UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

TRANSCENDING showed promise on debut behind stablemate Sparkling Sea in a Naas maiden that has worked out well and again shaped well here over C&D last week behind Bedtime Story. Gazelle D'or made a very encouraging start when overcoming some trouble in running to beat all bar the Ger Lyons-trained One Smack Mac at Naas last month. Riding arrangements suggest Proxima Centauri is preferred of the Jessica Harrington-trained pair and that's hardly a surprise given her pedigree. Shane Foley's mount is out of the star mare Alpha Centauri who has already produced a useful sort in Saturn, while Now is another newcomer to consider being a half-sister to six winners notably the top-class Rip Van Winkle.
Prediction : 1st Transcending 2nd Gazelle Dor 3rd Proxima Centauri

LUCKY MELODY cost 195,000 euro as a foal and the half-brother to Lucky Vega, who won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes for the same connections, has already gained some racecourse experience when winning a barrier trial at Naas last month. Golden Ocean didn't enjoy the clearest of passages on debut but kept on well inside the final furlong when beaten less than three lengths behind Serialise at Naas last month. The Michael O'Callaghan-trained filly should benefit from that experience and may have more scope for improvement than Ebanza who has put together four consistent runs and had Campari Soda behind on her latest outing at the Curragh last month.
Prediction : 1st Lucky Melody 2nd Golden Ocean 3rd Ebanza

MUTASARREF is best suited by this trip and a sound surface so hopefully the forecast rain will not impact the ground conditions too much. The Ger Lyons-trained gelding can often find trouble in running and that was the case at Naas last time where he showed a good turn of foot to beat Special Wan (now 5lb worse off). Real Appeal was second in this race 12 months ago and made a winning return at Dundalk this spring before being caught close home in the Group 3 Amethyst Stakes over a mile here last month. You Send Me was just denied in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes over this trip at the Curragh while I Am Superman is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Mutasarref 2nd Real Appeal 3rd You Send Me

There was little to choose between Imperial Dream and SHOOT TO KILL when the pair were only beaten about a length over this trip at Down Royal last month with Chestnutter back in eighth. Not a lot went right for the selection on that occasion as he ran loose before the start and perhaps he can add to eight previous in the UK. Giuseppe Cassioli made a pleasing reappearance when beaten less than a length over a mile here last month, while Ice Cold In Alex has been a great servant for Ken Condon and still retains plenty of ability as evidenced by his two recent runs at the Curragh. Pier Pressure progressed well last year and should benefit from his recent run at the Curragh.
Prediction : 1st Shoot To Kill 2nd Giuseppe Cassioli 3rd Ice Cold In Alex

Six-time winner HALF NUTZ hasn't won since September 2022 but met significant in-running traffic last time and has dropped down the ratings. A perennial slow-starter, he was well held at Down Royal only six days prior to the Curragh, but his most recent start offered signs that he can win off this rating, under these suitable conditions. Consistent Lauroline ran well on her debut for new connections recently but is a 14-race maiden which might ideally prefer a mile. Mullacash Buzz is well suited by this distance and while he disappointed on his most recent run at Dundalk, returns from a break, with two of his previous six wins coming on turf.
Prediction : 1st Half Nutz 2nd Lauroline 3rd Mullacash Buzz

DURAJI is a regally-bred brother to Ghaiyyath and showed plenty ability on debut. Out of a 1,000 Guineas winner, he made a belated maiden debut at Gowran recently and while the winner had been twice-raced, the third-placed horse is rated 89 and the selection shaped as though he would improve and also holds an Irish Derby entry. Galileo-sired Vice President has no big-race entries but ran well when making the running for stablemate Highbury here last month. That form is strong, with the runner-up and fourth winning subsequently (Improvista finished fifth) but is vulnerable to a smart type. Celestial Reign should improve from his Sligo reappearance run but contests a better race in first time cheekpieces and a tongue-tie.
Prediction : 1st Duraji 2nd Vice President 3rd Celestial Reign

CONCLUDING CALL has top weight on handicap debut but is well related and might prove a little better than her rating. She is progressive and, when winning at Navan last month, she turned previous form with the runner-up. The selection is a sibling to two Listed winners and should compete. Five-time winner Feature This scored for the first time on grass when winning over a mile here last month. She has been raised 5lb to 60 for that narrow success but is rated 63 on the all-weather and today's rider now claims 5lb. Alabama Calling had previous handicap form prior to winning a restricted maiden last month and while today's rider claims 5lb, has been raised 7lb from Limerick.
Prediction : 1st Concluding Call 2nd Feature This 3rd Alabama Calling

DAONETHATGOTAWAY has one below par run at Sligo this year but is otherwise quite reliable and might defy a 5lb rise for winning at Listowel. He has progressed well in handicaps in recent times, is suited by today's conditions and finished nicely ahead of today's top-weight Comfort Line when winning from a wide draw at Listowel. Sheen Falls Time won well on her handicap debut at Sligo last month. She is open to plenty more progression but is 8lb higher and now meets older horses for the first time. All-weather winner Pascalia has been running well but is now tried in first-time blinkers and has a very wide draw in 24.
Prediction : 1st Daonethatgotaway 2nd Sheen Falls Time 3rd Pascalia