Gowran Park - Wed 12 Aug 2026
Galway Festival winner JP's EXPRESS is taken to land the opener. The son of Soldier's Call was fifth on his latest start at the same venue when attempting to back up quickly and will look to resume his winning ways. The Joseph O'Brien-trained Passage Of Power will have to deal with stall 16, but showed ability on his debut when third at Dundalk and could be a danger. Mythical Rock ran well on his latest start at Killarney over a mile and, if reproducing that level of performance, should be competitive.
A tricky maiden with plenty of horses open to improvement, so a tentative vote goes to the Jack Foley-trained JUST ONE SHOW. The son of Showcasing shaped with promise on debut at Fairyhouse and backed that up with a good performance at Navan, when caught on the wrong side of the track. Miss Twilight finished third at Leopardstown and can use that experience to her advantage and be a major player. This That completes the shortlist.
PRETTY OMAGH GIRL was an impressive winner of a Curragh handicap and the daughter of Shaman is expected to climb throughout the ranks for trainer Andy Oliver. She was reported to be coughing when disappointing at the same venue last time and is more than entitled to bounce back. Alfred Tennyson was a gutsy winner last Friday over C&D and commands plenty of respect. Ohailbhic has enjoyed all of his three wins at Dundalk but the son of Exceed And Excel has good form with some nice types and will be a danger to his opposition.
The highly-tried SKYDANCE was victorious in what looks one of the hottest maidens this year and ran a super race off a break in a Group 3 at Ascot. The drop in class gives her an excellent opportunity to strike. Star Performer put her name into plenty of people's notebooks with an impressive turn of foot when gaining victory at the Curragh on her first start. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Classiest was a brilliant debut winner at Galway and hasn't been seen since October last year. The daughter of Wootton Bassett is likely to improve from the run but can still give her rivals something to think about.
Ladies Derby winner FIXATION can make up for a below-par effort at Galway last time. Stepping up to this trip for the first time in his career, the Johnny Murtagh-trained gelding didn't get the clearest of passages in the home straight and that performance looks best forgiven. Topweight Dallas Star has been campaigned in much stronger company for the majority of his career so far. Racing over what is arguably his optimum trip, the five-year-old merits respect. War Rooms bounced back from a prolonged spell in the doldrums to score at Ballinrobe and remains competitively handicapped off 6lb higher.
Runner-up on his introduction at the Curragh, the Joseph O'Brien-trained GLIONDAR can go one place better. Just touched off by a rival that now holds an official rating of 91, the Romanised gelding sets a very decent standard and it will take a smart performance to prevent him from shedding the maiden tag. Placed on five of his seven starts to date, the Johnny Murtagh-trained Karrygrant is a solid performer and he should be on the premises again. Rock Of Claremont is another with strong claims.
Although a beaten favourite at Ballinrobe last time, the Sheila Lavery-trained CONNOVA is fancied to make amends. She kept on well inside the final furlong to claim minor honours on that occasion and this stiffer track ought to suit the low-mileage daughter of Saxon Warrior. Perfect Judgement disappointed at Naas last time but he had been running with credit prior to that contest, and is worthy of close consideration in what looks only a moderate heat. Handicap debutant Omissions has shown precious little so far but his opening mark reflects that and Dylan Browne McMonagle is a noteworthy booking.
Runner-up over C&D last month, the Denise Foster-trained DUCHESS ANNE can go one better. The lightly-raced daughter of Decorated Knight has been ridden by apprentice Orla Tynan the last twice, so it looks significant that Ben Coen takes over in the saddle now. Rockbury Lad might be happier back on the grass after finishing ninth at Dundalk latest, whereas the consistent Nibras Rainbow looks certain to be on the premises despite a wide draw.
Star Of Beauty has proven consistent in maidens although stall 18 could make things tricky on this drop into claiming company. Let's instead go with MINAUN VIEW, who although struggling in a handicap last time, is a two-time claiming winner this season with no stamina concerns. Jp's Express is another to take seriously with him being a winner at the Galway Festival. He turned out again three days later to run well in defeat and now drops in grade.
A big field but not that many to take seriously. CITRUS SPRINGS showed nice improvement from start one to two when finishing runner-up over this trip at Leopardstown last time and if the new visor coaxes any further progress from her then she may well get off the mark. Mirren rates the danger, having made a pleasing start at Leopardstown himself, and he's open to improvement, as is Just One Show now that one is going up to 7f for the first time.
Alfred Tennyson is in fine form and comes here off a C&D win five days ago. He must go well again despite a penalty, but there's surely a bigger effort yet in LOHOOBB, who has had both runs over an inadequate 6f since coming to Ireland but gets more of a stamina test here. He's a maiden but appeals as being on a competitive mark and can come out on top. Pretty Omagh Girl is dropping in grade and comes in as third choice.
Joseph O'Brien looks to hold a strong hand here with his once-raced winner Star Performer being a real dark one. She's open to loads of progress, while his Lemsairbat is a more established performer, versatile trip-wise, and seems sure to be bang there once more. The selection, though, is SKYDANCE, who is coming off an excellent effort at Royal Ascot when third in a Group 3. She's likely to benefit from the slightly longer trip and can capitalise on the drop in grade. Aidan O'Brien runs both Minerva, the mount of Wayne Lordan, and Classiest. The former is the better of the pair with the drop in trip a plus.
Obscenity was progressive until bombing out at the Curragh last time and it would be no surprise were he to bounce back. The selection, though, is in-form mare DABOYA, who has won her last two, including at Tramore last time, and she gives the impression she could still have more to offer from her current mark. War Rooms, a winner at Ballinrobe last time, comes in as third choice and can't be ruled out.
This can go to GLIONDAR, who hit the line well for a promising second at the Curragh on debut and is now faced with a slightly stiffer test of stamina having been gelded. He's open to plenty of improvement. Karrygrant is the danger but he's pretty well exposed, so could be up against it trying to take down the selection. Rock Of Claremont has run to a fair level in two starts and comes in as third choice with the slightly longer trip a help.
Top weight She's Ideal, who is coming off a confidence-boosting win at Ballinrobe, still appeals as being on a fair mark for this return to handicaps, but at the opposite end of the handicap the 3yo CONNOVA appeals more. The filly has been running well in defeat in similar contests and is taken to breakthrough here. Thompson Gunner is capable of a good run in a new headgear combo and comes in as third choice.
Let's take a chance of CHAPEL ISLAND, who looks to be rounding into form and might prove suited by the slight drop in trip here. The in-form Nibras Rainbow holds solid claims once more off what remains a competitive mark, making him the danger, although top weight Miss Crinshawn is respected on the form of his penultimate Tramore effort.
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