20.20
SoftGowran Handicap
- Prize money: £5900
- 2m 0f 0y
- 9 runners
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Runners: 9 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Abandoned
Form: 6/331-
Last run: 292 days
W: 10st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 74
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 8 (12) |
4th Sep 2026 Good 2m 2f 141y |
9st 5lb |
Three wins on the Flat include one at this venue; fair sixth in a 19-runner contest at Galway; blinkered first time now. |
12/1 |
|
6th 13 (15) |
29th Jul 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 110y |
9st 9lb |
Three wins on the Flat include here over 1m6f three years ago; below best under both codes of late, fair bit to find with Gaoth Chuil on recent Killarney effort. |
14/1 |
|
6th 5 (2) |
14th Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 185y |
9st 3lb |
Three wins on the Flat and two over hurdles for this versatile performer; most recently landing a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Gowran in October; ground versatile in the past although might just prefer it a bit softer these days. |
5/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 3122-6
Last run: 17 days
W: 10st 0lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 72
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17th 18 (18) |
31st Jul 2026 Yielding 1m 4f 0y |
8st 9lb |
Loves it when the mud is flying, just as it was when she won off 9lb lower at Gowran in October (1m4f, heavy); has run respectably on all four starts on her favoured ground this term and has gone well here before but this ground will surely be too lively for her. |
25/1 |
|
4th 4 (2) |
20th Jun 2026 Good 1m 2f 96y |
9st 4lb |
Only two wins from 29 starts, but placed 12 times; met trouble in running at Sligo last time, two early-season Curragh runs were encouraging. |
10/1 |
|
6th 3 (5) |
3rd May 2026 Good 1m 2f 158y |
9st 10lb |
Had looked fairly exposed but found more improvement last term and has carried that on with two excellent runs at the Curragh this spring, latest when third behind two progressive sorts over 1m2f; ground not being as soft as she'd like is one concern, as is a poor strike-rate for one of her ability. |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 600-73
Last run: 5 days
W: 9st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 70
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 19 (21) |
17th Oct 2024 Yielding 1m 6f 0y |
9st 1lb |
prominent, went second after 3f, led 5f out, headed under 2f out, weakened final furlong |
20/1 |
|
4th 11 (2) |
23rd Sep 2024 Good To Yielding 1m 6f 55y |
9st 10lb |
dwelt start, soon led on inner |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 41/60-
Last run: 204 days
W: 9st 11lb
6 yo Filly
OR: 69
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 6 |
21st Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 2f 0y |
11st 2lb |
Dual hurdles winner has shown poor form in five runs over fences, including on handicap chase debut at Down Royal last time when beaten by 29l; others bring more pressing claims. |
25/1 |
|
4th 3 |
20th Jan 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Two wins over hurdles, rated 132; nowhere near her best over fences; beaten a long way in three starts in beginners' races and out of her depth in a Grade 2 event at Limerick last time; 12lb below her hurdles rating, but does not appear well handicapped. |
8/1 |
|
4th 8 |
25th Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 200y |
11st 7lb |
towards rear, not fluent and dropped to rear 3rd, detached 3 out, kept on and went remote fourth towards finish |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: -00040
Last run: 25 days
W: 9st 9lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 67
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 14 (3) |
29th Jun 2024 Good 1m 2f 0y |
8st 10lb |
1-27 on Flat, 0-13 over hurdles, although better hurdles form than Flat form this year; only one pound out of the handicap. |
20/1 |
|
4th 5 |
9th Jun 2024 Good 2m 3f 49y |
11st 9lb |
soon led, clear after 3rd, reduced lead halfway, headed last (usual 2 out) |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 98/40-
Last run: 292 days
W: 9st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 66
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 13 (3) |
2nd Jun 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 40y |
9st 5lb |
towards rear |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 89-94
Last run: 9 days
W: 9st 4lb
9 yo Mare
OR: 62
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 (6) |
13th May 2024 Good 1m 4f 40y |
9st 4lb |
Bumper/hurdle winner who stays 3m over jumps; never dangerous at 100-1 in a 1m2f Cork maiden last month. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 231-73
Last run: 4 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 62
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 11 |
1st Aug 2026 Good 2m 6f 108y |
10st 13lb |
Dual-purpose sort has been soundly beaten on his last three hurdle runs and needs a return to his best. |
40/1 |
|
9th 2 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 6f 100y |
11st 11lb |
Dual-purpose; 3-11 over hurdles; solid Flat run at Navan (1m6f, heavy) after 156-day absence in March but has failed to fire in two handicap hurdles since; remains 9lb above last winning mark; may need respite from the handicapper. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 56-054 D
Last run: 4 days
W: 8st 13lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 57
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 9 |
26th Aug 2026 Good 2m 4f 110y |
10st 8lb |
Three wins apiece over hurdles and on the Flat; best recent hurdle run came over 3m at this venue last month; would have a squeak if returning to that form. |
12/1 |
|
6th 7 |
13th Aug 2026 Good 2m 5f 180y |
11st 12lb |
Enjoyed a purple patch last summer, winning three handicap hurdles on the bounce at 2m5f-2m7f on good ground; generally struggled since and his latest two runs have been fairly dismal; returns to chasing for the first time since 2024, when he didn't set things alight in three beginners'. |
12/1 |
|
10th 2 |
4th Aug 2026 Good 2m 7f 210y |
11st 11lb |
Completed a hat-trick of handicap hurdle wins during a short time frame last August; went up an aggregate 23lb for victories at Wexford, Ballinrobe and Tramore; has tended to struggle since then; fair fourth at Bellewstown early last month, out of the money at Downpatrick and last week at Galway. |
12/1 |
Verdict
Making a quick reappearance after finishing a good third at Navan on Saturday, GRANN’S BOY gets the vote, despite a slight stamina concern. Also running well on that Navan card was Mephisto, who could emerge the main threat, while the selection’s stablemate Narlita can’t be ruled out as well as smart hurdler Whatcouldhavebeen. [Alan Hewison]