UK Horse Racing Tips: Listowel

ROYAL EAGLE has been a good servant under both codes and gained a sixth career win on the Flat at Ballinrobe last summer. The Gordon Elliott-trained mare subsequently filled the runner-up spot twice in Listed hurdles and should benefit from her reappearance at Killarney. Maughreen impressed on debut in a Punchestown bumper and again landed short odds with switched to hurdles at the same venue earlier this year. She only weakened before the last in a Grade 1 at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting and this represents a drop in class. Jane Eire won a Cork maiden in good style last November but has had her limitations exposed since.
Prediction : 1st Royal Eagle 2nd Maughreen 3rd Jane Eire

SONNYBOYLISTON is the class act but has been very lightly raced since winning the Ebor Handicap and Irish St Leger in 2021. He was no threat in the straight when reappearing behind Kyprios at Navan last month and it will be fascinating to see how strong he is in the market on debut over hurdles. Wholelotofbusiness was reappearing after a lengthy absence when only headed close home by Romany Brown at Killarney earlier this month with Dream Diamond just a neck behind in third. The latter has been placed on all three hurdle outings but needs to brush up his jumping, while Complete Fiction has won four times on the Flat and has also shown promise over hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Sonnyboyliston 2nd Wholelotofbusiness 3rd Complete Fiction

KARA SACRE impressed when landing a point-to-point for Sam Curling at Ballycrystal and has been placed on both hurdle outings for current connections this year. The selection beat all bar Zoffman in a 19-runner Naas maiden and is now stepped up in trip after filling third spot at Down Royal. Reiki Revolution won a Galway bumper last autumn and should benefit from his reappearance behind the odds-on Sober when switched to hurdles at Killarney earlier this month. Point-to-point winner Seeitoldya is another to consider along with Ballyharney and Sticktotheplan.
Prediction : 1st Kara Sacre 2nd Reiki Revolution 3rd Sticktotheplan

MELLEM was only headed close home when stepped up to 3m at Leopardstown this spring and gets the vote after again narrowly denied over this trip at Cork. The Mark Fahey-trained gelding had Aboy Joey about nine lengths behind in sixth and may now have most to fear from A Nod To Getaway who has filled the runner-up spot on three of his last four starts. Olord has only joined Eric McNamara this year and gave plenty of encouragement when finishing well to beat all bar Shadow Paddy over 2m1f at Tipperary this month. River Vale and Bal Kauto are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Mellem 2nd A Nod To Getaway 3rd Olord

FREE FLOW shaped well twice in maiden hurdles at Punchestown earlier this year and seemed to appreciate the better ground when scoring at Thurles. He drew clear in the closing stages to suggest this step up in trip should suit. Howdoyalikeherhome won over 2m6f at Down Royal last month and again ran with credit subsequently over this trip at Killarney. Miss Corby won a maiden hurdle last time, while Chef's Kiss and Meet My Loreley are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Free Flow 2nd Howdoyalikeherhome 3rd Miss Corby

BARRYROE MADAM shaped well twice in similar events last autumn including when third at Galway and held every chance when exiting at the last at Naas last month. James Smith claims a valuable 5lb and she gets the vote over Dunany Point who landed a major gamble at Bellewstown before filling the runner-up spot off a revised mark at Sligo. Inchidaly Copper won a 2m5f handicap hurdle at Downpatrick back in 2022 and has been exclusively campaigned over fences in the past year winning three of his last five starts over a variety of trips. Ballinoe Blaze and Lough Nigara are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Barryroe Madam 2nd Dunany Point 3rd Inchidaly Copper

SAMBA TRAIN was far from disgraced on debut over hurdles before running a cracker when switched to a bumper at Cork earlier this month. The selection was prominent throughout when beating all bar Woodland Adventure with Master Sydney three and a half lengths behind in third and Boogie On Down seventh. Woodland Adventure's trainer Gordon Elliott is now represented by Poetic Twist, a half-sister to bumper winner Starzand, and market support would be significant. The form of Courtmac Gesture's debut third to Sunny South West at Clonmel has been working out well, while Isabella Johnson filled the runner-up spot twice last month and looks capable of winning a summer bumper.
Prediction : 1st Samba Train 2nd Poetic Twist 3rd Courtmac Gesture