UK Horse Racing Tips

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The fact that Aidan O’Brien sends Claudio Monteverdi across the Irish Sea for the Investec Derby Trial (2.30) at Epsom on Wednesday as his sole representative of the afternoon may be a hint worth taking. The Galileo colt has raced exclusively over a mile so far, but has suggested on all three starts that the step up to middle distances will be in his favour. He confirmed the promise of his never-nearer fourth of 25, beaten 4¼ lengths, behind Embiran in a maiden at the Curragh last month when comfortably winning a similar race at Leopardstown two weeks ago and looks a force to be reckoned with, despite his relative inexperience. Indeed, the form of his Leopardstown win has already been franked by stable companion The Gurkha, who hacked up by 9 lengths in a Navan maiden on Sunday so, provided he handles the idiosyncrasies of Epsom, he appears to have an outstanding chance.

Selection: Epsom 2.30 Claudio Monteverdi to win

In the Coral Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (4.45) at Ayr on Friday, Rons Dream proved no match for Vroum Vroum Mag and company in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month but, back in a handicap, off the same mark as when second over 2 miles 4½ furlongs at Cheltenham in December, she has a realistic chance of a return to the winners’ enclosure. That form has worked out well enough in any case, but her last win came over 3 miles 1½ furlongs, so stepping back up to 3 miles is in her favour and she’s fully effective on the prevailing soft ground. The Kayf Tara mare could only finish fourth in this race last year, but has officially improved 12lb in the interim and, with underfoot conditions in her favour, could fare significantly better this time around.

Selection: Ayr 4.45 Rons Dream to win

In the opening Henry Semmence 60th Birthday Tour Handicap (2.00) at Lingfield on Friday, Skidby Mill was, understandably, completely outclassed by Volunteer Point and company in the All-Weather Fillies’ and Mares’ Championships Conditions Stakes a week ago, but had previously been in excellent form and can resume winning ways. In fact, Laura Mongan’s 6-year-old is just 1lb higher than when winning over course and distance, in this grade, earlier this month, so must surely be involved in the finish if sufficiently recovered from last week’s exertions.

Her latest win came in a five-runner affair, in which all of her rivals pulled hard, but she displayed a willing attitude at the head of affairs when joined with half a mile to run and she can record her fourth course and distance win under Jim Crowley and her eighth in all. Quite what connections we trying to achieve by running her against opposition rated up to 35lb superior last week is hard to fathom, but this is her level and she can earn due reward for her consistency.

Selection: Lingfield 2.00 Skidby Mill to win

In the 32Red All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes (2.40) at Lingfield on Friday, it may be worth taking a chance on the fitness of Moonrise Landing, who returns to action after an absence of 104 days. The Dalakhani mare is 4-5 under Jim Crowley and meets Anglophile on the same terms as when staying on well to beat Charlie Appleby’s charge by 4½ lengths over a slightly longer distance in December. That form has worked out very well so, with Moonrise Landing presumably trained with this race in mind, she looks a worthy favourite at around the 5/2 mark in the ante post price lists. She readily won her maiden on the Polytrack at Lingfield as a 3-year-old and ran respectably after just over a year off when making her seasonal debut at Bath last May, so may not take much getting ready. Fellow 5-year-olds Notarised and Anglophile won’t go down without a fight, but Moonrise Landing looks the one to be on this time.

Selection: Lingfield 2.40 Moonrise Landing to win