Gowran Park Racecourse: preview and tips for Thursday’s seven-race Jumps card - including the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle and Grade 3 Thyestes Chase

After passing an inspection on Wednesday afternoon, the biggest day of calendar at Gowran Park goes ahead as planned on Thursday and there is a competitive seven-race card on offer.

The action kicks off at 12.40pm when nine runners tackle the maiden hurdle over two miles before the card comes to a close at 4.05pm with a bumper, once again of the two mile distance.

Read below for a full rundown of the Gowran card on Thursday courtesy of BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest horse racing odds.

Up first for the afternoon is an auction maiden hurdle over two miles (12.40) and it looks a pretty competitive heat. Dunleer Crystal, second at Down Royal last time out, was a big improver for the Gordon Elliott yard and could be the way to go in the opener. The Gavin Cromwell-trained Champagne Jury was a bumper winner last year and got back on track with a good third on seasonal return so rates the main danger.

Race two on the card (1.10) is a two mile and seven furlong handicap hurdle with a big field of 18 set to tackle it. The Lovely Man was a lovely winner for the Cromwell yard at Navan earlier this year, winning handily that day and could be primed to go in again as he hasn’t been penalised by the handicapper for that success.

Race three on the card is the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle (1.45) and seven runners will battle it out for the €27,000 top prize. The Elliott-trained Staffordshire Knot is not the most straightforward individual but does arrive here on a hat-trick, including a rout by ten lengths at Clonmel last time out and steps up in class this time around so could be the way to go. Established stars Home by The Lee, a former Grade 1 winner, and the sent-back-hurdling Gerri Colombe have to be of note here too, while Rocky’s Diamond won this race last year and is back for a second crack.

A maximum field of 20 will take on the two-mile handicap hurdle, race four on the Gowran card (2.20) and this one can head the way of King Bob, a good third last time out and is less exposed than most in this field, while race five (2.55) sees King Alexander get the nod for Closutton master Willie Mullins, a very good second on debut in this sphere last time out at naas and should go one better this time.

The penultimate race of the afternoon is the feature race of the day, the Grade 3 Thyestes Chase and a top prize of €60,000 is up for grabs to the winner (3.30). Search For Glory has good form in Grade 1s for the Gordon Elliott yard and was a fine second on return in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December so could be the way to go. However, he will face strong competition from the likes of Harry Des Ongrais, third in a Listed contest last time out, and the very smart Jordans Joseph O’Brien team, a runner up in the Mildmay at Aintree last season.

Finally, the card comes to a close with the two-mile bumper at 4.05, and preference in the finale heads the way of Our Trigger, a brother to the top-class chaser Gaelic Warrior, and is trained by Willie Mullins so has to be of note in a card-closing bumper when the master trainer unleashes his new recruits.

Gowran Park selections - Thursday (via Sporting Life) 

12.40 - Dunleer Crystal 

1.10 - The Lovely Man 

1.45 - Staffordshire Knot 

2.20 - King Bob 

2.55 - King Alexander 

3.30 - Search For Glory 

4.05 - Our Trigger