Gavin Cromwell
Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill blog: Gowran Park & Naas weekend preview
William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell previews his runners at Gowran Park and Naas this weekend.
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Gowran Park, Saturday
We start off the weekend with Crescent Moon in the mares beginners chase (11.53am). It was a good enough race at Down Royal the last day when she finished out of the places, but she jumped well enough. She’ll have to improve an awful lot to be competitive her, but hopefully she can run okay.
In the next beginners chase (12.28pm) we run Tell Us This and Sophia Rose. I’d be concerned about the ground for Tell Us This because it’s gone to heavy now. Apart from that it’s the ideal race for him, being for horses rated up to 110 over hurdles. We’ll probably still take our chance.
The ground should be fine for Sophia Rose and hopefully she shouldn’t be too far away.
The King Of Prs starts his season in the two-mile handicap chase here (1.03pm). I wouldn’t say he’s well handicapped, but he’s in good form and the ground should be fine for him. Hopefully he can run well.
Bergamasquo and Coup d’Essay both make their debut over hurdles for us in the Maiden race (1.38pm). Bergamasquo is in good form and we’re looking forward dot getting him started. The ground will be fine for him and I’d give him a chance here on his first run for us.
I’m just not sure about Coup d’Essay on the ground. It’s a bit of a fact-finding mission and the ground is a concern.
In the next maiden hurdle we have Glenrush Bay and Soldiers Lady. Glenrush Bay is very keen and forward-going, but if he can learn to settle then he could run a big race. I’m hoping that a few hurdles in front of him will just slow him down a bit, because he’s been very keen recently. There is ability there and he’s a half-brother to Sixandahalf, so hopefully he can show more of it here.
Soldiers Lady will struggle to be competitive here and she is one that’ll have a better chance in handicaps further down the line.
Lastly, we have The Passing Wife returning in a maiden hurdle (2.45pm) after a year off. The ground going heavy for his first run back is a little concern, but he is in good form. He’s been working well at home and I still think he won’t be too far away.
Naas, Sunday
We start off at Naas on Sunday with two in the 2m4f novice handicap chase (12.20pm). The Lovely Man is working okay at home and I’m hoping he’ll go well on his first run for us. I’m not sure he’ll be up to winning the first day, but he should run well.
Me Wee Bonnie Lass makes her handicap debut here. She made a mistake the last day in Galway and seemed to lose a bit of confidence. We’re back down in grade a bit here, so hopefully she’ll be more in her comfort zone and run a good race.
The Guinness Boys goes in another maiden hurdle here (12.50pm). He ran well at Punchestown but was back out of the places the last day. He’ll struggle to be competitive but hopefully he can run okay.
We’re giving Backtonormal his first run back in the 2m4f Listed handicap hurdle (2.27pm). He’s been off for some time having picked up a setback after winning at the Dublin Racing Festival, so it’ll be a big ask for him to win here. That said, he’s in good form and we’re looking forward to getting him started, with a view to going handicap chasing again this year.
I’m looking forward to getting Only By Night’s season started here in the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase (3.02pm) over two miles. Heavy ground for her first run back is not ideal, but she’s in good form at home and jumps really well. Off ratings, and with the mares’ allowance, I think she can be competitive.
She was second in the Arkle last year and we’ll have to see how the year unfolds ahead of Cheltenham. The Mares’ Chase is probably more up her street than the Champion Chase, but nothing is set in stone at this point.
We end the weekend with Simply Natural in the mares bumper (4.10pm). I think she’s capable of running better than the last day when she was a beaten favourite. We hadn’t had her very long at the time and the race just didn’t go to plan for her on the day. She’s working well at home and I think she can run well.
Carlisle, Monday
Path d’Oroux goes back to the graduation chase at Carlisle on Monday (2.15pm). He finished third in the race last year and it’s a great pot. Gidleigh Park looks likely to run and it’s going to be a bit of an ask to beat him, but there’s good prize money on offer and hopefully we can make a race of it.
