UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

LOADED was a progressive three-year-old for Andrew Balding before a spell in Hong Kong. The Kodiac gelding failed to progress in the Far East but has been revitalised since joining Ado McGuinness last year and scored at Dundalk. The selection didn't enjoy the clearest of passages inside the final furlong when close up behind Trueba over this trip at Dundalk last time. Trueba merits respect if getting a run, while other to consider include Peshkova, Misty At Sea and Cracking Name. The latter appears quite versatile ground wise and has won five times including over a similar trip at Tipperary last summer.
Prediction : 1st Loaded 2nd Trueba 3rd Cracking Name

THAMES RIVER got a favourable mention from Joseph O'Brien in a recent stable tour and the half-brother to Barney Roy may well have progressed quite a bit from two to three. He had Estepona Sun behind when the pair were placed at Dundalk before still running green when scoring on the Polytrack last autumn. Plenty of these have form on soft ground and the forecast thundery showers could have a significant bearing on the going. In From The Cold won at Naas on the opening day of the turf season back in March, while Feminista won a Leopardstown nursery (Azila close up in third) on testing ground and shaped well here on her reappearance last week. Leopardstown maiden winner Celtic High King is by Galileo out of Guineas winner Homecoming Queen, while So Suave and Psyche are others to consider in an interesting event.
Prediction : 1st Thames River 2nd Estepona Sun 3rd In From The Cold

The market should provide some vital clues to the relative merits of the eight runners in this newcomers' event and LABURNUM is an obvious contender being a Galileo full-sister to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Roderic O'Connor. Aidan O'Brien's team have really hit the ground running since the resumption of racing last week, while the Newtown Anner Stud Farm pair Royal Free Hotel (gained some experience last year when second to Miss Myers in a barrier trial at Naas) and Thunder Kiss also represent the in-form yards of Jessica Harrington and Ger Lyons. Cannoli hails from a family that Dermot Weld has done well with, and her dam won the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes at this venue.
Prediction : 1st Laburnum 2nd Royal Free Hotel 3rd Thunder Kiss

Jessica Harrington has made a major impact on the Flat racing scene in recent seasons and the early signs this term appear very favourable. CASTEL GANDOLFO made 425,000 guineas as a yearling at Tattersalls and is a full-brother to Juliet Capulet who landed the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes in 2017. Support for the grey son of Dark Angel would certainly add to confidence. Desert Highway is another well-bred colt from a good Moyglare Stud Farm family that includes Irish St Leger winner Royal Diamond and Group race winners Princess Highway and Mad About You. Dermot Weld has sent out a couple of maiden winners in recent days so any support would be significant. Michael O'Callaghan's team are also in good fettle and the Camacho gelding Gaelforce West, who cost 88,000 as a yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale, is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Castel Gandolfo 2nd Desert Highway 3rd Gaelforce West

LIQUID LUCK shaped well on debut in what appeared a reasonable maiden over the extended ten furlongs at Dundalk last October. Joe Murphy's charge didn't enjoy the clearest of passages in the straight but still managed to beat all bar Hazel Bay, and this looks a decent opportunity to go one better. Shamiyan stayed on well over a mile and a half on testing ground when last seen here eight months ago and may just find this trip a little on the sharp side. Kevin Prendergast has yet to open his account this year but his string have generally run well since racing resumed and Nan Yehi has shown enough to suggest she could play a prominent role here.
Prediction : 1st Liquid Luck 2nd Shamiyan 3rd Nan Yehi

GREAT HOUSE can make a belated winning debut here for Donnacha O'Brien in a race where strong form is thin. He was registered in training in Ballydoyle until January 1 and while he hasn't run until now, his new trainer has set out his stall as a flat trainer, suggesting he won't be jumping hurdles any time soon. By Galileo and a half-brother to a Group 3 winner, he also very notably has entries in three upcoming Group races. The Alpha Man ran a fine promising race on debut at Dundalk in March and is potentially next best. He showed some greenness then and while the form is ordinary, he is capable of improving. Switch Around, by Galileo, contested a race won by Leo De Fury last June but was well held and appears moderate while Hurricane Cliff ran a nice race at Limerick last June and could get involved for the placings here. The Jam Man will be all at sea at this trip.
Prediction : 1st Great House 2nd The Alpha Man 3rd Switch Around

SHEBERGHAN has a wide draw in 17 to overcome but has solid form prospects. Previously a winner for Dermot Weld, he is now on his fourth trainer but has shown up well for current connections in recent times and while those efforts were on the all-weather at Dundalk, he is a previous turf winner, goes well at this trip, is reasonably treated and likes fast ground. Excelsius is a previous Dundalk all-weather winner and has claims for new connections having shown useful handicap form at this sort of trip last year. Segenhoe is a well bred Dark Angel-sired runner and is while no doubt interesting on debut for new connections, it is difficult to know what to expect on handicap debut today and is possibly best watched for now. Mirann is another first-time runner for new connections and while he showed good form for the Aga Khan when trained in France, his three runs were at 1m4f suggesting he might ideally prefer a longer trip.
Prediction : 1st Sheberghan 2nd Excelcius 3rd Mirann

ROIBEARD is a hopeful pick on his first run in a year. He is a proven type at this grade and while the lack of a recent run is a concern, he was surely also held up by lockdown and should go well today racing from just 1lb higher than when winning his most recent useful handicap at Leopardstown. The Names Jock similarly hasn't raced since May 2019 and while he may well continue to climb the handicap ladder, he is nonetheless 10lb higher than when winning easily at Sligo on his latest run. Ideal Pal runs in a first-time tongue-tie, is ground-versatile and should can involved at the business end while On The Balcony (a winner in France last December, later bought for 20,000 euros), which carries a first-time tongue-tie, top weight Multamis and Qaabil each make respective debuts for new yards.
Prediction : 1st Roibeard 2nd Ideal Pal 3rd On The Balcony