UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

This looks to be between TOUGHEN UP and Play It Again Zaam who are closely matched on official ratings. The former showed a real aptitude for soft ground when getting to within a head of the winner over the same trip in Limerick. The horse a place behind him in third came out and won a maiden at this track last week. Play It Again Zaam is only rated 1lb inferior to Toughen Up and has switched to Joseph O'Brien after a promising third in a big-field maiden on testing ground at the Curragh. Several winners have come out of that race, so he holds every chance. Johnny Murtagh's Lady Onyx is a newcomer to note. Neowise can do better on her second start.
Prediction : 1st Toughen Up 2nd Play It Again Zaam 3rd Lady Onyx

Colin Keane's statistics when riding for Michael O'Callaghan are excellent and he is an eye-catching booking for newcomer STELLA ACCLAMATA. Keane has eight winners from 20 rides for O'Callaghan across last season and the early part of this campaign. Alazne has been placed on two of her three outings over further on the Polytrack in Dundalk. She switches to rain-sodden turf now and, if as effective, ought to take plenty of beating from the best draw for her powerful stable. At Long Last came home to good effect for fourth on debut at Sligo and this longer trip looks sure to suit. Alessia Fernanda, Cadeau Belle and Es Vedra are other newcomers to keep an eye on in the market.
Prediction : 1st Stella Acclamata 2nd Alazne 3rd At Long Last

SECRET SAUCE's best performance came in second in a handicap over a similar trip on testing ground at Bellewstown. He gets a first-time tongue-strap and Joey Sheridan takes 3lb off his back. Marco Monaco hasn't shown much in two outings this season, but this is a big drop in class for him and a better finish should be on the cards. Redshore City disappointed in a sprint at Sligo, but has prospects based on his previous two runs. He wasn't beaten far into fourth on attritional ground at Naas and filled the runner-up berth in a Dundalk claimer. Indian Outlaw has a placed run in a fillies' maiden at Naas at the end of last season in the book. She gets cheekpieces and her jockey Jack Kearney claims 7lb.
Prediction : 1st Secret Sauce 2nd Marco Monaco 3rd Redshore City

ESCULENTA showed plenty on seasonal reappearance at this track last month. She was ultimately caught close home by a strong-staying National-Hunt mare, but took plenty of credit from that placed run over an extended 1m1f. She had some smart efforts last season, particularly when placed twice in maidens won by very smart horses. Vadiana is still to prove that she wants testing ground, but was a comfortable winner on the Polytrack at Dundalk when last seen in December. Winners have come out of that race. Miramis wasn't at her best in fifth over an extended 1m2f at Sligo and can get involved dropping back to a mile. Conor Stone-Walsh's 7lb claim helps her cause. My Minervina should be sharper after a spin around Southwell after almost six months off. The ground doesn't look to be in Ellabella's favour.
Prediction : 1st Esculenta 2nd Vadiana 3rd Miramis

There are ground concerns for several of these horses. NARLITA has posted two solid placed efforts since switching to Harry Rogers and could have more to offer. Her third in Bellewstown was franked when the winner scored again while she had two subsequent winners behind her when finishing fourth over 1m at this track. Lucky Queen will relish plenty of juice in the ground. She is entitled to improve from her comeback run over 7f here last month. She was in very good form between August and October last season. A Shin Undine kept on for second over 1m in Cork and the third home has since gone in at this venue. She may not want the ground to get much slower, though. Hello Power makes a second start for her new stable and isn't out of contention.
Prediction : 1st Narlita 2nd Lucky Queen 3rd A Shin Undine

MISS ABBY JOOLS is interesting on this switch to turf. Since her last run on grass, she has appeared six times on the Polytrack in Dundalk and accrued two wins and three places. Adam Caffrey was successful on her at the end of March and he claims 7lb again. On her second ever start, she handled testing ground when fourth in Roscommon. You Owe Me Money has long threatened a victory and it came over a mile at this racetrack last week. She has to rate a danger. Shona Mea is a former C&D winner who has been placed on her last couple of starts here. She has the widest draw, though, and wouldn't welcome more rain. Brewel Hill has been off since September and has changed stables, but has form in the book that merits respect.
Prediction : 1st Miss Abby Jools 2nd You Owe Me Money 3rd Shona Mea

NOT EVEN MAYBE has a bit to find with Slaney Tide on their run at Tipperary, but may find the improvement necessary. Since finishing fourth to Slaney Side's second in Tipperary, Not Even Maybe ran a cracker to be beaten half a length into second over 1m at this track. Slaney Tide was only pipped by a head in that aforementioned race at Tipperary last month. She is likely to race prominently again. Upepo kept on for fourth in Sligo and could improve in first-time blinkers.
Prediction : 1st Not Even Maybe 2nd Slaney Tide 3rd Upepo

This trip is going to take plenty of getting on rain-soaked ground, so preference is for hurdle-winner DOUGLAS DC. He ran a decent race in second over 1m4f at Bellewstown behind an odds-on favourite. Jack Kearney claims 7lb which puts him on an appealing mark. Belgoprince is better than his unplaced seasonal reappearance at Navan. He has a victory over 1m6f at Navan in the formbook. Star Official outran his 33/1 odds when third over a staying trip in Navan. Deep ground holds no fears for him. Queen Of Seduction is up in trip on seasonal bow after being placed on her last three starts. Ellaat and Bolero are among the best of the rest.
Prediction : 1st Douglas Dc 2nd Belgoprince 3rd Star Official