Gowran Racing Tips - 16th April Gowran hosts Ireland’s sole meeting on Wednesday and there’s a good mix amongst the seven-race card, with three handicaps complimented by some maiden action. The first event is the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race over 7f and it takes place at 1.57 and the meeting concludes with a 1m6f handicap at 5.27. Good to yielding, good in places is the official going description and we have provided three selections to follow across the card. Selections 1.57 Gowran - Mathan 4.17 Gowran - Mallavelly 5.27 Gowran - Palamon Gowran Free Bet Offer If you have already signed up to Betfred, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses 1.57 Gowran - Mathan This opening race is certainly an interesting one and all eight runners have won at least once, ensuring that it should be a competitive affair. Joseph O’Brien runs Mathan here and the son of Kodiac gets the nod. He finished fourth on debut at the Curragh back in September and that was a reasonable effort, especially as he appeared to need the run. O’Brien’s three-year-old finished second at Navan next time and was less than two lengths behind the winner. Mathan produced another good performance at the Curragh on seasonal debut, where he was second by a neck and probably would have got there with another stride or two. It was a different story when upped to 7f a fortnight later and he pulled easily clear to score by three-and-a-quarter-lengths. This sort of race looks like the next logical step and he should be bang in the mix once again. Unexposed at the trip, there should be more to come from this 215,000 guineas purchase, who may want even further in time, and it’s unlikely that we’ve seen the best of him. 4.17 Gowran - Mallavelly Mallavelly was a fair performer for Jane Chapple-Hyam, despite the fact that she failed to win in 10 starts for previous connections. One of her best efforts came in a Newmarket maiden in April 2024 and she finished second to a subsequent Listed-placed filly over a mile. Her third in a heavy ground handicap at Epsom in September was also a fair effort and you would imagine the return to the turf won’t be an issue on that evidence. She made a winning start to life at the Ger Lyons yard, when winning a pretty average maiden at Dundalk last month and is entitled to step forward from that. Keeping on well in the final furlong, she was firmly in control when they crossed the line that day. Lyons’ four-year-old returns to handicap company now after that confidence-boosting win and it would be unwise to rule out a follow-up success here. 5.27 Gowran - Palamon Paul Nolan’s 78-rated Palamon is a useful dual-purpose performer and there were signs that a return to winning ways could be on the cards sooner rather than later when finishing second over two miles at Dundalk last month. He looked the winner for much of the race but got collared in the final furlong and perhaps the drop back to 1m6f will suit. His sole victory in this sphere came over an extended 1m2f at York when trained by Richard Hannon, but he has won over hurdles as well (2m1½f). Wayne Hassett takes a useful 5lb off too and this looks like a good opportunity for a long overdue return to the winners’ enclosure.
