Gowran Park Tuesday 4th May

The rains have come, and in force it seems. It coincides with Chester Cup week on the Roodee, and I’m sure it always seems to be soft ground and showers prevailing for that meeting. Chester is fascinating and frustrating in equal measure, when it comes to betting. As more often than not, the draw can be of absolute importance, but on soft ground it can sometimes redress the balance somewhat.

In terms of starting the week on a solid note, I am keen on siding with Gerard O’Leary’s handicap debutante Princess Sela, in the Paulstown Handicap at 2.05 at Gowran Park today. She has been well found in the overnight markets, which is slightly frustrating, but at 5/1 each-way for five places with Paddy Power, there is still just enough juice in her price.

The 7f trip at Gowran Park can be heavily draw dependant, as on good or faster ground, being drawn wider than about stall 5 could represent a death knell to your chances. But two factors that can alter that somewhat are soft ground, and the manoeuvring of rails by the track management. The ground was officially ‘yielding’ before yesterday’s rain, and so it should be very much on the softer side, allowing those horses drawn high to come to the fore, as they often come to the stands side up the straight.

The reason I am going through this is due to Princess Sela’s draw in stall 15, which could well be a positive rather than a negative. A significant and definite positive is the booking of Shane Foley, who was on board for her third maiden run five weeks ago at Naas – this was the most striking of her three eye-catching runs in maidens.

The action unfolded down the centre of the track at Naas that day, and having no cover on the outside from the widest of all boxes, Princess Sela picked up notably well on a seemingly unfavoured part of the track, and fairly flew home in the final furlong. On that evidence, making her handicap debut over 7f is just right, and she could prove much better than this grade in time.

At 5/1 with Paddy Power, who are paying five places, she is a very good each-way bet in a race chock full of horses who are, while lightly raced, yet to display the significant promise that Princess Sela has.