UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

TALIA got her handicap career off to a successful start when showing good pace throughout in a 22-runner event at Cork last summer and shaped well on all three outings since including over 7f at this venue. The Natalia Lupini-trained filly could well have strengthened up after a winter break and shouldn't be inconvenienced by this drop back in trip. Winemaker is on a hat-trick after scoring over 7f in February and had a number of these rivals behind when following up over the minimum trip last month. A combined rise of 9lb still leaves him competitive, while others to consider include Macadam's Rock, Samrogue and Tai Sing Yeh.
Prediction : 1st Talia 2nd Winemaker 3rd Samrogue

ROYALCORRESPONDENT is difficult for the handicapper to assess after just two runs and it will be interesting to see how strong he is in the market with the yard already among the winners this season. The son of Blue Point showed pace on both turf outings last year and has been gelded since. Velvet Skies beat The Bear Trap in a nursery at Down Royal last autumn and shaped well on his first start over this surface following a winter break, while Mary Shoelaces and Coulstar are closely matched on running over C&D in February. The latter disappointed since and is now fitted with blinkers, while others to note include Miss Black Jack, Masonbrook Meadow and Branding.
Prediction : 1st Royalcorrespondent 2nd Velvet Skies 3rd Mary Shoelaces

APRICOT ICE beat all bar subsequent Group 3 winner Content on debut at Leopardstown and perhaps a fortnight was too quick a return when a well-backed 9/2 shot for the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at the same venue. She's obviously held in good regard and gets the nod over Air Commander who also made a pleasing debut over this trip at Gowran last June before getting stuck in the mud the following month at the Galway Festival. The son of Kingman should be suited by this surface while others to consider include the experienced Chicago Fireball, a creditable sixth in the Goffs Million at the Curragh, and School Of Law. Old Sea is a half-brother to four winners including Trevaunance, who won at Group 2 level for the same connections.
Prediction : 1st Apricot Ice 2nd Air Commander 3rd Chicago Fireball

SUITYOURSELFBOSS has been placed on all three outings since fitted with cheekpieces and upped to a mile at this venue. The Michael Browne-trained mare remains on a lowly mark after filling the runner-up spot twice under Wayne Hassett last month including when coming home well behind Zahee. Topweight Bungle Inthedesert had a number of these rivals behind when second to Ferrybank before successfully stepping up this trip last week, with Adare Beauty just over a length away in third. Feature This gained a fourth C&D win last month, while Comfort Line won twice here over a mile before Christmas and found the extended 10 furlongs just too far last time.
Prediction : 1st Suityourselfboss 2nd Comfort Line 3rd Bungle Inthedesert

INTERNATIONAL LADY gained both career wins back in 2021 including off a similar mark over this C&D and following a 10-month break, returned in good form here last autumn when twice filling the runner-up spot. The Showcasing mare again advertised her claims when beaten just over a length behind Bungle Inthedesert last week. Daonethatgotaway was heavily backed when showing much improved form to finish runner-up in that mile event after a lengthy absence and has scope for further improvement. Zahee impressed when returning to form to record a fourth career win over a mile here last week, although the handicapper has reacted by putting him up 10lb.
Prediction : 1st International Lady 2nd Daonethatgotaway 3rd Zahee

HIGHER LEAVES showed plenty of promise on both outings last year over a mile and is bred to appreciate this step up in trip. The Henry de Bromhead-trained daughter of Golden Horn was fourth on debut at Cork and again put in her best work at the finish on testing ground when third to Elizabeth Jane at Leopardstown. Straya also showed ability on both starts as a juvenile including when fourth in a Group 3 at the Curragh. Mother Nature is bred in the purple being by Justify and out of a winning sister to Minding, while Step To Somewhere also catches the eye on pedigree being by Sea The Stars and out of a Listed winner.
Prediction : 1st Higher Leaves 2nd Mother Nature 3rd Straya

EMERIC won three times last year, including twice over C&D, and the booking of Colin Keane and fitting of cheek pieces catches the eye after a number of placed efforts here this year. He's closely matched with Garrick Painter on running behind Yokkell and has losses to recover after failing by half a length to peg back the front-running Walhaan last month. Newport was placed twice as a juvenile and it's interesting that he is kept in training by powerful connections after missing all of last season. Celtic Revival has gained all five career wins here over 1m4f but is also effective over this trip, while Moondharrig has progressed really well here this winter winning twice over C&D.
Prediction : 1st Emeric 2nd Newport 3rd Moondharrig

TYSON FURY won twice over this trip as a three-year-old for Richard Spencer and has been revitalised since joining Denis Hogan here this winter. His second to Elegant Man has been well advertised since before stepping up to two miles to score in good style. The dual-purpose mare Vischio provided trainer Dick Donohoe with a first Listed winner over this trip at the Curragh last November, with Hans Andersen eased to finish tailed off on the testing ground. The latter won the Group 3 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown 12 months ago but is speedily bred on the dam side and yet to prove he stays this distance. Shamwari won a maiden here last summer and was runner-up to Tower Of London in a Listed race over this trip at Leopardstown.
Prediction : 1st Tyson Fury 2nd Hans Andersen 3rd Shamwari