UK Horse Racing Tips: Roscommon

RAKKI was placed both on the Flat and over hurdles for Alan King and made a promising start for current connections at the Galway Festival. The Sea The Stars gelding was third behind Jerrari in a competitive 20-runner handicap hurdle and, with the benefit of that run under his belt, this looks a good opportunity to open his account. First Ascent has performed well in maidens this year for Matt Smith earning a Flat rating in the high 70s and is an interesting recruit to hurdles, while Jacko Star showed promise on debut in a Navan maiden hurdle back in March.
Prediction : 1st Rakki 2nd First Ascent 3rd Jacko Star

NO BIG DEAL has been in good form under both codes filling the runner-up spot twice on the Flat including on soft ground at Clonmel earlier this month. The selection was also placed on his latest hurdle start behind Paul's Dream at Wexford and may now have most to fear from I'm Flattered, who opened her account in a similar event at Kilbeggan last month. Pleasureofpressure enters calculations after finishing well into fourth at Ballinrobe.
Prediction : 1st No Big Deal 2nd Im Flattered 3rd Pleasureofpressure

Unbeaten in three starts in bumpers, the Gordon Elliott-trained WOODLAND ADVENTURE can make a winning debut over hurdles. A well-bred daughter of Camelot, the four-year-old is a half-sister to a Group 3 winner on the Flat. The filly made a winning introduction at Cork in May and the form of that race has been well advertised subsequently. Having won her next two starts, both at Worcester, Woodland Adventure is a potentially exciting recruit to hurdling. Runner-up on her latest two outings, Youre A Derry Girl rates the biggest threat. A former bumper winner, the daughter of Leading Light has crucial jumping experience. Atlantic City and Amboyna also merit respect.
Prediction : 1st Woodland Adventure 2nd Youre A Derry Girl 3rd Atlantic City

This looks a good opportunity for the Mark Fahey-trained MELLEM to record a first career win. A son of French Navy, the six-year-old had run well in stronger company earlier in the year. A reproduction of his Leopardstown third in March or second-placed finish at Cork on his penultimate start would almost certainly suffice. Jockey Thomas O'Connor, who claims a valuable 7lb, was amongst the winners at Listowel last week. Live To Laugh, who stepped up on previous efforts when fourth at Down Royal recently, is a lightly-raced gelding who could be capable of further improvement. Hitthehayson is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Mellem 2nd Live To Laugh 3rd Hitthehayson

A C&D winner on his penultimate start, MAGS NELSON can put a disappointing run at Killarney behind him. A lightly-raced six-year-old, the Ross O'Sullivan-trained gelding had been in decent form prior to that setback at the Munster venue. Although nothing showed up to explain his below-par effort, on the balance of form, he looks to have live claims here. Quantum Quest will need to jump better than he did when winning his maiden last time but perhaps the application of first-time cheekpieces will help the gelding concentrate. Mephisto is next best.
Prediction : 1st Mags Nelson 2nd Quantum Quest 3rd Mephisto

WESTPORT COVE could have the measure of King Of Kingsfield in receipt of 4lb from him. Prominent-racer Westport Cove has plenty of experience over fences and made the breakthrough in that discipline off the front at Ballinrobe in May. Since then, he was collared close home over further in a Grade 3 at Galway and should put in another bold bid. King Of Kingsfield is undoubtedly a tough opponent. He has really enjoyed his last two races over fences at Galway and Ballinrobe in the summer and was a decisive winner of both of them. Special Cadeau is next best on official ratings and has a bit to find with Westport Cove as he was fifth behind him at Galway.
Prediction : 1st Westport Cove 2nd King Of Kingsfield 3rd Special Cadeau

COBRA QUEEN has given the impression that she could be better over fences than hurdles. This former point-to-point winner won two of her 10 races over flights, but is quickly going the right way over the bigger obstacles. On her second start, she was headed in the final strides at Tipperary before putting it all together to win decisively in a mares' beginners' chase at Tramore which bodes well for this assignment. Howya Luveen merits moving up in class after a six-length success in Ballinrobe this month and there should be more to come from her. Betty Dutton went off favourite for her handicap debut at Downpatrick, but was badly hampered and fell at the first. She is on a recovery mission.
Prediction : 1st Cobra Queen 2nd Howya Luveen 3rd Betty Dutton

SHADYS LADY emerged with plenty of credit from a runner-up berth on racecourse debut at Naas in March behind a very classy sort. That form was very well franked when the horse that beat her finished second in a Grade 1 at Punchestown the following month. Ozark's Walk has shown a real aptitude for Kilbeggan in posting two runner-up efforts there and that form entitles him to respect in this contest. Onlyforfrankie has improved with each run, while Dawn Approach gelding Seventeen B is an interesting newcomer with John Gleeson booked and should be given a market check.
Prediction : 1st Shadys Lady 2nd Ozarks Walk 3rd Onlyforfrankie