UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

RAGLAN ROAD was staying on nicely before his fall two from home on his debut at Limerick over Christmas and may be able to step forward now. The Soldier Of Fortune gelding was a big price in a race won by stablemate Foxy Girl then but caught the eye running down to the penultimate flight before knuckling over on landing. Abbeydale was narrowly denied over two-and-a-half at Wexford but hasn't appeared to get home over the trip on a more galloping track at Punchestown on two runs since. He could be a danger tried at two miles. Rock On Pedro bumped into a decent looking sort in Rumi when last seen at Listowel. He's entitled to play a part if stripping on his return.
Prediction : 1st Raglan Road 2nd Abbeydale 3rd Rock On Pedro

Michael O'Sullivan taking 5lb off her back leaves LIBBY with a feather weight in this and she can open her account. The Highland Reel filly carried plenty of weight when tried in handicap company at Naas last time and faded in the closing stages after making the running. She had some solid form prior to that, including finishing a close fourth in a listed contest at Doncaster and this looks a nice opportunity now. Jeepydoff Meel has been knocking on the door and looks an obvious danger but has to give away a fair chunk of weight to the younger filly. One Big Bang ran well for a long way on his hurdling debut at Punchestown last month and could get involved for minor money here.
Prediction : 1st Libby 2nd Jeepydoff Meel 3rd One Big Bang

MITIVA can claim this on her return to action. The Motivator mare won a bumper first time out last February before a couple of solid efforts in maiden hurdles. There looks scope for further improvement this season from a filly described as a 'baby' last year. Mollys Glory has plenty of placed form under her belt and looks an obvious danger. She was runner-up in a listed bumper but hasn't quite shown the same level over timber. Newcomers to note include the Gordon Elliott-trained Minnie Beets, a half-sister to three winners, and Henry de Bromhead's Lantry Lady, who is out of a half-sister to Annie Power.
Prediction : 1st Mitiva 2nd Mollys Glory 3rd Minnie Beets

AMERICAN MONEY may be worth a shot here, dropping back in trip. He didn't seem to see out three miles at Punchestown last time having won over today's trip of two-and-a-half miles at the same venue previously. The Westerner gelding still looks unexposed off his current mark. Harvard Guy tops the weights on his handicap debut after chasing home Buddy One in an 'unplaced' maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last time. He looks a progressive sort and could be a danger. Dermot McLoughlin's yard has hit form in recent weeks and Quite Incredible looks another for the short-list after a nice run to chase home Robyndeglory at Fairyhouse last month.
Prediction : 1st American Money 2nd Harvard Guy 3rd Quite Incredible

WHISKEYWEALTH comes here in good form and has a nice racing weight. The Yeats gelding was probably value for a bit more than his winning margin at Clonmel last time having gotten under the last couple of fences. Mike O'Connor gets a good tune from him and his 5lb claim leaves him getting a nice pull at the weights from a few further up the handicap. It's interesting to see Cayd Boy tried in cheekpieces and a tongue-tie now. He was a touch disappointing at Fairyhouse last time, albeit in a good race, having looked a touch unlucky when making a bad mistake at the same venue previously. Shakeytry comes here on a hat-trick and has to be respected. He may find life tougher now though after a 9lb hike for his win in Fairyhouse.
Prediction : 1st Whiskeywealth 2nd Cayd Boy 3rd Shakeytry

AIN'T THAT A SHAME is the one to beat here off his official mark of 146. The Jeremy gelding looked like the winner when hitting the front travelling well approaching the straight in the ultra-competitive Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas but was collared on the run-in, eventually finishing a close fourth. This looks like an easier task now. Gars De Sceaux, rated 133, could be the one to give him most to do. The Saddler Maker gelding was returning from a lengthy break when third at Navan in January and is entitled to improve a bit from that. Macs Charm ran well when chasing home Grandero Bello over course and distance three weeks ago and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Aint That A Shame 2nd Gars De Sceaux 3rd Macs Charm

FERNS LOCK looks like a real rising star in this division and gets the vote. His defeat of Billaway at Thurles in January was an impressive performance and while last season's champion may not have been fully wound up it was still a really good effort to beat him by a wide margin. Aloneamongmillions has won this race twice and looks an obvious danger. He has been runner-up in three 'Opens' this season already so comes into the race in decent form. Grange Island ran a cracker when finishing a close third to Billaway at Naas last month and has to be another leading contender. He had previously won a hunters chase at Clonmel in January and is still a relatively unexposed horse.
Prediction : 1st Ferns Lock 2nd Aloneamongmillions 3rd Grange Island

WILL DO has been running in some strong bumpers and may get his turn here. He has been third behind Fact To File and Western Diego on his last couple of outings and both those horses look set to line up at Cheltenham next week. Willie Mullins is represented by Tullyhill and the Martaline gelding obviously commands respect. He cost £220,000 after winning a point-to-point at Moira in October and now races in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud. Champagne Admiral shaped with promise on his 'track' debut at Punchestown and could improve to get involved for minor money now.
Prediction : 1st Will Do 2nd Tullyhill 3rd Champagne Admiral