Gowran Park preview: Zanahiyr might be worth the wait for Gordon Elliott

WORTH THE WAIT: Zanahiyr & Jack Kennedy (red cap) win the American Grand National (Grade 1) for trainer Gordon Elliott from Ballysax Hank & Keith Donoghue (light blue). Pic: HEALY RACING.

Zanahiyr might be worth waiting for in the final race on Gowran Park’s Wednesday card, the Racing Again Tomorrow Handicap.

The Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old is better known for his exploits over obstacles, most notably finishing third to Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

But two of his 10 career wins have come on the level, most recently scoring at Bellewstown last August, the middle leg of a hat-trick of wins that highlight his versatility.

Prior to his Bellewstown success, Zanahiyr won a chase at Galway before he ended the year on a high by winning the American Grand National Hurdle Stakes at Far Hills last October.

He hasn’t run since but this looks a good starting point for his 2026 campaign and he can strike in the hands of Sam Coen.

It is, however, a decent race and it’ll be fascinating to see how the market interprets the prospects of Coeur Sublime on his first start since December 2023.

Slurricane might prove a bigger threat to Zanahiyr while Light Up The Dark is another who could run well.

Fresh from his first Grade One success courtesy of Fleur In The Park in the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday, Andy Slattery can bag another winner via Aurora Mist in the Gowran Park Handicap.

The Inns Of Court filly ended a busy but winless two-year-old campaign by finishing a good fourth at Galway in October and, with the Slattery team in fine form, she can make the breakthrough at the eight time of asking.

Neolithic can get the day off to the best possible start for punters by winning the opening contest, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race, for Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan.

The Sioux Nation colt outran odds of 28-1 when third in a listed contest at the Curragh last month and a repeat of that fine run should be enough to see him home in front here.

Stablemate Wedding, a No Nay Never filly, can make it a good day for Ballydoyle by making a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

GOWRAN PARK

1.30 Neolithic

2.05 Harmani

2.40 Aurora Mist (NB)

3.15 Wedding

3.50 Coincidental Glory

4.25 Never Loose

4.55 Matt Connor

5.25 Zanahiyr (Nap)

Next best

1.30 Controlled

2.05 Jamestown

2.40 Beau Army

3.15 Sinmara

3.50 Green Testimony

4.25 Electric Beauty

4.55 Ohmali

5.25 Slurricane.