UK Horse Racing Tips: Limerick

The first race of its type in Ireland this season, and it's a guessing game for which the market will be informative. From a predominantly National Hunt operation, MINELLA ROCKETT has shown a good level of ability on the Flat and is the highest rated of these in that sphere. He's fit from a couple of respectable runs in May and is a hopeful selection. Nicky Larson, second over a mile at Limerick two starts back, is by Galiway, who has sired plenty of smart hurdlers, while Boston Benjamin, gelded since his latest outing in April, is the only Flat winner in the line-up and represents a top trainer/rider combination.
Prediction : 1st Minella Rockett 2nd Nicky Larson 3rd Boston Benjamin

EMESTERAYE went well on her handicap debut at Wexford a little over a month ago and could be up to winning this heat. Having her first start since November of last year that evening, she took third place behind Kilt, only losing out on the runner-up spot inside the final 50 yards. She is entitled to improve and might get the better of Mo Ghille Mar, who was a winner at Wexford in May before finishing down the field on easier ground at Listowel. The consistent Eastmore is another to consider closely.
Prediction : 1st Emesteraye 2nd Mo Ghille Mar 3rd Eastmore

DADDY LONG LEGS has returned from a break in fine form and looks the one to be on. On his first start in three months, the one-time Irish Champion Hurdle runner-up scored cosily over hurdles at Ballinrobe before taking second place in a maiden on the Flat at Down Royal just under two weeks ago. A sounder surface is expected to suit as he goes jumping again and he can prove too strong for Jesse Evans, who was a winner over fences at Listowel. Bowensonfire won back-to-back handicap hurdles at Leopardstown last season and is down in grade after contesting a stronger race at Fairyhouse latest.
Prediction : 1st Daddy Long Legs 2nd Jesse Evans 3rd Bowensonfire

LATOPIX ran her best race for trainer Henry de Bromhead when second at Punchestown in early-June and perhaps she can go a place better this time. She lost out to a very well-supported rival in Between Friends, a fair effort on her first start in six months. There could be more to come and the five-year-old is now preferred to Freddie's Back, who came from off the pace for third place behind long odds-on favourite Dani Donadoni at Limerick in March. Found to have lost a shoe and burst blood vessels on that occasion, he could certainly do better this time and might just pose a bigger threat than Jack Owen Jack, who looked to jump poorly when placed at Listowel at the end of May.
Prediction : 1st Latopix 2nd Freddies Back 3rd Jack Owen Jack

GLOBAL SKIES improved on a runner-up effort at Clonmel in May to score in fine style at the same course in early-June and perhaps he can defy a 9lb hike in the ratings to follow up. He certainly won with plenty in hand and is likely to be competitive again in a race where Cocovic looks a danger after a fair effort when third behind two better-fancied rivals here at Limerick a little over a month ago. That was his first run in a handicap hurdle and his first start sice September of last year. Mickey Cohen is one with an absence to overcome this time. He won a beginners' chase at Downpatrick last September and was then second to easy winner Flidais when last seen over hurdles at Tipperary the following month.
Prediction : 1st Global Skies 2nd Cocovic 3rd Mickey Cohen

ILLTAKEHIMMYSELF can gain a deserved success after a couple of runner-up efforts. The Jet Away gelding was just denied over 3m at Punchestown on his penultimate outing and may appreciate stepping back up in trip after finishing second again over an extended 2m4f at Listowel last time. Sallap comes here off the back of a convincing win at Clonmel and would be a big player if reproducing that level of form. Le Fanu is the other last-time-out winner in the field and also has to be on the shortlist. He went up 5lb for scoring at Listowel and hasn't got that many miles on the clock, despite being ten.
Prediction : 1st Illtakehimmyself 2nd Sallap 3rd Le Fanu

MICKEY HULIE kept on stoutly when scoring over C&D last month and can follow up. The Pour Moi gelding got a 7lb rise for that victory but the form has worked out well with the runner-up, Island McCoo, going on to score at Kilbeggan. Hob's Angel won on her penultimate outing at Clonmel and ran well off her revised mark when runner-up here in late May. She looks like an obvious danger, while The Rebel County competes off a 13lb lower mark now over timber and is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Mickey Hulie 2nd Hobs Angel 3rd The Rebel County

Derek O'Connor is a noteworthy booking for BACHARACH. He rode the Nathaniel gelding first-time-up at Punchestown and is back on board now after Gavin Cromwell's charge ran a big race to finish second at Ballinrobe in late May. He chased home A Stoirin on that occasion and his trainer Andy Slattery also looks to have a big shout in this with Caislean Gear. The four-year-old was runner-up to a decent looking sort in Linford on his debut at Roscommon and could improve from that showing. The well-bred The President, a daughter of top race-mare Benie Des Dieux, was a moderate enough third on debut and needs to step forward from that.
Prediction : 1st Bacharach 2nd Caislean Gear 3rd The President