UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

LOOKINGFORARAINBOW has an excellent pedigree and showed ability in a hot maiden on debut. Having met some trouble in-running at the Curragh, she finished nicely, with the winner landing Saturday's Ingabelle Stakes, and has every chance of finding the necessary improvement required to get off the mark. White Sand Beach is out of a triple-Group 1-winner Alice Springs and is likely to be smart. La Fogata has proven ability and finished fourth at Group 3 level last month, while Chicago Moon and Zermatt Star are each related to smart performers.
Prediction : 1st Lookingforarainbow 2nd White Sand Beach 3rd La Fogata

PORT OF SPAIN has a good pedigree and met in-running trouble at the Curragh last time. By a promising first-season sire, the selection is out of a smart Listed winner and is a half-brother to a Group 2 victor. He showed promise in a smart maiden on debut and while beaten five lengths at that course recently, endured a rough passage then and could become a capable type. Resurgence showed ability on his recent Curragh debut and has to be respected along with Back Straight, an 80,000gns May breezer, who finished second in a barrier trial last month and holds a Beresford Stakes entry.
Prediction : 1st Port Of Spain 2nd Resurgence 3rd Back Straight

NEO SMART has won just twice from 24 runs but she has useful recent form. Beaten a neck on debut by top-class Porta Fortuna, the selection was placed in a Premier Handicap last Derby weekend and bumped into a nicely-handicapped winner at Navan last time. With a wet forecast, softening-ground would also help. Touted Plan has prior form in handicaps but having easily won a Bellewstown maiden recently, has been raised 11lb. In-form Gangsta Man and the hat-trick seeking Altimara head the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Neo Smart 2nd Touted Plan 3rd Gangsta Man

A Group 2-winner on soft at Longchamp last May, BIRTHE finished second in another such contest in August before disappointing in September's Prix Vermeille. She finished last on her Irish debut at the Curragh in May but that was her first run for 252 days and could return to form now, albeit returning following another layoff. Three-year-old Brabizon is badly treated by race conditions but nonetheless shaped quite well at Killarney last time, having made late headway from off the pace. Coeur d'Or is a dependable veteran who seems sure to run his usual race.
Prediction : 1st Birthe 2nd Barbizon 3rd Coeur dOr

PLAYIN COOL attracted plenty of support on his debut at Gowran Park and showed promise when fourth to Lavender Breeze. The Belardo gelding met some trouble in running that day and may have finished a bit closer with a clear run. There is scope for a nice bit of improvement. Edge Of Seventeen has been placed on both outings this term and looks an obvious danger. She is tried in cheekpieces now. There are a few others with solid enough placed form and Sunlight Dance has scope for some improvement on just her fourth outing.
Prediction : 1st Playin Cool 2nd Edge Of Seventeen 3rd Sunlight Dance

DANCING TEAPOT may be able to strike back in handicap company. The Camelot filly wasn't disgraced when pitched into a Listed race at Gowran last time and this is more her level. She had been fourth in a decent Leopardstown handicap on her previous outing and looks up to scoring off her current mark. Its All Peachy runs under a penalty here after winning a Clonmel maiden five days ago. She has to be respected. Thrifty Of Digby was a game winner after a little break at Gowran a fortnight ago and this had been marked as her target prior to that success.
Prediction : 1st Dancing Teapot 2nd Its All Peachy 3rd Thrifty Of Digby

WARAZAM has been knocking on the door and may be able to get the job done now. The Elzaam filly was a warm enough order on her most recent outing at Clonmel but was trumped by Chou Chou in the closing stages. She turns out again off the same mark. Sottsands has also been close on her two most recent outings and has been eased 1lb since finishing fourth at Navan 10 days ago. She could be the danger. Sea View Lady showed improvement on her second handicap outing at Tipperary last time and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Warazam 2nd Sottsands 3rd Sea View Lady

SLANEY SWAGGER deserves to get his head in front after three placed efforts. The Profitable gelding finished off well when getting within half-a-length of The Bog Bank at Gowran a fortnight ago and going slightly further again now should help. The lightly raced Miss Americana showed improvement when runner-up at Clonmel five days ago and could be the danger now. Ms Olivia has a similar profile, having also stepped up when second at Tipperary last time, and is another that has to come into calculations.
Prediction : 1st Slaney Swagger 2nd Miss Americana 3rd Ms Olivia