UK Horse Racing Tips: Navan

Aidan O'Brien takes the wraps off TUNBRIDGE WELLS and the No Nay Never colt makes plenty of appeal on pedigree. His brother Blackbeard was a high-class sprinting two-year-old a couple of years ago when landing both the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes and plenty will be expected of Wayne Lordan's mount with Royal Ascot on the horizon. Dr Ali was third to another Ballydoyle juvenile over C&D three weeks ago and he sets a good standard with further improvement likely. Sounds Like A Plan, out of a speedy mare who won at Listed level as a juvenile, has place claims.
Prediction : 1st Tunbridge Wells 2nd Dr Ali 3rd Sounds Like A Plan

SHOEBOX KING was a course winner over 5f last summer and is now only 2lb higher after some moderate performances recently. He was fitted with blinkers for the first time when landing that aforementioned handicap and now has a different form of headgear fitted for the first time, which may spark a revival in his fortunes. His most recent run at Naas should be ignored as he suffered serious interference. Cuban Grey had four of these rivals behind when second over 5f here earlier in the month and can make his presence felt. Layoftheland has been finishing off well in her races this season and makes a quick reappearance after taking the silver medal at Sligo on Wednesday.
Prediction : 1st Shoebox King 2nd Cuban Grey 3rd Layoftheland

BACK DOWN UNDER has been placed in six of her nine starts, including when finishing a close third over C&D on her recent seasonal debut. Padraig Roche's 77-rated daughter of Australia should have sharpened up for that first outing in five months and can gain reward for her consistency. Sturlasson, who had useful form at two including at stakes level, is rated a lot higher than the selection but has questions to answer after a poor run on heavy ground at Cork in March. That seemed too bad to be true and he's been given plenty of time to recover. Kay's Flower is related to 5f winners and may fare best of the newcomers.
Prediction : 1st Back Down Under 2nd Sturlasson 3rd Kays Flower

Last year's winner JON RIGGENS can land the prize. The Requinto gelding, also successful over 6f at the Curragh later in the summer, generally needs his first run back so there was plenty to like about his performance at Naas last month which saw him finish fourth against race-fit rivals. That first outing in over six months should have left him spot-on for this. Pro Bono Alexander has been a revelation on the all-weather in recent months and has shot up the ratings. It will be interesting to see if she can transfer that improvement to turf. Nouvel Espoir is effectively 8lb higher for a recent C&D victory. He's markedly up in grade but is unexposed and could improve further.
Prediction : 1st Jon Riggens 2nd Pro Bono Alexander 3rd Nouvel Espoir

Wayne Lordan's decision to partner Gasper De Lemos looks significant and the Justify colt gets the nod. The Curragh maiden winner was no match for Arabian Crown in the Zetland Stakes over 1m2f in October, but that is still fair form in the context of this race. Disappointing back at Newmarket on his reappearance, the selection will be better for that outing and is obviously expected to relish a test of stamina. Lordan rode The Equator to victory in a Leopardstown maiden and the form of that race has been boosted so it may not have been the easiest of decisions. Birdman won a 1m4f maiden at Cork and that form has also been franked in recent days.
Prediction : 1st Gasper De Lemos 2nd The Equator 3rd Birdman

DOLLAR VALUE may be in the twilight of his career but the Tom McCourt-trained nine-year-old showed that he isn't a spent force just yet when finishing third at Gowran Park last month. A previous winner at this venue, it would certainly be a mistake for the other riders to allow James Ryan too much leeway out in front. Grann's Boy disappointed at Sligo last time when sent off favourite but is almost certainly better than that bare form implies. It would be no surprise to see the Harry Rogers-trained gelding bounce back here. Global Export, a winner over hurdles, remains a maiden on the Flat after 15 starts but has run well at this trip in the past. It would be no surprise to see the top-weight get involved.
Prediction : 1st Dollar Value 2nd Granns Boy 3rd Global Export

The James Barcoe-trained RAIN catches the eye here having not enjoyed the clearest of passages when fourth at this track last time. Once seeing daylight over a furlong out, the daughter of Sea The Moon finished out her race very strongly. A former winner in France, the mare has yet to get off the mark in this country but it could be significant that she has twice reached the frame here. Paradise Lost has long given the impression that he is well treated on the level but has to date failed to get his head in front. Off a mark of 62 the Charles O'Brien-trained gelding has to be competitive. Recent Sligo runner-up Glyde Ranger found one too good at the western track but ran a very solid race upon which he can build.
Prediction : 1st Rain 2nd Paradise Lost 3rd Glyde Ranger

Runner-up over course and distance last month, ROCK OF IRELAND can go one place better. The Barry Fitzgerald-trained gelding led for much of that latter race and despite being headed over two furlongs out, he rallied again close home. With the benefit of that experience, he should be hard to beat. Blackpool showed promise on his racecourse debut at Leopardstown last year when finishing fourth of 15. The sixth horse gave that form a nice boost when winning recently. Lady Doris has yet to encounter a grass surface but has run well in two maidens at Dundalk. With her stable in flying form at present, the daughter of Churchill has to be one to consider.
Prediction : 1st Rock Of Ireland 2nd Blackpool 3rd Lady Doris