Flat-race action comes from Gowran Park on Tuesday Oct 17th with a seven-race card, 13.55 – 17.25.

Billy Lee is among the jocks looking for winners, and the field sizes are extremely pleasing. An intriguing afternoon looks assured.

16.50 – Randall Poets Lass @ 2/1

A competitive-looking maiden for fillies and mares, and our selection is a 3-yr-old having her third lifetime run. Made her debut last backend down the field at Leopardstown, but this term she’s looked to be close to opening her account.

Given plenty to do over a mile at Listowel 26 days ago she finished with a flourish, giving best only to an AP O’Brien inmate. Useful claimer Robert Whearty again takes the ride, and the additional 1f+ here should help her enormously to make a telling, successful challenge and break her maiden.

It was soft/heavy last time, and similar is expected on Tuesday.

17.25 – Rioja Alta @ 7/2

A mile-and-a-half handicap for 3-yr-olds and upwards, and our selection is a gelded son of Australia at the lower end of the age scale. Gary Carroll takes the ride for trainer Gavin Cromwell, and the afore-mentioned Whearty rode him last time at Killarney.

He finished well in deep ground off this mark of 72, and it’s telling that the trainer opts now to return to regular, senior pilot Carroll in a bid to break his duck in just his second handicap.

Last time showed, for me, that this is a feasible mark with which to work from. Huge chance in Gowran’s lucky last. 13 runners, and some big yards oppose, but this does look like a good opportunity.