Fleur In The Park set for winning return at Gowran Park
Fleur In The Park en route to Grade One glory at Fairyhouse in April. He will be looking to make a winning return to action at Gowran Park today. Picture: Healy Racing
The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the undoubted headline act this weekend but, before we get to that Flat showpiece event in Paris, there’s a cracking National Hunt card at Gowran Park on Saturday.
Just four horses will face the starter for the feature, the Grade Two PWC Danoli Chase, but it’s an intriguing contest, one that can go the way of the returning Fleur In The Park.
Second in a beginners’ chase on this card last year, Fleur In The Park got off the mark over fences at Wexford second time out before going down by a neck to Westport Cove in a Punchestown Grade Two in November.
On the back of a break, the Andy Slattery-trained seven-year-old disappointed when fifth of sixth in a Thurles Grade Three in March but bounced back from that blip to win the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse a month later.
He proved that unexpected Grade One breakthrough to be no fluke when beating all bar Western Fold in another top-level contest at the Punchestown festival.
In Blood Destiny, to whom he must give 6lbs, Fleur In The Park faces a smart chaser but if he is going to be competitive in open Grade One company later this season, he’ll need to go very close here.
Like the feature, the Grade Three Like A Butterfly Novice Chase has attracted a small but select field with just six going to post. Vicar Street and Frankie John look talented prospects but, at the likely prices, top-weight Shadow Paddy gets the vote.
A four-time winner over hurdles, the Eoin McCarthy-trained six-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over fences, his most recent success coming in Grade Three company at the Galway festival.
This assignment will demand another step forward but he may be able to rise to the challenge.
Even if the Danoli Chase and the Like A Butterfly Like A Butterfly eludes him, Willie Mullins will likely still run riot.
On the back of emphatic victories in Ballinrobe and the Galway festival, Witches Familiar is hard to oppose in the Grade Three BOYLE Sports Novice Hurdle while Fou De Toi and Bon Viveur appeal as other likely Closutton winners.
Mullins also boasts a leading contender in the opening race, the Gowran Park Hurdle, in the shape of Gaucher but El Cairos, who ultimately proved disappointing last season, may be able to get back to winning ways.
Sunday’s Irish Flat fare comes from the Curragh where the most appealing best on the card comes in the listed Coolmore Sioux Nation Concorde Stakes where Loughrea is fancied to complete a four-timer.
Two of his three successes have come at Sunday’s venue and there was a real swagger about his victory in the Irish Cambridgeshire.
If he rocks up in that sort of form on Sunday, he ought to go close.
Elsewhere at the Curragh, the Hailey Equine Irish European Breeders Fund Brigid's Pastures Stakes looks a tricky puzzle but, having been set two tough tasks since her Galway festival win, this looks a more realistic assignment for Pivotal Attack and she might be able to bounce back to winning ways.
On a hectic weekend, Killarney hosts its final jumps meeting on 2026 on Sunday where the booking of Jack Kennedy to ride recent Listowel runner-up Kilbrin Rocco in the fifth race on the card, a handicap chase catches the eye.
1.20 El Cairos
1.55 Witches Familiar
2.30 Cobra Queen
3.05 Fleur In The Park
3.40 Shadow Paddy (Nap)
4.15 Fou De Toi (NB)
4.50 Bon Viveur
5.25 Killeemore Lad
1.20 Gaucher
1.55 Switch From Diesel
2.30 Butter Fingers
3.05 Blood Destiny
3.40 Vicar Street
4.15 Quantum Quest
4.50 Forty Coats
5.25 Luimneach
1.35 Astelia
2.10 Granlahan
2.45 Le Roi Du Livet
3.20 Good World
3.55 Kilbrin Rocco (NB)
4.30 Time Is A Thief
5.05 Zolpharine
1.35 Mastertown Miss
2.10 Colin's Friend
2.45 Lips Freedom
3.20 James The Brave
3.55 Presenting Lad
4.30 Stede Bonnet
5.05 Kilkee Bay
1.20 Sweetly
1.55 Hmas Perth
2.30 Loughrea (Nap)
3.05 Majestic King
3.40 Pivotal Attack
4.15 Irish Rumour
4.50 Sinbad My Dad
5.25 Highbury See See
1.20 Pirate Anne Bonny
1.55 Wo Wo Never
2.30 Big Gossey
3.05 Johnny Soda
3.40 Carla Ridge
4.15 Contrary To Law
4.50 Rest Your Mind
5.25 Blue Moon
