Gowran Park Racecourse: preview and tips for Saturday’s seven-race card

Just two more cards remain in Ireland this weekend ahead of the Cheltenham Festival next week over in Britain, with the first of them arriving at Gowran Park on Saturday.

The seven-race card kicks off at 2.10pm with a big-field maiden hurdle for horses aged between four and five, before the meeting comes to a close at 5.35pm with a two mile and two furlong bumper contest.

Read below to discover the latest tips and a full preview of the Gowran Park card courtesy of Sporting Life.

The opening contest on the card sees a big field of 23 head to the start for the maiden hurdle (2.10). Captain Ryan Matt was no match for a smart prospect at Punchestown on his most recent outing for the Henry De Bromhead yard, but it still represented a big step forward from his hurdling debut and a reproduction of that form may well suffice here to get the win. Grimaud is proving consistent over hurdles and is an obvious threat for the Gordon Elliott team.

Whimsy rather agonisingly found only a less exposed sort from the Willie Mullins' yard too strong in a maiden at Punchestown 12 days ago but miles clear of the remainder that day, she holds obvious claims again and shades the vote to belatedly open her account in this sphere in race two of the Gowran card (2.40) as 19 runners tackle the two-mile maiden hurdle for four-year-old’s.

Lots are in with chances in race three of the afternoon (3.15) but Love Me, trained by De Bromhead, rates just the pick of the weights so edges the vote from in-form pair Aboy Joey and Glorytogod Tom in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

Roc My Haarth is gradually getting the hang of things for trainer Ray Hackett and he took a step forward when a fine third on his recent handicap debut at Limerick. The six-year-old is taken to emerge on top in race four of the afternoon (3.50), with Smackwater Jack and Drop The Anchor nominated as the main dangers in that order of preference.

De Bromhead could rack up another victory on the Gowran card in race five (4.25) with Champagne Mahler, who bounced back to best on his first go in a handicap chase when second at Fairyhouse six weeks ago and looks up to defying this sort of mark.

Granted decent ground, Big Interest could take some stopping in the penultimate race of the afternoon (5.00) as 13 runners take on the three mile and one furlong hunters chase. David Christie’s runner was a clear-cut winner on Rules debut in a Down Royal bumper on Boxing Day and the slow surface appeared to count against him at Naas next time. Recent point winner Lonesome Boatman will be a threat if he puts his best foot forward In the finale of the afternoon (5.35), both Ksar Fatal and King's Bucks have both joined top stables after point wins and might be the pair to focus on, with preference for the former from the Willie Mullins yard before any market clues are known.

Gowran Park selections - Saturday (via Cheltenham odds) 

2.10 - Captain Ryan Matt

2.40 - Whimsy 

3.15 - Love Me 

3.50 - Roc My Haarth 

4.25 - Champagne Mahler 

5.00 - Big Interest 

5.35 - Ksar Fatal