The Irish horse racing juggernaut continues on Saturday afternoon with national hunt racing from Gowran Park racecourse, scenically located just 13km east of Kilkenny. For anyone who hasn’t been to this picturesque track it’s a must-do for your bucket-lists. Our contributing writer Dee Connolly from 3furlongsout.com has selected three horses worth keeping on the right side off. Let’s hope for a profitable afternoon.
Race 2 – 13:55 – 2m
18 – QUEENS BOULEVARD
Trainer: W. P. Mullins
Jockey: P. Townend
Irish Champion trainer Willie Mullins has won the last two renewals of this race, evidently, he appears to have a stranglehold on it again this year with three runners declared. Of the three Mullins entries my eye is automatically drawn to QUEENS BOULAVARD, she has the assistance of dependable jockey Paul Townend. This Promising mare was a decent winner at 18f in bumpers and recent fifth of 19 in novice hurdle at Naas (16f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 62 days ago was better form than the bare result. Hooded for 1st time today and unquestionably open to much more progression.
Race 4 – 15:05 – 2m 4f
7 – FROM EDEN
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: J. W. Kennedy
Fiendishly tricky handicap race, there is several serious form angles, but I contemplate it is worth siding with a last time out winner who superficially has turned a massive corner on the basis of that most-recent attention-grabbing success. FROM EDEN honestly was running atrociously when formerly trained by Val O’Brien however on stable debut for Gordon Elliott last week the horse was punted of the betting boards from 3/1 to 5/4, and it duly obliged with a late thrust down the inner, quite remarkably. I am not saying this horse is now at budding star however on the evidence of that recent run he really should follow up here with minimal fuss. Still well ahead of the handicapper for certain,
Race 8 – 17:25
9 – MINELLA MELODY
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Mr P. W. Mullins
Trainer Henry De Bromhead doesn’t suffer fools gladly, he is as shrewd, as they come. This 65,000-euro acquisition MINELLA MELODY landed a point-to-point by 10 lengths in the middle of December. The manner which the mare won on debut unquestionably got everyone’s attention and notebooks. It’s also a positive sign that leading bumper jockey Patrick Mullins is booked to ride the well talked-up mare. I really think she looks unopposable.
