UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

LISTENHERETOMEJACK should benefit from a recent reappearance run and might follow up last year's win. A half-length winner from Derridae in last year's renewal, he disappointed subsequently before missing 324 days but shaped nicely on reappearance and while rated 7lb higher than last year, today's rider claims 5lb. Derridae has been busier in the interim but needs to recapture her best form. Uncle Gerhard, winner of the 2022 renewal, was pulled up over fences in November but having been freshened up, can return to form now although really heavy ground might not suit. Star Official, Intersky Sunset and New Barn Lane have been running consistently well while The Truant ran well over Christmas but is a 19-race maiden. Le Fanu runs in his first handicap while Champagne Mahler disappointed at Cork recently.
Prediction : 1st Listenheretomejack 2nd Uncle Gerhard 3rd Star Official

CAPTAIN CODY finished sixth in the Cheltenham bumper and while absent since April, might have sat out Christmas to wait for this valuable maiden, which is run on a big race-day. A keen-goer, he likes testing ground, has point-to-point experience and while he disappointed at Aintree, collided with a rail pre-race then and is better than that showing. The selection beat Blizzard Of Oz to win at Limerick last January which, on a strict form-line, gives him an edge over Backtonormal, which finished to that horse at Cork subsequently. Backtonormal, who defeated maturing Lucid Dreams (into third) at Ballinrobe, also has heavy-ground point-to-point form and should give the selection a race. Dual point-to-point winner La Vega Moon ran well in a heavy-ground Christmas maiden but faces a tougher task.
Prediction : 1st Captain Cody 2nd Backtonormal 3rd La Vega Moon

THEDEVILSCOACHMAN stays well, operates on testing ground and might put his race-fitness to good use, in first-time cheekpieces. Lacking a gear to be high-class, he nonetheless has won half his races including a 2022 Grade 2 hurdle, narrowly beating today's rival Ashdale Bob. At Punchestown last month he again defeated Ashdale Bob, by 4.75L. Ashdale Bob has won three times from 23 runs but has twice been a Grade 1 runner-up. One-time top chasing prospect Monkfish disappointed when last seen in April but is forgiven that as it came just 17 days after returning from 713 days off, having chased home Asterion Forlonge at Fairyhouse. A standing dish in recent stable tours, he was a non-runner on New Year's Day so should be ready on reappearance but nonetheless meets race-fit rivals and, as a triple Grade 1-winning chaser, his best results have been achieved over fences. Grade 2 winner Farouk D'alene ran well under a 7lb claimer when rated 145 in a Christmas handicap hurdle but steps up in grade running in first-time cheekpieces. Summerville Boy ran well in a recent Listed hurdle but also faces a tougher task and is now a 12 year old.
Prediction : 1st Thedevilscoachman 2nd Ashdale Bob 3rd Monkfish

DUNBOYNE was beaten a short-head from 5lb lower in last year's renewal. He stays well, likes testing ground, ran well in November's Troytown and the booking of Jack Kennedy, at a low-enough weight, is a positive. Angels Dawn beat the selection 13L into fourth when winning Cheltenham's Kim Muir Chase and while today's race has been a longterm plan and will improve from two recent runs, is nonetheless 10lb worse off with the selection today. Glengouly is unexposed and ran well in a recent Listed handicap, from which the fourth won subsequently. He pulled up on his only previous attempt at a similar distance but represents formidable connections and has winning course form on heavy ground. Espanito Bello finished fifth and Frontal Assault sixth in last year's renewal and while both are likely to compete, don't appear ahead of the handicapper. Street Value relishes a stamina test while Ain't That A Shame has been freshened up since pulling up in the Troytown and has winning course form on heavy. Stablemate Shantreusse has recent form and is suited by conditions. Dual Grade 1-placed Bronn has flopped on two recent runs while Any Second Now and Longhouse Poet might improve from recent runs but have plenty weight.
Prediction : 1st Dunboyne 2nd Angels Dawn 3rd Glengouly

SAINT FELICIEN has run well in a couple of strong beginners chases and can hit the mark now. The Saint des Saints gelding was third to Facile Vega first time up this season before chasing home Indiana Dream back at Navan last month. A similar effort should see him go close now. Willie Mullins saddles four in this with Tactical Move appearing to be the stable choice with Paul Townend on board. The Stowaway gelding has been lightly raced with lengthy enough gaps in his record but ran a nice race when chasing home stablemate Nick Rockett at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day and is entitled to improve from that outing. Ho My Lord was running a nice race before unseating at Leopardstown last time and he looks like another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Saint Felicien 2nd Tactical Move 3rd Ho My Lord

The progressive DON'T TALK may be able to strike again here despite another 9lb rise for his win at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. The Jukebox Jury gelding won with a bit in hand when stepping up in trip last time and had also been a cosy winner of this two miles trip previously. There looks scope for a bit more from him. Bynx handled testing conditions well when scoring at Tramore on New Year's Day and looks a danger despite a 7lb rise for that victory. Billy Lee Swagger improved to score at Punchestown on New Year's Eve and is another for a shortlist after a 8lb rise.
Prediction : 1st Dont Talk 2nd Bynx 3rd Billy Lee Swagger

Joseph O'Brien hasn't had many bumper horses in recent years and SAMYR catches the eye here in the Robcour colours. The Sea The Moon gelding cost 280,000gns as a yearling and is a half-brother to German Group 2 winner Shimrano. Gordon Elliott's newcomer It's A Blue Moon is another one of obvious interest. The Teofilo gelding is also Flat-bred and his dam won over seven furlongs and a mile. Patrick Mullins is an eye-catching booking for Charles O'Brien's runner Pavilion End. The Jack Hobbs gelding is another from a Flat family. His dam won twice on the level, including over two miles.
Prediction : 1st Samyr 2nd Its A Blue Moon 3rd Pavilion End