UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

LORD MASSUSUS progressed well when encountering soft ground last year winning at Listowel and the Curragh before placed behind Panic Alarm in the valuable Final of the Auction Race Series over this trip at Naas. Hopefully he's improved again after a winter break. Shadowed opened his account on testing ground at the Curragh last month and the form of that 20-runner maiden received a timely boost when Something Nice scored in decisive fashion at Cork on Saturday. Spirit Genie won a maiden at Roscommon last summer and probably put up his best performance in defeat when going down narrowly on heavy ground at Cork.
Prediction : 1st Lord Massusus 2nd Shadowed 3rd Spirit Genie

BARNHILL ROSE won over this trip at Naas last summer and appears versatile in terms of ground conditions having made a pleasing reappearance when third to Asisaid at Leopardstown last week. The Denis Hogan-trained mare should appreciate this step back up to a mile and can reverse places with the winner on these revised terms. Narlita also brings recent placed form to the table having kept on into third behind Tellthemi'mhere at Bellewstown last Thursday and Harry Rogers now fits a hood on the German bred filly. Everylittlestep was placed three times over this C&D last year and probably found ten furlongs on heavy ground just too far when making a highly creditable return at Navan a fortnight ago.
Prediction : 1st Barnhill Rose 2nd Asisaid 3rd Everylittlestep

HARRY'S LEGACY started off last season in promising fashion when runner-up over C&D before winning his next two starts. He never ran a bad race thereafter and, although better ground would be preferable, showed he could handle testing conditions when a running-on fifth in the Naas November Handicap. Blazing Skies was a revelation when stepping up to middle distances in the autumn and was a facile winner of a 1m4f maiden on testing ground here before running respectably in stakes company at Naas. She's still unexposed and has good prospects of staying this longer trip. Grecian Slipper had three runs in stakes company after winning a 1m2f Navan maiden last May. She ran a decent race on soft ground at Galway when last seen and merits respect dropping in grade.
Prediction : 1st Harrys Legacy 2nd Blazing Skies 3rd Grecian Slipper

ASTROPHYSICIST was a five length winner of a C&D handicap as a three-year-old and was placed a couple of times over further last autumn. He's a modest enough performer over hurdles but will be fully fit from a few recent runs in that sphere and testing ground is what he wants. Bringsty, from a yard in fine form, got a fair hike for winning at Leopardstown last week but could still be well treated off 65 having been rated 20lb higher when he came over from Britain a couple of years ago. Winning hurdler/chaser Golden Sandbanks ran well after four months off at Dundalk recently. He stays further than this and should have a good summer campaign ahead of him but has largely been kept away from soft ground and the forecast rain is not in his favour.
Prediction : 1st Astrophysicist 2nd Bringsty 3rd Golden Sandbanks

Irish Oaks entry ASTAR handled heavy ground when second at Galway on her final start at two and her run at this venue the time before was even better form. Fifth over 1m on that occasion, the first two home both struck at Group 3 level subsequently and the third and fourth have also got on the scoresheet. Dermot Weld's 84-rated filly sets a good standard and this longer trip should be no problem. Lan Mara didn't go on after finishing second on fast ground at Leopardstown and some of the debutants may pose a bigger threat. Sugaree made 200,000 Euros as a yearling at the Goffs Orby Sale and is also engaged in the Irish Oaks. Her dam was Listed-placed on the level and won a couple of hurdles for Willie Mullins, one of them on testing ground. Kermiya and Stariam are two other well-bred newcomers to note.
Prediction : 1st Astar 2nd Sugaree 3rd Kermiya

A minefield for punters on heavy ground. Joseph O'Brien's CARLO BIANCONI has a sporting chance of making a winning debut. He is by a sire who was more than proficient on rain-softened ground, so may get through this ground better than most. Nathaniel's progeny are showing a fondness for heavy ground, so Cormac T is worth checking in the market ahead of his debut for Denis Hogan. Joey Sheridan takes a handy 3lb off his back. Johnny Murtagh takes the wraps off Goldenstatewarrior. He is by Golden Horn and testing ground isn't proving to be a negative for his progeny. Jim Bolger's Parish Star has the best draw in stall one and kept on without threatening for sixth on debut on attritional ground in Naas. That experience will be a big help to him.
Prediction : 1st Carlo Bianconi 2nd Cormac T 3rd Goldenstatewarrior

MOST WANTED ran an absolute cracker for a 100/1 outsider when beaten just over half a length into third on debut at Leopardstown in October. There was plenty of cut in the ground that day and the form looks particularly solid. The winner went on to land a maiden hurdle in Taunton while the runner-up snagged a Curragh maiden by a comfortable margin. Most Wanted holds a Group 2 entry for next month, so expectations are high this season. Riverina Charm showed plenty of ability on her debut at Dundalk when caught close home before finishing third over 1m. She is a half-sister to a four-time winner who was successful on soft ground. Unterberg was a beaten favourite when staying on for fifth over 6f at Dundalk in January. She is a likely improver over this trip. Party Central is a high-quality National-Hunt mare who hasn't been seen since winning at Punchestown in April last year. In all likelihood, this is a prep-run for Punchestown again. She wouldn't welcome very deep ground.
Prediction : 1st Most Wanted 2nd Riverina Charm 3rd Unterberg