UK Horse Racing Tips: Curragh

Badly hampered before running on for third at Down Royal, MR MONTAUK then bumped into a handicap blot when second at Sligo. He's up in grade, but can make the most of bottom weight and his experience will be an asset. Banks Of The Boyne has shown improvement on his last two starts and split a pair of Joseph O'Brien-trained runners when second in a 7f nursery at Galway. Michael Mulvany's juvenile holds C&D nursery winner I Ready on that form. Away And Gone was sent off joint-favourite for her debut and has claims based on her fourth at Navan next time out.
Prediction : 1st Mr Montauk 2nd Banks Of The Boyne 3rd Away And Gone

THE PIPEMAN represents a respected stable and made a promising debut at Navan when runner-up in a 17-runner contest. He can come forward enough to take this, despite the fact that he has to give weight to most of his rivals. Heart Of You showed up well for a long way when fifth over 7f at Galway and may benefit from dropping back in trip. Kindacan is a sister to Clounmacon, who was a Listed winner over this trip three years ago for Johnny Murtagh. By Middle Park and July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns, and out of a 6f two-year-old winner, Coincidenza was bought for 200,000gns at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale in April.
Prediction : 1st The Pipeman 2nd Heart Of You 3rd Coincidenza

A course winner over 7f last term, NEO SMART generally goes well at this venue and seems to be running into form. Fourth over C&D on Derby weekend, she filled the same position when finishing strongly in a slowly-run contest at Gowran Park last time. Second at Limerick in June, Tofino won this last year and is only 3lb higher for her repeat bid. Runner-up in two nurseries last term, Ella's Gold has been placed over longer trips on her last two outings. The pick of her form is on a soft surface, but she handled good ground when third over an extended 1m2f at Roscommon.
Prediction : 1st Neo Smart 2nd Tofino 3rd Ellas Gold

A race for middle-distance prospects and ZARAK PASHA may be able to go one better than at Galway where he chased home a Ballydoyle-trained winner over an extended mile. Thomas Chippendale was four lengths behind the selection in third and it will be a surprise if he doesn't get closer with that debut run under his belt. The O'Brien family have lots of interesting newcomers in the line-up, including Albany County, a Camelot half-brother to 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth, and Dancinginthecity, a Saxon Warrior half-brother to three useful middle-distance winners.
Prediction : 1st Zarak Pasha 2nd Thomas Chippendale 3rd Albany County

After a good run over a mile here on seasonal debut, THYER again ran with credit when third over 1m4f at Galway. Perhaps this intermediate distance will prove ideal for the five-year-old, whose trainer Maurice Ahern does well with a limited amount of runners. After a promising effort over C&D, Youcansaythatagain got off the mark at Down Royal and the well-bred son of Ghaiyyath is one to consider on handicap debut. Liberation Date had the inside stall when a creditable third over 1m1f here in June, but is posted wide this time. Blackjack Hills has to enter calculations on his narrow defeat over this trip at Leopardstown last month.
Prediction : 1st Thyer 2nd Youcansaythatagain 3rd Blackjack Hills

A BOY NAMED SUSIE only has a debut win at Killarney to his name, but his recent form has been top-class and he is sure to be sent off at prohibitive odds. A fine fourth to Constitution River in the Prix du Jockey Club, he posted another career best when reversing form with Chantilly runner-up Hawk Mountain in the Eclipse at Sandown, which was also won by Constitution River. That level of form puts him well clear of his four rivals and it will be a shock if he doesn't gain a confidence-boosting success. A fair fourth in a Leopardstown Group 3 over 1m4f last week, Omni Man is preferred to his 6lb lower-rated stablemate Cowardofthecounty for forecast purposes.
Prediction : 1st A Boy Named Susie 2nd Omni Man 3rd Cowardofthecounty

Trained on the Curragh, ARMOR SUPREME has shown a high level of ability in three runs in Britain. After a debut win at Goodwood, she was touched off in a Listed contest at York and was last seen when ninth in the Queen Mary. Her four-length defeat on that occasion is strong form, with that Royal Ascot Group 2 working out very well. Grayrobin is on a hat-trick and had Star Prospect (now 5lb better off) back in third when making all at Cork. An impressive debut winner at Naas, Concorde Landed was too free when fourth to a more experienced stablemate in a Listed race at the same venue and may benefit from the application of a hood.
Prediction : 1st Armor Supreme 2nd Grayrobin 3rd Concorde Landed

BOLD OPTIMIST last visited the winner's enclosure after taking a C&D contest just over two years ago. He has slipped a long way in the ratings and, on his first start of the turf season, shaped with plenty of encouragement when second at Naas last month. Harry's Hill almost made the most of a declining mark when chasing home Mary Shoelaces here a month ago and, on these terms, can turn around form with the winner. Just in behind that pair was Happy Henry and he also makes the shortlist having shown a consistent level of form in similar contests this season.
Prediction : 1st Bold Optimist 2nd Harrys Hill 3rd Happy Henry