‘He can do no wrong at the moment’ - One owner, trainer and jockey to follow in Ireland this weekend It’s a fairly quiet weekend for horse racing in Ireland, with just one meeting apiece on Saturday and Sunday. Naas hosts the Listed SIS Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle and the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase on Sunday, whilst Saturday’s action is provided by Gowran. We’ve picked out an owner, trainer and jockey to follow and they could be in the winners’ enclosure on more than one occasion across the weekend. JP McManus: Owner to Watch at Gowran and Naas Britain and Ireland’s most prolific owner, JP McManus, has seven horses entered across Gowran’s eight-race card on Saturday. Harty Cup runs in the first division of the two-mile maiden hurdle at 1.38 and trainer Robert Tyner is three from six in the last fortnight. Jacko Star looks interesting in the second division at 2.13, as he wasn’t beaten far when fourth at Roscommon last time out and he’s entitled to improve for that run. Whatsanotheryear finished second at Clonmel in December 2024 and that form gives him every chance if lining up in the 2.45. There’s a competitive Listed handicap hurdle over 2m4f at Naas on Sunday and we could see the return of McManus’ very smart chaser Spillane’s Tower. Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Inthepocket has had some injury problems, but could well be one to watch in the feature race of the day, the Barberstown Castle Chase. Gordon Elliott and Darragh O’Keeffe: Trainer and Jockey in Form Trainer - Gordon Elliott Willie Mullins doesn’t send any runners to Gowran on Saturday, and that presents a big opportunity for Ireland’s second biggest name, Gordon Elliott. He has five entries at Gowran on Saturday and Qualimita can get him off to a flyer in the opening race on the card. She came within a neck of getting off the mark in a Thurles maiden earlier this month and perhaps the switch to fences can facilitate the shedding of her maiden tag. Magic Boum has been disappointing since winning her maiden over hurdles, but don’t give up on her just yet. The five-year-old runs in a 2m4f beginners’ chase and it’s unlikely that we’ve seen the best of her just yet. Staffordshire Knot could line up in Naas’ Listed handicap hurdle on Sunday and he finished second in a Grade 1 at Aintree as a novice. That form gives him a decent chance, if he can get himself back on track. Jockey - Darragh O’Keeffe Jockey Darragh O’Keeffe has made a flying start to the season so far and he can do no wrong at the moment. He’s comfortably sitting at the top of the table in the jockeys’ championship, with a massive gap between him and Jack Kennedy. Henry de Bromhead’s good recent form certainly helps, as he’s now the main man at the yard. Downmexicoway has taken really well to fences, finishing first and second in two chase starts. He won easily at Killarney in August and his second came in graded company. Connections have found a nice handicap for him at Gowran on Saturday and it’ll be a surprise if he doesn’t go close. Tim Toe looks very interesting on stable and hurdling debut in the 2.13, as he won a bumper at Thurles for Pat Doyle.
