UK Horse Racing Tips: Gowran Park

JANUARY showed real potential when finishing second on debut to a better-fancied, once-raced stablemate and should prove hard to beat. Out of a high-class Group 2-winning dam, her Curragh conqueror had herself shown promise when finishing second on her debut, while fifth-placed Queens Fury reopposes and will struggle to turn form. Queens Fury has been placed, both before and after that Curragh run, and might chase home the selection in second place today. Asdana is out of a well-related juvenile Listed winner and cost 80,000 euros as a yearling, while Va Va Vroom is the first foal from a maiden mare and cost 30,000 euros as a yearling.
Prediction : 1st January 2nd Queens Fury 3rd Asdana

SUMMER SNOW won over C&D in April and while she disappointed on her latest run, she contests a winnable race. She won in a first-time tongue-tie here in April and while subsequently beaten under a mandatory penalty five days later, is capable of a better showing than her latest run and is well drawn in two. Gosford is another C&D winner who should improve from a recent reappearance run and would be suited by softening ground. Von Krolock met minor traffic when running nicely on his seasonal reappearance recently and while his only win, from 17 runs, was gained on the all-weather, he goes well on turf and is better suited by this longer distance than at the Curragh.
Prediction : 1st Summer Snow 2nd Gosford 3rd Von Krolock

PLAY IT AGAIN ZAAM was well held in two recent runs, but had previously won twice in May and drops to claiming company. He was a C&D winner in early May and while he probably needs to bring his best form to win, he is a largely dependable four-year-old who is ideally suited by this distance and will appreciate any softening of the ground. Nine-time winning nine-year-old Magnetic North is the star performer in the race but while he ran well on debut for new connections at Limerick recently, running over a mile doesn't suit nowadays. Lohengrin has shown nice form recently and while he is a few pounds 'wrong', should compete being well suited by this distance.
Prediction : 1st Play It Again Zaam 2nd Lohengrin 3rd Magnetic North

SERIOUS NOTIONS hasn't run since December and is badly drawn in 17, but contests a winnable maiden and had some smart form last year. Placed in the Ingabelle Stakes on Champions Weekend last September, she failed to replicate that form on the all-weather subsequently but nonetheless showed form in useful races, with blinkers being dispensed with today. Race-fit Nativity Square is vulnerable to more able types but nonetheless can be relied upon to run her usual race. Next Trick finished third to the Gowran Classic winner at Limerick in May and while she, too, is reliable and should compete, needs to improve to win. Opaque has been well beaten in two maidens to date.
Prediction : 1st Serious Notions 2nd Nativity Square 3rd Next Trick

SLANEY SWAGGER reverted down in distance when running well at Limerick on Wednesday and ran a solid race to finish second. Unsuited by Roscommon's tight turns two starts ago, he is generally dependable and contests a winnable maiden. No Knee Never is rated 77 and ran well over C&D last month so should compete. His stablemate Aeronautic met some traffic before quickening well to land his Naas barrier trial on May 27 and while that form is difficult to assess, the runner-up finished second on his racecourse debut on Friday. In-form Shamsuddin will have no trouble reverting to a mile, while front-runner Master Of The Hunt is top-rated at 84 but performed below that level at Killarney.
Prediction : 1st Aeronautic 2nd No Knee Never 3rd Shamsuddin

Last year's Cork Derby winner STAR KISSED would ideally prefer further but nonetheless ran well over C&D recently. A dependable type, she was unable to attain a black-type placing in two Listed runs this year but her recent return to handicap company was encouraging and her 90-rating has been well earned. Five-time winner Belhaven was herself beaten at Listed level recently, but had previously won on debut for new connections at Sligo. She is ideally suited by this distance and there might not be much between her and the selection. Dual C&D winner Glor Tire was effectively running from a rating of 98 under her mandatory penalty at Navan recently and the three-year-old isn't helped by carrying a 4lb penalty today.
Prediction : 1st Star Kissed 2nd Belhaven 3rd Glor Tire

WHATCOULDHAVEBEEN is a smart hurdler who is well suited by this staying Flat distance. She has progressed very well in her hurdling career, attaining a Grade 1 placing in April 2023, and ran well behind Teahupoo at the recent Punchestown Festival. She was well held on her two most recent Flat runs last October but they were pipe-opening seasonal reappearance runs and, prior to that, had won on the Flat in October 2022. Sceptred Isle has shown nice improvement recently, but is 11lb higher than when winning at Tipperary. Believe In Science is a 21-race maiden who hasn't run since March, but has some useful placed form over similar distances.
Prediction : 1st Whatcouldhavebeen 2nd Sceptred Isle 3rd Believe In Science