UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

A very good race in prospect. PEACE CHARTER looks nicely in at the weights and can take advantage. On her penultimate start, she stayed on strongly when in the clear in the furlong (of this trip) for fifth in a Group 3 on fast ground at Leopardstown. She appears well worth another go at seven furlongs, and this is a drop in class from her last couple of outings. The ever-drying ground is not in former course and distance winner Quizical's favour. His stablemate Breaking Story was hit hard by the handicapper for finishing a close fifth in a Listed race at Navan in June. He performed well off his new mark, though, when a never nearer sixth in the 'Ahonoora' at the Galway Festival after suffering a less than clear route. That form has been franked when the winner Current Option landed a Listed race in Cork at the weekend. Stall 16 isn't ideal, but he is a horse that a patient race can be ridden on. This is a step up in class for Soaring Monarch but he arrives in good humour from a pair of runner-up finishes at Galway. Baraniya is an unexposed sort who had several subsequent winners in behind when winning her maiden at Roscommon. She has stall one, and a big run could be forthcoming.
Prediction : 1st Peace Charter 2nd Breaking Story 3rd Soaring Monarch

Aidan O'Brien's HARVARD was a beaten favourite on debut but looks set to graduate in this assignment. His homework must have been more than decent as he went off 10/11 in Leopardstown, but ran short of room in the closing stages and was eased before finishing fourth. He has the big-race entries, and should be all the better for that experience in Foxrock. Joseph O'Brien's Kauri Cliffs ran on well for third on his first start at Galway, so is entitled to get into contention. He doesn't have the Group-race entries but his stablemate, newcomer Liffey River, certainly does, so this expensive purchase has to be respected. He is also a half-brother to several good winners. Dermot Weld takes the wraps off Dubawi colt Wuqood, who is well entered up and could be a factor.
Prediction : 1st Harvard 2nd Kauri Cliffs 3rd Liffey River

NUMEN has a rating of 96 after three runs and may yet prove better than this grade. He won his maiden at Leopardstown in June before being pitched into Listed class at the same track in July. He probably ran as well as could be expected in second behind his stablemate, the clearly very useful Delphi. The Galileo colt holds another Listed entry for this weekend. War Diary disappointed in Galway, when running freely, and has every chance of making amends. On his penultimate start he took second in the Cork Derby, a race in which the form is very strong. He is a very lightly-raced five-year-old. Enable's half-brother Centroid held on by a nose in a different handicap at Galway which has to give him prospects, particularly with Dylan Browne McMonagle claiming a handy 7lbs off his back.
Prediction : 1st Numen 2nd Centroid 3rd Galeola

Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand in saddling the two horses with 100+ ratings - Ennistymon (107) and Laburnum (105). Preference is for LABURNUM. She won her fillies' maiden over course and distance on debut in June. A neck second to Even So in an Oaks Trial at Naas was then very solid form. She then contested the Irish Oaks on her third start where she finished four lengths behind Even So in fourth. There should be plenty of prizes to be won with her. Since winning her fillies' maiden at Leopardstown in June, Ennistymon has kept the best of company. She took the runner-up berth in the Group 2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and finished in the same spot behind her stablemate, the runaway Epsom Oaks winner Love. She clearly didn't perform when finishing last in the Irish Oaks, but should be freshened up by over three weeks off. Kassaba was third in a Listed race at Killarney and is a potential improver.
Prediction : 1st Ennistymon 2nd Laburnum 3rd Kassaba

Highest rated and yet to run a bad race in five starts, ORCHID GARDEN gets the vote with this step up in trip likely to suit, albeit this locally-bred runner is not sure to stay on pedigree. She's proven that her mark is accurate with two fine runs in competitive Curragh handicaps, and the way she ran on in her penultimate race over a mile indicated that she should be keeping on well over this extended nine furlongs. Laggata didn't quite match her first two efforts when fifth here last time, but she's still a danger and a step up in trip will surely suit this stoutly-bred filly. Lady Hanson and Rosa Albertine go the other way in terms of distance and should be competitive, while Kuala Boola should find a winnable race in due course but has a few pounds to find with several rivals here.
Prediction : 1st Orchid Gardens 2nd Laggata 3rd Lady Hanson

Locally-based Make Believe has had a fine season with the likes of Mishriff and Rose of Kildare flying the flag for the Ballylinch Stud stallion. FICTITIOUS LADY can be another winner for him, having lost momentum when jumping the road crossing 2f out at Down Royal last time when just outpointed by the useful She's Our Queen. From a stable going well, she can go one better here. It won't be long before Menagerie is winning races after staying on very well to be third on debut at Leopardstown and she's a danger to all. St Clerans improved for headgear when a good second at Ballinrobe and is another to consider. Oh So True hasn't progressed as hoped after a promising debut at the Curragh, but Satin And Silk looked ready for a step-up to this trip last time and is open to plenty of improvement.
Prediction : 1st Fictitious Lady 2nd Menagerie 3rd St Clerans

HAN SOLO has run with great credit on both starts this term and has been edging closer to a first win. He was collared close home over a similar distance at Ballinrobe last time and, from a good draw, this race might be the one in which he makes the breakthrough. Summer Dream has a creditable record of placed efforts at this venue and, after a good second on her reappearance, can give another good account of herself. Woods' third at Cork over the weekend can be marked up as he raced on the disadvantaged far side of the straight track, and blinkers are left off as he steps up in trip. Loaded was second at Galway and should get the extra furlong at this flatter track, while Hidden Spark is nearly always a great each-way play but is hard to win with.
Prediction : 1st Han Solo 2nd Summers Dream 3rd Woods

CREST OF A WAVE is a fair summation of where Shane Foley is standing at the moment after his latest Group 1 success on Lucky Vega put the season's leading rider one short of his half century. He teamed up with the selection's trainer, Charles O'Brien, to win a couple on Rain Or Shine earlier this summer and might have a similar outcome on the five-year-old maiden mare who came home well at Leopardstown in June. She was hampered at the start when disappointing at Naas last time but it might pay to forgive that run. Scorpion Black won twice here last year and is slipping back down the ratings, but top-weight Munfallet has a stamina query over this distance. All The Mollies has been in good heart this term with two placed efforts at this track and should go well again, while Throwaway Line may not have enjoyed front-running last time but had run a lovely race the time before when fourth to Wilderness here and can go well for her inexperienced rider.
Prediction : 1st Crest Of A Wave 2nd Scorpion Black 3rd All The Mollies