Saturday Tipping: 'El Cairos just shades the vote to build on his handicap debut effort' This weekend in Ireland is many people’s idea of the real start to the jumps season and what a better way to start off the second day of Gowran’s October fixture on Saturday with the clash of Gaucher and El Cairos in the opener at 1.20pm. Gaucher has won on his seasonal debut for the last two years and had luck on his side when this race was staged at Tipperary 12 months ago, his last start over hurdles. Glen Kiln had headed him travelling ominously well only to get the last flight all wrong forcing Brian Hayes out the side door. His exit handed the initiative back to Paul Townend’s mount who also scored as a novice on this corresponding day in 2024. Having ran creditably on the flat in a couple of Group 3 events the Willie Mullins-trained Gaucher will be fancied again but slight preference is for El Cairos to prevail for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. Things didn’t go according to plan in the Galway Hurdle after El Cairos was sent off the 5/1 market leader. A penultimate flight error saw him lose momentum at a crucial stage and then he encountered traffic problems and had to settle for seventh place behind the winner Putapoundinthejar. The handicapper left him on his Galway mark of 143 as a result and in receipt of 7lbs from the penalised Gaucher for his Grade 3 win last term, El Cairos just shades the vote to build on his handicap debut effort. The following Grade 3 BOYLE Sports Novice Hurdle at 1.55pm sees another six-runner field with the highly regarded filly Witches Familiar seeking a hat-trick for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend since coming from France. The facile Galway novice winner renews rivalry with Mino Des Mottes, a well beaten second on that occasion, and Like An Ocean (7th) and probably has most to fear from Switch From Diesel (Ross O’Sullivan), a winner twice this year over hurdles at Punchestown. Eoin McCarthy hit the crossbar several times at Listowel last week and will be hoping for better luck with his stable star Shadow Paddy who faces five rivals in the Like A Butterfly Novice Chase at 3.40pm. His €8,000 purchase has been transformed since going over fences winning on all three starts, his latest success coming in a Grade 3 event at the Galway festival. Shouldering a 7lb penalty is a big ask though so preference is for the lightly raced Vicar Street and Harry Cobden to supplement their Galway chase win for owner JP McManus. The Willie Mullins-trained 7yo defeated subsequent dual winner and stable companion Ocastle Des Mottes with a bit to spare on that occasion. With trip and ground to suit Vicar Street gets the verdict over another previous winner Frankie John who defeated another contender Bowensonfire on chase debut at Galway in July. In between a busy afternoon of racing in Ireland and Britain it’ll be worth tuning in to ParisLongchamp at 4.00pm. Aidan O’Brien’s recent Irish St Leger winner Scandinavia will be a short price to extend his unbeaten sequence to nine since last year when he faces nine rivals in the Prix du Cadran. Ground conditions (good to soft) look ideal again for this 2m4f assignment, a trip he has won over before when he defeated Trawlerman in the Ascot Gold Cup last June providing his trainer with his 100th winner at the royal meeting. Staking Plan 1.20 Gowran 1pt win El Cairos 1.55 Gowran 1pt win Witches Familiar 3.40 Gowran 1pt win Vicar Street
