UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

AMBER KITE just failed to get up over a slightly shorter trip at Limerick when beaten a nose by Finest. She's bred to stay well and can go one better trying 7f for the first time. Anna Strada actually had Finest 6l behind her when third on debut at Bellewstown, but perhaps the Ballydoyle filly was below-par that day. Dropping back nearly a furlong, the Harrington filly is a big danger to the selection and the second home at Bellewstown went close at Leopardstown on Thursday. Give Her A Squeeze has to give away a fair bit of weight to all her rivals, but her Group 3 third to Mother Earth at Naas was creditable and she's worthy of respect. Helvic Princess had subsequent winner Ebeko a place behind her when third on debut at Roscommon, but she needs to bounce back from a poor run at Cork.
Prediction : 1st Amber Kite 2nd Give Her A Squeeze 3rd Helvic Princess

SHONA MEA won well over a furlong further at Leopardstown on Thursday (Take My Hand back in fourth) and she'll be hard to beat if turning out under her penalty. She also won at this track over 1m last month, when beating another of today's rivals Sweet Justice, and perhaps she might be vulnerable over this sharp 7f, but as a filly in form she gets the vote. Sweet Justice has also finished runner-up to Kosman and Take My Hand this season, and is respected from a good draw with Colin Keane on board. Like the selection, Kosman reappears quickly having just found one too good over 6f at Naas on Wednesday. Going back up to 7f should help him. Bigz Belief ran well a few times in nurseries last season, and appeals as one that can win a handicap or two this term.
Prediction : 1st Shona Mea 2nd Sweet Justice 3rd Take My Hand

KASTASA can pick up where she left off last year and land this Listed contest. Dermot Weld's filly won five of her six starts in 2019, progressing through the handicap ranks and signing off with a Group 3 win over 2m at the Curragh. An almost ten-month lay-off is a concern, but her class can see her through. Heliac is on an upward trajectory as well, having won four of her last five starts, and handled the step-up to 12f well when taking a Listed event at Leopardstown. She goes up in trip again, and has 7lbs to find with the selection on ratings. Joseph O'Brien's pair of French imports Traisha and Mighty Blue fought out the finish in a Killarney handicap, and are unexposed, race-fit and open to improvement over this longer distance.
Prediction : 1st Kastasa 2nd Traisha 3rd Mighty Blue

Every year Aidan O'Brien has one or two fillies that have loads of high-class placed form but struggle to get their heads in front. SO WONDERFUL had a string of creditable runs in the book behind many of this year's top 3-y-o fillies before disappointing in a Group 3 at Leopardstown. She was better at Cork at last time and on paper this should be a formality, but she's a somewhat reluctant, rather than bullish, selection. Never Forgotten showed improvement on her second start when runner-up behind a smart-looking newcomer at the Curragh, while Miss Molly T and Pirate Lass are similarly-rated types who have been consistent in maiden company. Sea The Magic is a full-sister to Ger Lyons' 2019 Irish Lincolnshire winner Karawaan and is a noteworthy newcomer, albeit she doesn't hold any big-race entries.
Prediction : 1st So Wonderful 2nd Never Forgotten 3rd Sea The Magic

EPONA PLAYS has plenty of solid form in the book, and this looks a good chance for her to get off the mark. She began with a fourth place finish behind Irish Oaks winner Even So at this venue last year, and was beaten only a short head over 10f at Leopardstown last month. Back to a mile, she ran well against two horses rated 99 at Killarney last time. Laggata ran well to be second at Roscommon, and the filly that beat her ran well off 91 in a handicap subsequently, so that makes her a strong contender. Theophile wasn't far off the selection at Leopardstown and drops to 1m for the first time, while Bounce The Blues ran well on debut here over 7f but will need more to win. Grenadine and Sagrada Familia have been running reasonably well but, judged on their ratings, will need to step up if the selection runs to her mark.
Prediction : 1st Epona Plays 2nd Laggata 3rd Grenadine

CHARLIE BASSETT has an identical rating to Daylight Come on 82, and Sliabh Aughty is not far behind on 78. At nine furlongs and a hundred yards Charlie Bassett would have won at Fairyhouse last time. However, over the ten-furlong trip then he was 'short-headed' by the nicely-backed and probably well-treated Johnny Murtagh handicapper, Springbank. Charlie Bassett led two and a half furlongs out on that occasion, and soon went on. Perhaps if ridden a little more conservatively this time he might see it out all the way to the line. Daylight Come really put it up to Irish Derby third, and 1/8 chance Dawn Patrol, at Naas on Wednesday evening. Turning out quickly he has the potential to be a huge player. The aforementioned Sliabh Aughty needs to be taken into account, along with the likes of Pugin. Watch the newcomers Salinity and Wrinkle In Time in the betting. Robin Des Sheikh is another that could go well.
Prediction : 1st Charlie Bassett 2nd Daylight Come 3rd Sliabh Aughty

NEXT IN LINE could go well here on her handicap debut with first-time blinkers tried. There was plenty of money about for the Excelebration filly last time at Sligo, but she proved to be a big disappointment. The three-year-old was never in the hunt when beaten nearly fourteen lengths, eighth of the nine behind Lilli Milena. This is a yard with an earned reputation for knowing the time of day, and Next In Line is surely better than she showed at Cleveragh. James Barrett is based in Goresbridge, so closer to home the selection is expected to run much better. Encouragingly with regard to stable form, Barrett had a winner with Red Pantz at Naas on Wednesday evening. Slieve Bearnagh and Divine Celt are also on the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Next In Line 2nd Slieve Bearnagh 3rd Divine Celt

MUSALSAL clashes with Tennessee Wildcat, Hidden Spark, Dragon Belle and Tennesse Waltz again, after their meeting behind Stellaire Enfant at Limerick eight days back. Musalsal has to reverse form with Dragon Belle and Hidden Spark now, but he's taken to do so over the longer trip at a track that he's won at. Gavin Ryan, rider of Musalsal at Greenmount Park, reported to the clerk of the scales that his mount ran short of room one furlong out. A brother to the classy Zawraq, the Richard O'Brien-trained selection might well get back in the winning groove. On her first outing since a hurdling effort at Thurles in March, Thefaithfulindian would be interesting if attracting market support. She's got the rail draw in stall one, and the main man at the minute, Chris Hayes, has been booked to ride. You can never discount Scorpion Black at Gowran, and Rockview Roman definitely has a shout too.
Prediction : 1st Musalsal 2nd Dragon Belle 3rd Hidden Spark