UK Horse Racing Tips: Kilbeggan

LE COQ HARDI has chase experience in the bag and that could prove the difference here. The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding was beaten at a short price on his return to action at Limerick last month, but it was still a solid effort to chase home Shadow Paddy. He has an official rating of 135 over fences and that sets a good standard. Impero is rated 136 over hurdles so has to be respected on his chase debut. He has run well on his last couple of outings and, if he takes to the larger obstacles, will be a big danger. Coyote Spirit has a bit to find on hurdles ratings, but is one to note on his chase debut.
Prediction : 1st Le Coq Hardi 2nd Impero 3rd Coyote Spirit

WARRIORS WOOD was a good winner here on his first start in handicap company over fences just over two weeks ago and can follow up. The Andy McNamara-trained gelding asserted from the last to post a seven-length success and there looks scope for further improvement from him. Gaelic Arc won this last year and bounced back to winning ways at Punchestown nine days ago. He has to be a leading contender because a 5lb rise doesn't look harsh. Milan Forth was edged out by half a length here last month and deserves to be on the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Warriors Wood 2nd Gaelic Arc 3rd Milan Forth

This looks like a nice opportunity for VENUSIENNE. The Authorized mare was highly tried on her first couple of outings for Willie Mullins and benefited from having her sights lowered when running out a facile winner at Tramore back in October. She looks to have a nice level of ability. Carmel's Phoenix is an interesting rival on her jumping debut. Mark Fahey's charge won a Flat maiden at Cork last month and has a decent rating of 86 on the level. If she can transfer that ability to hurdling, she could be a danger. Gordon Elliott runs two and his Tramore winner Poetic Twist commands respect, while previous course scorer Kenisa Sport returns from an absence and is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Venusienne 2nd Carmels Phoenix 3rd Poetic Twist

BROHATNA ran well for a long way at Downpatrick last month and looks up to scoring at this level. The Famous Name gelding was a touch keen early on and made a couple of blunders. He's fitted with a hood now and, with a little bit of improvement, he can step forward to open his account. The handicapper has him on a mark of 98. Silver Salute is rated 105, but he was tailed off in handicap company when last seen and needs to prove he's capable of that mark. On the pick of his form, he'd be a danger. Sharu didn't run badly when sixth at Tramore and is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Brohatna 2nd Silver Salute 3rd Sharu

JOE'S TURN must have his chance in what should be an open event. An early faller when favourite for a division of this race 12 months ago, he boasts a good record at the track overall, winning both over hurdles and over fences. He was in action for the first time since this meeting last year when mid-division at Punchestown in May, where he might have finished closer with a clearer run. Entitled to improve, the 10-year-old could be a match for Island Mccoo, who ran nice races at Sligo and Limerick of late, and Ladies Well, who was running for the first time in seven months when second over fences at Kelso three weeks ago.
Prediction : 1st Joes Turn 2nd Island Mccoo 3rd Ladies Well

ANNIE'S BELLE ran her best race when third to Blue Reed here and perhaps there's more to come. There was also promise in her previous start at Wexford and she might well get closer again over this longer distance. Smackwater Jack was 13lb out of the handicap proper when he scored at Punchestown eight days ago and could be fancied to go well again on the back of that improved effort. Gerrys Wish finished runner-up on two occasions last autumn, but will need to show more than she did on her comeback at Sligo. A better prospect could be Love Like This, who was runner-up at Sligo last month and went well again at the same track last Tuesday.
Prediction : 1st Annies Belle 2nd Smackwater Jack 3rd Love Like This

JACOVEC CAVERN ran out a clear-cut winner of the Adare Manor Opportunity Final at the Punchestown Festival and can add to his tally. He backed up that taking performance when finishing second to Billy Lee Swagger in a valuable handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe and clearly arrives here in the best of form. Toll Stone was beaten favourite in that race at Ballinrobe but he's better judged on his run, also behind Jacovec Cavern, at Punchestown in April. He might be a bigger danger than the likes of Encanto Bruno and Cobra Queen, who goes back over hurdles after being pulled up in the Mayo National.
Prediction : 1st Jacovec Cavern 2nd Toll Stone 3rd Encanto Bruno

O'CALLAGHAN CAN raced up with the pace when a fair third behind the well-fancied Rokanako here at the end of last month and a repeat of that effort should see him go close. It was much improved on his debut run, which came in testing conditions at Thurles in February, and perhaps his chance will be better again as the ground continues to dry out. Johnny Rambo started off well when second over hurdles at Clonmel and the same can be said of Colossal Impact, who was third at Navan in March. Willie Mullins' Sea Feliz is the first reserve and might well become the focus of attention if she secures a place in the final line-up.
Prediction : 1st Ocallaghan Can 2nd Johnny Rambo 3rd Colossal Impact