UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

MINNIE HAUK was a very costly acquisition and connections will be trying to land a late-season maiden with her before she goes on to better things next year. She sets the standard courtesy of her runner-up berth over the same trip in Cork. Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle continue to be a formidable partnership and they team up with Australia filly Dawn Spirit, who has to be taken seriously on debut. Jim Bolger's newcomer Grace My Love is one to keep an eye on in the market as she actually holds a Group 3 entry this month. There are winners in Guilty Pleasure's pedigree and she can improve upon an opening eighth at the Curragh.
Prediction : 1st Minnie Hauk 2nd Dawn Spirit 3rd Grace My Love

Aidan O'Brien has an excellent record in this race and his SERIOUS CONTENDER could take the honours. This Wootton Bassett colt is going the right way after a fourth in Naas and a second place at Tipperary, and he holds some eyecatching entries. Another son of Wootton Bassett, Kilcrea Rock, arrives here on the back of a decent opening fourth in the Curragh, so he is a threat. Dermot Weld takes the wraps off Irish 2,000 Guineas entrant Raykir and a big run wouldn't be surprising. O'Brien's once-raced Medallion and his newcomer Glimmer Of Hope cannot be ruled out, while Sujet has shown ability in two starts.
Prediction : 1st Serious Contender 2nd Kilcrea Rock 3rd Raykir

Aidan O'Brien's TRINITY COLLEGE holds a lofty rating of 103 after a 12-length romp in a Galway maiden and a close fourth in the Beresford Stakes. He only gave best in the closing stages at the Curragh and a reproduction of that effort ought to see him on the premises. O'Brien's Thrice wasn't troubled in landing short odds in a maiden at Listowel and looks ready for a step up in class. Joseph O'Brien's Emit handled plenty of cut in the ground when successful at Tipperary and also has the advantage of being proven over this trip. His stablemate Wemightakedlongway won well off the front in Cork and has plenty of potential.
Prediction : 1st Trinity College 2nd Thrice 3rd Emit

This could be a very informative fillies' maiden. TAKEMETOTHEMOON is a half-sister to the mighty City Of Troy, which makes her of obvious interest. She holds an Irish 1,000 Guineas entry and represents powerful connections. Dermot Weld introduces another Guineas entrant in Bella Isabella, who is out of a mare who won at Group 3 level for the stable. Sea The Stars filly Candleford Green made 230,000gns at the sales and is a fascinating runner for Willie Mullins as her sister has been picking up big cheques in America this year. There is plenty to like about Guarded, a stablemate of Takemetothemoon, on paper, while Valencia has been out three times and her runner-up spot at Leopardstown reads well.
Prediction : 1st Takemetothemoon 2nd Bella Isabella 3rd Candleford Green

EXACTLY's consistency could be rewarded. Since shedding her maiden tag at this track in July, she has posted runner-up finishes in a Group 3 and a Group 2 before finishing third in a pair of Group 1 contests. She is ground versatile, is comfortably the highest-rated horse in the field, and is advantaged by the weights. Her stablemate Antelope Canyon just lost out on an enormous payout in the Goffs Million by a head at the Curragh last month. He has plenty of talent. Slower ground is an unknown for Comanche Brave, who has good form in the book, while similar sentiments apply to One Smack Mac. Celtic Motif isn't one to rule out.
Prediction : 1st Exactly 2nd Antelope Canyon 3rd Comanche Brave

Plenty of Irish 2,000 Guineas entrants populate this field. CADOGAN ran a stormer when pipped by a short head on debut at the Curragh in May. The horse who beat him has since landed a pair of Group 2 contests, so the form is very strong. He encounters very different ground, but his sire's progeny are showing themselves to be ground-versatile. Wild Sapphire came home strongly for third at the Curragh this month and is a major player. Serengeti finished well to be a close sixth after losing his place in the same race and looks sure to come on from that opening effort, while Game Point is a debutant worth a market check.
Prediction : 1st Cadogan 2nd Wild Sapphire 3rd Serengeti

Joseph O'Brien's DESMOND CASTLE came with a barnstorming run in the Curragh, but wandered in the closing stages and finished second. He is a work in progress and the ground will be an unknown, but he clearly has an engine. Medici Venus has to give plenty of weight away, but her form has a solid look to it. She made the breakthrough in Listowel and there could be more to come from her. O'Brien's Montpellier Green was the horse who beat Desmond Castle by half a length in the Curragh so he merits automatic respect. Yamal could respond to blinkers, while Faoladh shouldn't be discounted in the first-time tongue-strap.
Prediction : 1st Desmond Castle 2nd Medici Venus 3rd Montpellier Green