UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

MINELLA COCOONER was one of the leading staying novice hurdlers last season and switches to fences here as part of an exciting trio of runners from the powerful Willie Mullins yard. The selection won a 2m6f Grade 1 at Leopardstown and was runner-up to stablemate The Nice Guy at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals. The Closutton team is bolstered by Whatdeawant, placed behind Sir Gerhard in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Classic Getaway who was a very expensive purchase after winning his point-to-point. Journey With Me won twice over hurdles last term and would have been placed behind Sir Gerhard at Cheltenham but for falling at the last.
Prediction : 1st Minella Cocooner 2nd Journey With Me 3rd Whatdeawant

WILLYWAMPUS has taken well to fences recently and after going down narrowly to Scalor at Thurles, again jumped well out in front when second to the long odds-on Kilcruit at Punchestown last Saturday. This represents a big drop in class compared to the latest assignment and hopefully he can maintain that level of form. Yabo has been placed on all four completed starts over fences and should go close again. The Wexford maiden hurdle winner appears to go well fresh. Gondor has filled the runner-up spot on his latest two starts in staying handicap hurdles while Hardwired also drops back in trip following placed efforts recently both over hurdles and fences.
Prediction : 1st Willywampus 2nd Yabo 3rd Hardwired

ARCHIES CHARM recorded an easy win at Downpatrick last year but was then off the track for 12 months before reappearing over hurdles at Galway last month. He was entitled to need that run and subsequently went close over three miles at Down Royal with Arctic Ambition, successful at Thurles on Thursday, well back in third. This 2m4f may prove enough of a stamina test on the testing ground. Gevrey hails from a yard in irresistible form at present and has won three times over fences this year all around this trip. The latest of those victories came at Limerick last month and the form of that win has been boosted since by runner-up Optional Mix. He's now fitted with cheek pieces after another solid effort at Down Royal. Stablemate Dunboyne is another to consider while Street Value needs to bounce back after a disappointing run at Limerick.
Prediction : 1st Archies Charm 2nd Gevrey 3rd Dunboyne

INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN hails from a family that has served connections well in the past and it's interesting to note that Mark Walsh feels he could be the best of them following a winning debut at Cork last month. He was well-backed on that occasion when beating Lot Of Joy, who previously went close off a mark of 93 in the Irish Cesarewitch. Wexford maiden winner Imagine brings Graded form to the table having filled the runner-up spot in the For Auction Novice at Navan. Spanish Harlem won his only hurdle start at Auteuil in June and was bought by connections the following month for 360,000 at Arqana. It will be very interesting to see how strong in the market the Spanish Moon gelding is here.
Prediction : 1st Inothewayurthinkin 2nd Imagine 3rd Spanish Harlem

KALANISI STAR was mightily impressive in a point-to-point bumper at this track in March. The former point-to-point winner sluiced through the heavy ground to win by an emphatic 16 lengths. To put that effort into context, the runner-up has since won a bumper and a maiden hurdle. On better ground, Pink In The Park would be the selection. She is being aimed at the mares' novices' hurdle at Cheltenham. In a recent stable tour, Willie Mullins reported that she has been working well ahead of this first crack at hurdling. She has smart bumper form in the book, but testing ground would be a concern. Mullins' record in this race is beyond reproach, though. Blackwater is likely to show much more after weakening to fifth in a Punchestown bumper in February.
Prediction : 1st Kalanisi Star 2nd Blackwater 3rd Pink In The Park

ENCHANTED MAGIC has switched to Willie Mullins after winning a maiden hurdle over C&D in February for Eoin Doyle. He had several subsequent winners behind him and deep ground will hold no fears for him in his first handicap. Hey Johnny was backed down to favouritism for a novices' handicap hurdle at Cheltenham, but unseated his rider at the first. He is better judged on his victory on penultimate start in Clonmel. Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner Itwasfate could go well for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. Backintheroom is another maiden hurdle winner over C&D. He wasn't at his best when tailed off in a rated novice hurdle at Punchestown last weekend, but is likely to be much sharper now. Marelly was second to Hey Johnny in Clonmel and isn't out of it.
Prediction : 1st Enchanted Magic 2nd Hey Johnny 3rd Itwasfate

BANADA BRIDGE was picked off before the last over this trip in Fairyhouse this month, but could go one better here. That was her best effort to date and she has the benefit of being placed in a handicap hurdle over C&D on her penultimate outing in October. Shean Glory was beaten a fair way into second at Limerick on Tuesday by a runaway winner, but that wasn't a bad spin and she attracted plenty of support. Haveuseentherain wasn't beaten overly far into sixth over further at Fairyhouse and could get involved in this weak race. Aodhan May is returning off a break and could show more. Just two runs back, she went off favourite for a handicap hurdle in Clonmel. First-reserve Indie Belle would have stronger claims than most if getting a run.
Prediction : 1st Banada Bridge 2nd Shean Glory 3rd Haveuseentherain