over 20 lengths behind in fourth, before successfully switching to fences at Thurles earlier this month. The Tom Dreaper-trained gelding appeared to win with a bit in hand over 2m5f and should be suited by this stamina test. Baldur's Gate beat He Fitz In (now 13lb better off) by 13 lengths over this trip at Punchestown in November and has held his form well since while Starlight Cato's second to St Denis's Well at Navan has been well advertised since. Atacanter is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Folly Master 2nd Baldurs Gate 3rd Starlight Cato

SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY justified favouritism on debut at Naas in January and Patrick Mullins again takes the ride. The selection, who was quite green on that occasion, is entitled to progress with that experience under his belt and it's interesting to note that Tom Cooper mentioned this Listed race as a likely target after that victory. Lady Of The Locke makes a quick reappearance after taking a similar event at Thurles last Saturday, while Baron Noir made much of the running when third to Glynn Brae at Leopardstown earlier this month. Balko D'ange came home strongly when runner-up to the odds-on Charming Star on debut in a Navan maiden hurdle while Derek O'Connor is an eye-catching booking on Putapoundinthejar, a Walk In The Park half-brother to a bumper winner.
Prediction : 1st Shuttle Diplomacy 2nd Lady Of The Locke 3rd Putapoundinthejar