Gowran Park Racecourse: Preview and tips for Saturday’s eight-race card

Gowran Park Racecourse presents its latest Flat meeting on Saturday afternoon, complete with eight races, featuring a Group Three fillies’ contest.

Read on for a full preview of the Gowran Park card, courtesy of Boyle Sports, who offer all the latest horse racing odds.

Our first race is a mile two-year-old fillies’ maiden (1.42). With just five of the 11 runners having been seen before, there are plenty of unknowns in this race, but the best current form is brought by Andrew Slattery’s Jojo’s Legacy, who placed last time out at this track over seven furlongs. Ger Lyons’ Define wasn’t beaten far on her debut at the Curragh in July and looks likely to improve here under Colin Keane.

A juvenile colts and geldings’ maiden over a mile follows (2.17). The newcomers here are Causeway, Farewell To Arms and Silk N Swagger, but these will all be hard pressed to get past the likes of Dermot Weld’s Hamiyan - who won at this track last time in very convincing fashion - and Aidan O’Brien’s Christmas Day, for whom the step back down to a mile looks a positive. Joseph O’Brie’s Lauda may have an each-way chance too.

The feature race is next; the Group Three fillies’ stakes over a mile and an extended furlong (2.52). Rory Devine’s She’s A Nation is the least exposed, having won by a huge five-length margin at the Curragh on her debut in June, but she hasn’t been seen since and the form is hard to judge. Henry De Bromhead’s Offshore Bay is better qualified, having won over course and distance last time out in a maiden, but Ger Lyons’ Faiyum looks the best of the bunch, two from three currently with proven capability on soft ground.

Division one of a mile handicap is next (3.27). Thomas Coyle’s Manhattan Dandy likes soft ground, so he could go well here, and So Messi should enter calculations for the same reason. Given five pounds by his rider, Slaney Swagger could be another in the mix for Philip Byrne, and he has a potentially beneficial inside draw.

In division two (4.03), Daniel McLoughlin’s Syzugy might improve for her handicap debut on softer ground, which she may prefer, while Noel Meade’s Deep Vein makes some appeal in first-time cheekpieces, having improved a little last time out at Clonmel on the softer surface. Camachero might be capable of running to a place under seven-pound claimer Nicola Burns.

Race six is a maiden run over a mile and an extended furlong (4.35). Joseph Murphy’s Amplitude could have a solid chance here, having run well last time at this track for fourth place of 15, while Alan McIntyre’s new recruit Cezarro looks ready to be involved too. The former gets the final vote here, though, with Gary Carroll taking the reins and having shown ability to handle today’s conditions.

The penultimate race is an apprentice handicap over the same trip (5.10). Adrian Sexton’s Katherine looks like she might be a good option, fit from a good campaign over hurdles and given seven pounds by rider Jimmy Dalton. Similarly, Great Mover could run a good race under a seven-pound claimer having placed second of 16 last time at Naas.

We conclude racing with a seven-furlong contest (5.40). There are just six runners here, but it might prove to be a competitive race nonetheless, with plenty of good recent form on offer. Akecheta is a useful type who can operate on any ground and was last seen finishing second of 13 at York. Money For Nothing is interesting, run in this company despite having been soundly beaten on heavy ground over course and distance last time, so could be a different horse today.

Gowran Park selections - Saturday:

1.42 - Define 

2.17 - Christmas Day 

2.52 - Faiyum 

3.27 - Slaney Swagger 

4.03 - Deep Vein 

4.35 - Amplitude 

5.10 - Katherine 

5.40 - Akecheta