Gowran Park – Tuesday 19th October

Despite a so-so day at Gowran Park yesterday, the overall situation of the month is still looking pretty healthy as we have passed the halfway mark. A couple of good winners earlier on this month has put us in a good position, and we have managed to consolidate since then. I’m now just waiting for a bit of rain to come to both sides of the Irish Sea, so we properly get stuck into these National Hunt fixtures. However, with the ground being good at Exeter today, there are very few runners and few betting opportunities. Therefore, we will be braving the elements of Gowran Park again today with a couple of selections. 

Starting with the most obvious of the bunch, which comes in the 1m maiden at 1.45. This race looks like it’s Comfort Zone’s to lose, and I think after his promising second last time out in similar conditions, he should be well primed to get off the mark on the third occasion. On this taxing ground, it may well take a horse with a bit of experience to be able to handle conditions, and his stall of 6 is of no inconvenience either. Based on yesterday’s performances, it paid to be handy at Gowran, and as a result, I’m very hopeful that they may well make plenty of use of this horse. If doing so, he should be very hard to beat. At a price of 13/8 with Paddy Power, I would be disappointed if he didn’t go very close. 

Moving onto the 4.05 race, which is another maiden on the card and this time is being run over 1m4f. Flora looked to be getting closer and closer to that elusive victory, and was very unlucky not to have gone and won a week ago at the Curragh. However, this is quite a quick turnaround and preference on this occasion goes to Happywifehappylife. The Joseph O’Brien trained filly ran a cracker last time out, which was a sizable improvement on what had been a lacklustre debut when being well backed. This trip seems to bring out the best in her and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see her make enough further progress to land a few blows in this contest. At a best price of 7/2 with Bet365, I think she is a fair price. 

The 4.40 race is the first division of the 1m6f handicap and this looks like the stronger division on paper with very useful dual purpose sorts such as Autumn Evening and Wolf Prince running off much lower flat marks. However, it’s the Joseph Murphy trained, Away to See, who is a tempting proposition at an each way price – especially with some nice each way terms about. Away to See is still a maiden on the flat, but he has run some highly credible races in defeat, including a close second behind Chiricahua and a third behind Cask Mate last time out. The form of those races make his mark of 76 look manageable, and his handy running style will suit around this course. At a price of 11/1 with Paddy Power, who offer 5 places, he is an each way bet.