Horse Racing Tips: 8 to be great at Gowran Park today

13:00 Ice Cold In Alex

A good handicap to start with. Sheila Lavery’s pair Quizical and Breaking Story finished on top of each other at Galway when neither got any sort of run and can be involved with better luck. Peace Charter is likely to be a big player on her handicap debut, as will the unexposed Baraniya after a good Curragh run. Perhaps this is the day though for ICE COLD IN ALEX to gain a deserved success. His style of racing determines that he has been unlucky not to win a big handicap, but the way they fan out here should mean that luck in running won’t be such an issue. He should go close.

13:30 Wuqood

A fascinating maiden. Harvard and Kauri Cliffs looks certain to improve from their debuts and be factors here, but there is plenty of interest among the newcomers too. The expensively bought Liffey River has all the right entries, but another one in that conversation is the beautifully-bred WUQOOD, and he gets a tentative vote to make a winning debut.

14:00 Aesop

An interesting race. Galway winner Centroid and the mare Galeota could be the best of the older cohort. The three-year-olds look strong here, particularly Ballydoyle colt Numen, second in a Listed at Leopardstown last time and quite possibly well-handicapped. Marginal preference though is for AESOP, who was staying on well at the end of the Ulster Derby at Down Royal after a slow start and is certainly unexposed enough to improve a bit more.

14:30 Laburnum (NAP)

Many of these have similar ratings, the two obvious stand-outs are the Ballydoyle fillies. Ennistymon was runner-up in the Ribblesdale and the Oaks, but dropping back to this trip might be less of a problem for stable companion LABURNUM (nap), who’s neck second to Even So at Naas is a very solid piece of form in the context of this race. The unexposed Kassaba should acquit herself well.

15:00 Orchid Gardens

A good opportunity for ORCHID GARDENS, who should be difficult to beat if running anywhere near her best. Laggata is the main danger.

15:30 Oh So True

On ratings there shouldn’t be a lot between St Clerans and OH SO TRUE with preference for the latter. Eye-catching Leopardstown third Menagerie is the potential spanner in the works.

16:00 Summer’s Dream

The first division of this low-grade handicap. Loaded is an obvious starting point after his good Galway run while Han Solo, Woods and Hidden Spark have solid claims. SUMMER’S DREAM might just shade it, though. She showed plenty of promise on her return and can make a bold bid from the front.

16:30 All The Mollies

ALL THE MOLLIES would want slower ground but she hasn’t been out of the frame in three visits here and is overdue a change of luck after creditable efforts in defeat. Scorpion Black, Throwaway Line and the top-weight Munfallet are also respected.