UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

A maiden lacking in depth and the Oaks-winning duo Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes can strike here with SETTLEMENT. The 86-rated daughter of Kingman was touched off at Cork last term and ran respectably in a stakes race won by the Oaks fifth at the Curragh. A little keen on last month's reappearance at Naas, she probably bumped into two useful rivals and this looks a good opportunity. Quatrain, a half-sister to a Group 2 winner, showed promise when second in a course and distance maiden in April and looks the main threat to the selection. Nunc Est Bibendum, a half-sister to four winners from the family of Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow, makes some appeal on pedigree.
Prediction : 1st Settlement 2nd Quatrain 3rd Nunc Est Bibendum

TIFFANY MAE took a big step forward from her handicap debut when finishing fifth in a higher grade at Cork. Now taking on older rivals for the first time, she may be progressive enough to cope and stepping up to a mile promises to suit. Manhattan Dandy has become a consistent performer in this grade and recorded his third career win at Leopardstown in April. He has been placed twice at this venue since then and should be thereabouts again. La Dame Blanche is a course and distance maiden winner who was second off this mark in the autumn. Returning from seven months off, she starts out for a new yard and drops to this grade for the first time.
Prediction : 1st Tiffany Mae 2nd Manhattan Dandy 3rd La Dame Blanche

Consistent in defeat over hurdles during the winter, WHIMSY had You Owe Me Money a place behind when runner-up at Sligo last month. Unlucky in running on that occasion, Anthony McCann's filly then bumped into a smart rival when again finding one too good over 1m4f at Leopardstown. A dual Flat winner when trained in Britain, she can gain a first win on Irish soil. Nostringsattached also relegated You Owe Me Money to third when making a winning return to action at Cork. She's now 7lb higher and connections will hope that the ground doesn't dry out too much. Simply Sideways beat Independent Expert over 1m here last month and may be capable of further improvement.
Prediction : 1st Whimsy 2nd Nostringsattached 3rd Simply Sideways

A decisive winner over a mile here in April, MATAARIKI may be able to land the inaugural running of this valuable contest. The daughter of Cracksman will need to take another step forward from that debut but it looks significant that Dylan Browne McMonagle has chosen to ride her ahead of 93-rated stablemate Je Zous. Ocean Of Dreams was found to be lame after trailing home in a Group 3 at Leopardstown on seasonal debut. He was a ready winner of his sole juvenile start and could easily bounce back. Course maiden winner Vestigia ran creditably in a Group 3 last time while Kinesiology made a winning return at Cork and can also contend.
Prediction : 1st Mataariki 2nd Ocean Of Dreams 3rd Kinesiology

The Joseph O'Brien-trained BAD DESIRE looks to have been found a nice opportunity to get off the mark. A son of Wootton Bassett, the colt has run with credit in stronger maidens than this of late. His Cork third, when just behind a subsequent winner, reads well in the context of this race. It will be disappointing if he can't get the job done at the fifth time of asking. Subjugate has been staying on well enough at the end of his races to suggest he is worth stepping up in trip. However, it is worth bearing in mind that his full-brother never won at distances in excess of a mile. Inner Success needs to step up on his first two runs but is lightly raced so remains open to improvement.
Prediction : 1st Bad Desire 2nd Subjugate 3rd Inner Success

PASSIONATE has been hit hard by the handicapper following her impressive Killarney win but there are grounds for believing the Andrew Slattery-trained filly could still be ahead of her mark. Having just her second run in handicap company, the daughter of Churchill travelled strongly throughout, before powering six lengths clear of her rivals. With the runner-up going on to win his next start, that form already has a decent look to it. Annexation came from near last to first when winning over course and distance on his most recent start. Henry De Bromhead's eight-year-old is still well treated relative to his hurdles mark. Glor Tire can also get involved, with the form of her recent maiden win at this track having been boosted since.
Prediction : 1st Passionate 2nd Annexation 3rd Glor Tire

Despite the obvious negative about his wide draw, HANOI seems sure to play a big part here. Well supported when third at Cork on his most recent start, the Padraig Roche-trained colt kept on strongly towards the finish. With the winner of that race following up at Sligo next time, it was almost certainly a decent contest for the grade. Bizarre Dreams was noted making late headway on her third start in maiden company, when fifth at this track last month. The Johnny Murtagh-trained filly should find life that bit easier now she tackles handicap company. Killeaney Bear has been running consistently in similar races of late. The Kodi Bear gelding looks likely to be involved once again.
Prediction : 1st Hanoi 2nd Bizarre Dreams 3rd Killeaney Bear