19:20
Gowran Park
Odds correct as of 11:10am 06th Aug
There’s plenty happening on the racing front on Friday, with seven meetings across Britain and Ireland. We’ve picked out some intriguing angles and amongst them is a rare Musselburgh runner for Oxfordshire-based trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and Gowran‘s Listed contest, which is the race of the day. One stat in particular has also caught our eye and it could prove to be significant on Friday. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
This race has been good to the O’Brien family in the last decade, with Aidan winning it four times and Joseph claiming two successes. The latter sends two runners this time around and Dylan Browne McMonagle rides Bellesque, who got the better of the impeccably bred So Lovely last time out.
Venetian Power finished fourth on debut and took a big step forward to get off the mark when upped to a mile at Killarney next time. Paddy Twomey is always dangerous and his runner City Of Dubai won a warm-looking maiden at Killarney over a mile on debut.
Sea Of Rain was an impressive winner in maiden company at Leopardstown last month but it did take him a while to get off the mark and it remains to be seen if the step up in grade will suit. Ballydoyle’s representative is Sergei Diaghilev and he has a bit to prove after flopping at Royal Ascot.
Eve Johnson Houghton has only had one runner at Musselburgh in the last five seasons but her tally is soon to be doubled, as she sends one there on Friday. It’s a 746-mile round trip from her Oxfordshire yard, so connections won’t want to come home empty-handed.
Extended Order showed a good attitude to get off the mark in a 6f maiden at Brighton on debut. The son of Without Parole has been disappointing in two starts in novice company since but he has been carrying a penalty. Handicaps could be the way to go and major improvement will be on the cards if so.
Charlie Appleby and Billy Loughnane have a strike-rate of 62 per cent when joining forces on the July Course at Newmarket and the pair combine with three horses on Friday.
Desert Castle makes his debut in the opening 7f maiden and he’s related to some useful types. Also making her first start, Oh Sweet Adare was an expensive purchase and expectations will be high. Nabati is difficult to oppose in her race, having finished second in Listed company recently.