They race in County Kilkenny on Wedensday. Here’s a selection in each of the eight races.
Gowran Park Tips – Wednesday, August 12
- 14:22 Jp’s Express
- 14:52 Just One Show
- 15:22 Exquisite Acclaim
- 15:52 Star Performer
- 16:22 Fixation
- 16:52 Gliondar
- 17:22 Pimlico Piranha
- 17:52 Thegooseiscooked
14:22 1m Gowran Park Golf Optional Claiming Race
A competitive claimer to start the card but recent Galway winner JP’S EXPRESS looks interesting here. He stayed on well to see off Casamorati and Down The Glen at Galway and then three days later the run came a little quick when fifth to Blue Blue Moon. Track, trip and ground look ideal here and the three pound that Wesley Joyce will claim can also come into the equation.
Selection: JP’s Express
14:52 7f Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden
Jack Foley has his team in good form and JUST ONE SHOW ran an encouraging race on debut at Fairyhouse when a strong finishing second behind Jessica Harringtons runner Switching Sides. The second start at Navan was slightly below par but now’s a chance to get back to the debut form. Jack Foley doesn’t train too far away in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, so the local yard could get themselves a winner here.
Selection: Just One Show
15:22 7f Flat Handicap
Adrian McGuinness won this race in 2023 and 2024 and the latter winner EXQUISITE ACCLAIM is back to regain the winning thread. He caught the eye three runs back at Fairyhouse behind Glory To Be and a repeat of that should be enough here. He won in August 2024 and at Laytown in September 2025, so this could be his time of the year also. He won this race in 2024 off a mark of 84 and is four pounds lower this time around.
Selection: Exquisite Acclaim
15:52 1m 1f 100yds Darley Irish EBF Hurry Harriet Stakes (Listed)
The feature of the day with €33k to the winner and Aidan O’Brien has a very good record in this race with five wins since 2016. A favourite hasn’t won this race since 2020 and while it could be an O’Brien winner this year, it looks like Joseph has a strong hand with his two runners Lemsairbat and Star Performer. STAR PERFORMER, third in a barrier trial at Naas on the 26th May, stepped up on that to put in a star performance and win on debut by two lengths at the Curragh. The form of that race is yet to be tested but with plenty of improvement to come, we could see this filly step forward.
Selection: Star Performer
16:22 1m 4f 100yds McEnery Cup Handicap
The Johnny Murtagh team have won this race in 2020 and 2022 with Springbank and Safecracker and look to have another solid chance here with FIXATION. A well-backed winner of the Ladies Derby at the Curragh in the hands of Georgie Benson, he went up nine pounds from a mark of 81 to 90. You could forgive the run at Galway where he fly-jumped a little from the stalls and was then held up at the back of the field, tried to come with a run inside the final furlong but ran into more trouble. He will run off the same mark of 90 here.
Selection: Fixation
16:52 1m 1f 100yds Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden
GLIONDAR ran a race full of promise on debut at the Curragh behind Loughrea and was a recent non-runner at Galway on account of the going. His introduction to his racing career started in a barrier trial at Naas when he finished third to Transcript and Green Amoro. The form of that has worked out well with the winner Transcript running second in a hot maiden at Naas, and the fourth Starborn Legend ran a nice race to be second to Suspicious Mindz on the 27th of June. Suspicious Mindz has since left the yard of Jessica Harrington and won on first start for the Seb Spencer team at Doncaster on 1st August, so the form is stacking up.
Selection: Gliondar
17:22 1m 1f 100yds Handicap
Brendan Duke and Rory Cleary have teamed up for success in recent weeks and a chance can be taken on handicap debutante PIMLICO PIRANHA, who may run well at a price. Three maiden runs at big prices weren’t devoid of promise and only beaten around about fifteen lengths on second start at Limerick behind Expert Dancer. The dam Citronnade, who was trained by Jessica Harrington, was a winner over 1m 3f and 1m 4f, so in time Pimlico Piranha may excel over a trip.
Selection: Pimlico Piranha
17:52 1m 1f 100yds Handicap
A very competitive end to the card but THEGOOSEISCOOKED won this race last year in the hands of Colin Keane and could do so again here. The application of a tongue strap could be key following a return to form last time when third to Arch Enemy. He ran in a little trouble two furlongs down but kept on well close home. He won his race off a mark of 50 last year and gets in here off a mark of 48.
Selection: Thegooseiscooked
Gowran Park Tips – Wednesday, August 12
- 14:22 Jp’s Express
- 14:52 Just One Show
- 15:22 Exquisite Acclaim
- 15:52 Star Performer
- 16:22 Fixation
- 16:52 Gliondar
- 17:22 Pimlico Piranha
- 17:52 Thegooseiscooked
