UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

DERRIDAE is an eight year old mare but she could be ahead of the handicapper. Lightly-raced, she won in early December and was then beaten by a horse now rated 16lb higher at Limerick, with the third horse appearing well handicapped. Running in first-time cheekpieces, she likes testing ground and this distance. Bumper runner-up Sixhandsinmypocket ran well on handicap debut, while Warm In Gorey has recent distance form, on testing ground. Most of the handicap debutants have been beaten long distances over hurdles, including useful Flat racer Away To Sea, After The Roar, who ran well in November, bumper-placed Song For My Father and confined point-to-point winner Getaway Train. Mastermind disappointed at Tramore, while veteran Southerner performed well recently.
Prediction : 1st Derridae 2nd Sixhandsinmypocket 3rd Warm In Gorey

Top-weight ELLIS BOYD REDDING has useful form in recent maidens. Suited by testing ground, he contested a smart looking race at Tramore, has point-to-point form so could be suited by today's extra distance and a promising rider has been poached from England. Stablemate Purse Price can reverse Limerick placings with Ik's Man, being 10lb better off. Both receive weight from the selection but step up to a slightly better race. Mister Bo was well held on Fairyhouse reappearance but won a bumper at that course last February, with the third-placed horse winning twice subsequently and is now rated 122. Della Casa Lunga has form but debuts over jumps while Hands Of Gold was never involved at Limerick but steps up in distance.
Prediction : 1st Ellis Boyd Redding 2nd Purse Price 3rd Iks Man

Honeysuckle's conqueror TEAHUPPO steps up to three miles for the first time. Suited by testing conditions, he won over 2m2f on Auteuil debut as a three-year-old, which suggests he should now stay three-miles. Last year's Thyestes winner Longhouse Poet competes 35 minutes earlier this time and remains over hurdles, with another Grand National bid likely. His Limerick win, gained over an inadequate distance, was nothing special but receives 9lb from the selection and was Grade 1-placed as a novice hurdler. Former Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Summerville Boy should progress from his 420-days reappearance run but has plenty on his plate aged 11. Front-runner My Design, twice placed at blacktype level, receives weight and has minor place claims. First-time blinkers are notable for Beacon Edge, which has lost his way, although their application failed to spark Early Doors into life over Christmas, with connections reverting to his Galway Plate-winning cheekpieces.
Prediction : 1st Teahupoo 2nd Longhouse Poet 3rd Summerville Boy

Gordon Elliott saddles half the field here and PENCILFULLOFLEAD catches the eye with Rob James taking 7lb off his back. The Shantou gelding looked a very smart prospect as a novice a couple of seasons back, winning at Grade 2 level and being narrowly denied by Colreevy in the Grade 1 at Limerick. He's presumably had his issues since but shaped with promise in the Clonmel Oil on his return in November over an inadequate trip. Elliott earmarked him as one for the Thyestes in a stable tour earlier in the season and soft ground over a trip plays to his strengths. Elliott also saddles top-weight Escaria Ten who could make a bold bid despite his welter-burden. The French-bred gelding ran a nice race at Thurles on his return early last month and is another who will benefit for going up in trip now. Down towards the bottom of the weights the mare Darrens Hope is one that has to come into calculations. She was last seen winning a Grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown in November and is a tough hardy stayer. The handicapper left her untouched for that victory and she could be nicely treated.
Prediction : 1st Pencilfulloflead 2nd Escaria Ten 3rd Darrens Hope

All eyes will be on SIR GERHARD here and he'll be very hard to beat given a clear round. The Jeremy gelding was one of the leading novice hurdlers of last season with an impressive victory in the Ballymore at Cheltenham the highlight of his campaign. He was below par when last seen at Punchestown but was reported to be clinically abnormal after finishing third there so a line can be drawn through that. He remains a very exciting chase prospect. Largy Debut may be the one to give him most to do here. He has already been placed three times over fences and that experience is a help. Indiana Jones has plenty of chase experience, and a mark of 132. He should pick up prize-money.
Prediction : 1st Sir Gerhard 2nd Largy Debut 3rd Indiana Jones

There looks more to come from SLANE HILL who opened his account in an 'unplaced' maiden hurdle at Naas just before Christmas. He is open to further improvement on just his fifth career outing and doesn't appear to be harshly treated off a mark of 114 on his handicap debut. The form of his win looks solid enough with the runner-up Yeah Man finishing second again since. Optional Mix comes here in fine form and could be a danger. The Carlotamix mare was a wide margin winner at Limerick last time but has to defy a 12lb hike now. Likewise Emancipator got a hefty rise, of a stone, for his easy win at Fairyhouse in November and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Slane Hill 2nd Optional Mix 3rd Emancipator

ANKUD was snapped up by Gigginstown following his debut run at Naas and can put that experience to good use now. He chased home Cut The Rope when sent off favourite on his first outing and the front two pulled nicely clear of the third that day. That was a promising effort and he can build on it. The newcomers are likely to be the dangers. Liz Doyle has a good record at producing youngsters and money for Jerisk Star would be noteworthy. The No Risk At All gelding is a half-brother to Harmonie Star, who won two Grade 3 bumpers in France. Barry O'Neill has been booked for Conor O'Dwyer's runner Arc Eyes and he's another to note. The Pride Of Dubai gelding only cost 3,000gns at the breeze-ups but is from the family of Grand Lodge.
Prediction : 1st Ankud 2nd Jerisk Star 3rd Arc Eyes