Three graded features on the card at Gowran Park on Saturday where we have a pick for each of the eight races on the card. Action gets underway at 1.20.
Gowran Park Tips
- 13:20 El Cairos
- 13:55 Witches Familiar
- 14:30 Butter Fingers
- 15:05 Blood Destiny
- 15:40 Vicar Street
- 16:15 Blue Mosque
- 16:50 Arcadian Emperor
- 17:25 Luimneach
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13:20 2m½f (2m60y) Gowran Park Hurdle (Listed Race) (4yo+)
An excellent race to start the card and much of the focus will be on EL CAIROS and whether he can come back to something like his best form here. He was unfortunate to stumble and fall when he had the race at his mercy at Leopardstown over Christmas but then got off the mark at Thurles on the 29th January. When he was last seen he was seventh to Putapoundinthejar in the Galway Hurdle and a repeat of that run should be more than enough here.
Selection: El Cairos
13:55 2m½f (2m60y) Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) (4yo+)
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend will combine here with WITCHES FAMILIAR who was a maiden hurdle winner at Ballinrobe on first start for the Closutton team. She followed that up with a very impressive win at Galway last time and will be looking to take the step up in grade in her stride. The comments after the race were that she might be the type for the BAR 1 Betting Royal Bond at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival, so it looks interesting they are coming here.
Selection: Witches Familiar
14:30 3m (3m40y) Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)
Shane Markey has built up a good rapport with BUTTER FINGERS of late and there could be more improvement to come from the grey gelding. He was a winner of a chase at Wexford off a mark of 103 and last time finished second at Kilbeggan behind Soldante off 109. He will be nudged up another two pounds to a mark of 111 and if he can continue in similar form then he should be hard to keep out of the frame.
Selection: Butter Fingers
15:05 2m4f PWC Danoli Chase (Grade 2) (5yo+)
Willie Mullins has his team in solid form over the last two weeks with 14 winners up to Thursday 1st October. This is the feature race on the card, and the weights seem to favour BLOOD DESTINY who has the highest official rating of 156. He could only finish third to Western Fold in this race last year but it’s a seven-time winner who arrives here in better form. He went off favourite at Galway last time over hurdles and something seemed amiss where he finished sixth of the eight runners beaten 22 lengths. A second to stablemate Energumene at Fairyhouse back in April reads well in the context of this race.
Selection: Blood Destiny
15:40 2m4f Like A Butterfly Novice Chase (Grade 3) (4yo+)
Harry Cobden will take the mount on VICAR STREET for Willie Mullins in the colours of JP McManus and this son of Vroum Vroum Mag will be looking to take the step up in grade in his stride. He was impressive at Galway last time when he seen off stablemate Ocastle Des Mottes and that form has been boosted strongly as the runner up has won twice since. The fourth Ballystone also franked the form by winning since. Vicar Street jumped nicely at Galway last time and with a clear round here should be in contention once again.
Selection: Vicar Street
16:15 3m Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase (5yo+)
Noel Meade and Donagh Meyler team up with BLUE MOSQUE who will be making her chase debut following victory in a handicap hurdle at Punchestown when last seen 156 days ago. She is the type that travels sweetly in her races and the mares’ allowance of four pounds is also in her favour. She has three wins and five places on her CV from thirteen starts and if she was successful here it could open another avenue for her throughout the season.
Selection: Blue Mosque
16:50 2m4f SIS Supporting Irish Racing Beginners Chase (4yo+)
Harry Cobden could be in line for a double on the card when he takes the mount on ARCADIAN EMPEROR for Willie Mullins. This gelding has P2P experience when winning at Lisronagh in March 2025 for Sam Curling. He was a beaten favourite on two occasions over hurdles before he got off the mark at Clonmel last time out 172 days ago. The tongue strap will be applied for the first time, and he is quite a forward going type and that could help him throughout the race. If he was to win here, he could be one to follow for the jumps season ahead.
Selection: Arcadian Emperor
17:25 2m4f Handicap Chase (4yo+)
The final race on the card is a competitive handicap chase and LUIMNEACH at the foot of the weights could another winner in the green and gold on the day. This nine-year-old gelding will be having his fourth start for Conor O’Dwyer and has been in consistent form of late. He won at Kilbeggan off a mark of 98 and then finished second to Chosen Shant at Wexford last time out. He will have 10-2 on his back minus the three-pound claim of Charlie O’Dwyer and that could see him in contention once again.
Selection: Luimneach
Gowran Park Tips
- 13:20 El Cairos
- 13:55 Witches Familiar
- 14:30 Butter Fingers
- 15:05 Blood Destiny
- 15:40 Vicar Street
- 16:15 Blue Mosque
- 16:50 Arcadian Emperor
- 17:25 Luimneach
