UK Horse Racing Tips: Listowel

ELZEM kept on nicely on debut over the minimum trip at the Curragh and was only caught in the closing stages when stepped up to 7f at Roscommon last time so this intermediate distance may prove ideal. There isn't much to choose between Promise Given and Shimmy Jimmy who were both denied a clear passage on debut in the Cork maiden won by Rock N Roll Rocket last month, while King Thistle was putting in his best work in at the finish at Navan and is sure to benefit from that experience. Hugo's Girl and She's Ideal are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Elzem 2nd Promise Given 3rd King Thistle

AMERICAN BAR is obviously a good-looking daughter of No Nay Never having cost 300,000 euro at the Goffs Orby Sale and her dam was successful as a juvenile. Merrily is another interesting newcomer by No Nay Never and the $325,000 yearling is out of a Listed winning daughter of Selkirk. Cradle Of Love and Irish Acclamation appear the pick of those with experience. The former hung left when placed at Navan last time but may get away with that tendency around this track and is now fitted with cheekpieces. Irish Acclamation has also shown promise on both starts and may appreciate this sounder surface.
Prediction : 1st American Bar 2nd Merrily 3rd Cradle Of Love

Mercurial bridged a gap of nearly three years without a win when drawing clear inside the final furlong for a decisive victory in a 21-runner 6f handicap at the Curragh with RAMIRO just over three lengths back in third. The selection, who didn't enjoy the clearest of runs subsequently at Limerick, has been a model of consistency this year and gets the vote at the revised weights to record a sixth career win. Coumshingaun's three wins include a maiden over C&D and she comes here in decent form having suffered a troubled passage when third to Dance Night Andday (won again since) at Naas.
Prediction : 1st Ramiro 2nd Coumshingaun 3rd Mercurial

It looks significant that Dylan Browne McMonagle partners WITHOUT WORDS in preference to two winning stablemates and the well-bred filly also has a Group 3 entry in the next few weeks. The daughter of Mendelssohn is closely related to Grade 1 winner Combatant and cost 450,000 euro at Arqana last December. Quar Shamar won a mile maiden at Dundalk last spring and wasn't disgraced subsequently behind Paddington in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He only weakened in the closing stages when reappearing in a 7f Listed race at Naas and may prove more of a threat than The Liffey or Uluru.
Prediction : 1st Without Words 2nd Quar Shamar 3rd The Liffey

COMFORT LINE won twice over a mile at Dundalk last winter and went close again over the trip when beating all bar Moutarde on his penultimate start in a 19-runner event at Naas. The Ado McGuinness-trained gelding didn't enjoy any luck in running at Killarney last time and remains on a competitive mark. Breezy Zoff enters calculations of his second to River Derwent at Roscommon last month, while Venetian, who twice as a juvenile for Mark Johnston, has dropped down to an attractive rating as evidenced by his second to Status Green when well supported at Tipperary earlier this week.
Prediction : 1st Comfort Line 2nd Venetian 3rd Breezy Zoff

KODIAC PRINCE, a former runner-up at this track, can get back to winning ways. The Thomas Cleary-trained gelding spent much of last season racing in a higher grade but shaped well when reaching the frame on his latest two runs dropped to this lower level. A sixth career success could be in the offing. The Blue Panther has to be noted on his first start for Jennifer Lynch. Although losing form for his original trainer, then failing to fire for another, he has always run well at this venue. Much lower in the weights these days, the six-year-old could be reignited by this tight turning track. Lauroline, another making her debut for a new trainer, is interesting for the in-form Paul Flynn yard.
Prediction : 1st Kodiac Prince 2nd The Blue Panther 3rd Lauroline

With Dylan Browne McMonagle a significant booking, the Peter Fahey-trained SIGN FROM ABOVE catches the eye. A winner over two furlongs shorter at the Galway festival last season, the six-year-old is one of just a handful in this line-up that are almost assured to stay the extended trip. With just the eight runs on the level, the Sea The Stars gelding remains very much unexposed as a stayer. Recent Navan winner Global Export kept on late when third in this corresponding race last year. Given that he appears in even better form 12 months on, the Gavin Cromwell-trained six-year-old should again be on the premises. A course winner over hurdles, Rumi is a difficult horse to get right. While he certainly has the ability to win this, he looks one that runs best off a long break.
Prediction : 1st Sign From Above 2nd Global Export 3rd Rumi

Having shown a smart turn of foot when winning her maiden on the level at Cork last month, the Gavin Cromwell-trained SIXANDAHALF can follow up. A bumper winner at the Punchestown festival on her previous start, the four-year-old looks a filly on the upgrade. This intermediate trip should suit her that bit better than the majority of her rivals here. Leopardstown QR Maiden winner Enniskerry looked very good on that occasion but would almost certainly prefer an additional couple of furlongs. Galway is likely to be the principal target for the Barry Connell-trained gelding. War Correspondent is one that could run a big race. Ray Cody's five-year-old, who is rated 89 on the Flat, shaped well when third over hurdles on his latest start.
Prediction : 1st Sixandahalf 2nd Enniskerry 3rd War Correspondent