UK Horse Racing Tips: Bellewstown

Gordon Elliott's CHORTAL posted his best result to date when a keeping-on third at Downpatrick at the end of last month, which gives him leading claims in a race where meaningful form is thin on the ground. Shaboozee was beaten a fair way into fourth at Limerick, but the suspicion is that there is more to come from him. Elliott's second string Old Bridge is far from out of it, and similar comments apply to Eastern Blue Bird.
Prediction : 1st Chortal 2nd Shaboozee 3rd Old Bridge

KAPTAIN BAY has placed form on better ground and could bounce back from being pulled up at Fairyhouse in February. His runner-up berth at Ballinrobe last autumn reads well in the context of this race. Scriabin gets a first-time hood and was pipped on the line in a Thurles maiden hurdle in November so has to be respected. Oh So Charming is another who was pulled up when last seen, at Wexford in October. He just gets into this race with a mark of 110 and has enough form in the book to be a leading contender. Mic Drop is a bumper winner who could acquit himself well.
Prediction : 1st Kaptain Bay 2nd Oh So Charming 3rd Mic Drop

FIRST DARE has run well fresh before and is nicely weighted with Ross Berry claiming 7lb. She has won three times over flights and was far from outclassed in sixth in a valuable handicap hurdle at Naas in November. Gavin Cromwell's Half Past Tipsy is match-fit from a runner-up berth at Wexford on St Patrick's Day. She went off favourite for that contest and it was a marked improvement on previous runs. Her stable won this race last year. Fratas has been given a chance by the handicapper, while Mater Matuta is a C&D winner.
Prediction : 1st First Dare 2nd Half Past Tipsy 3rd Fratas

IMADPOUR ran on well to get within a neck of the winner at Wexford last month and the horse who beat him followed up by six lengths at Limerick on Thursday to really boost the form. Cleopatra's Needle is a major threat on the back of a solid second at Fairyhouse last week and drying ground will suit her well. Howdoyalikeherhome was only 3/1 for his return to hurdles at Clonmel and didn't run badly in fifth, which bodes well for the future. Market support for Next Stop Paris would be significant.
Prediction : 1st Imadpour 2nd Cleopatras Needle 3rd Howdoyalikeherhome

BAL KAUTO was a prolific winner in 2023 and could be ready to deliver again. He was on the sidelines for the guts of two years before returning at Gowran Park last month. Although he fell four out, he wasn't beaten at the time and a subsequent fifth in Limerick should have improved his fitness. Adaliz wasn't really a factor in three maiden hurdles, but is one to note on her handicap debut. She is in good hands and could appreciate the step up in trip on better ground. Fairy Tree has been off for a long time, but has switched to Gordon Elliott and has to be given a market check.
Prediction : 1st Bal Kauto 2nd Adaliz 3rd Fairy Tree

Gavin Cromwell holds a very strong hand in this qualified riders' handicap hurdle, with the top two in the weights. Point-to-point winner ASPUROFTHEMOMENT returned to the track with a strong finish to take the honours over 2m at Gowran Park in January and it is reasonable to assume that there could be more to come over staying distances. His stablemate Le Bugiste ran on for second at Down Royal on St Patrick's Day and Declan Lavery is a notable jockey booking. Pebble Bleu could be ridden prominently and is in with a shout of picking up prize money.
Prediction : 1st Aspurofthemoment 2nd Le Bugiste 3rd Pebble Bleu

It looked a strong bumper that COYOTE SPIRIT finished third in at Navan. The winner is very highly thought of, while the runner-up came out and hacked up in another Navan bumper by 12 lengths. Ace Brannigan was only headed close home in a point-to-point that is working out well. He was carried out on his racecourse bow at Clonmel, so it is best to put a line through that result. Sunset Boulevard was a market drifter in Thurles and finished mid-division in that bumper. Given his connections, though, improvement is more than likely.
Prediction : 1st Coyote Spirit 2nd Ace Brannigan 3rd Sunset Boulevard