Johnny Ward's Irish Angle: David O'Brien has the Rite answer at Tramore
There are a host of strong bets on Saturday's cards in Ireland, though punters need to keep an eye on the impending rain with a view to Gowran wagers. Be lucky.
Check out the latest edition of the On The Wire podcast, featuring plenty of chat about the weekend's action ahead
2.30 Gowran Park: Kastasa
Speaking to Racing TV's On The Wire podcast, Colin Keane admitted to ground-related concerns for Heliac, who needs to step up in any event to beat Kastasa, who should be ready for a race that honours Vintage Tipple. Highly progressive last season, she really should win this, with the others generally having questions to answer, including with regard to stamina.
3.05 Gowran Park: Never Forgotten
Never Forgotten seems a slow enough learner, running really green on her debut here before finishing a clear second at the Curragh. That maiden is hard to weigh up and there is no doubt that So Wonderful should win on form but she does not appeal as one to run to her mark when she takes on maiden class.
4.40 Tramore: Alice Johnston
Jody McGarvey gets on well with Alice Johnston, who is a well-bred mare and as such has been a pretty disappointing maiden. She is well-treated over fences and will appreciate dropping back in distance after a fine run at Tipperary. She should, at worst, be in the first three.
4.50 Gowran Park: Almost A Dream
Almost A Dream has not shown a great deal in eight starts but is somewhat interesting here at a price. A distance of 13 furlongs looked highly speculative at Sligo, when she was sent off 50-1, but she travelled as well as anything for most of the race, predictably running out of gas about two furlongs out. She was not knocked about coming into the straight.
Gavin Cromwell does not persevere with horses he feels cannot win and both the low draw and the booking of Mikey Sheehy render her of interest in a poor race limited to three-year-olds.
Watch the filly's last race at Sligo and make up your own mind about Almost A Dream
5.15 Tramore: Ran Rite
David O'Brien has trained 14 winners at Tramore, more than double his tally at any other racetrack, and he has his runners in excellent form, with his last five featuring a winner and three seconds, the other horse 100-1.
The likeable Ran Rite has rather run into one on his last twice in maiden hurdles but, as genuine as they come and an ex-point winner, he should have a massive chance here probably at an each-way quote.
5.25 Gowran Park: Tennessee Waltz
Tennesse Waltz is truly exposed at this stage, but he won last year and he can win again. The rain will probably be in his favour and he was really eye-catching at Limerick, cantering as they met the straight behind horses. He looked sure to come up the outer in the straight but instead went up the inner and got no run. That form has worked out fine.
6.45 Tramore: Gone Racing
Mark McNiff, who trains in County Sligo, has his steeds in good form, with his last eight runners (before Friday) featuring a winner, two second and a third, none of them a short price. Gone Racing was only having his first start in handicaps when fourth at Kilbeggan, travelling well, and that form has worked out very nicely.
This is a desperately bad race and he should win. It is worth recalling his Bellewstown maiden effort last year in a race won by Flooring Porter, with Elegant Dan fourth, the eyecatching Gone Racing only being beaten 13 lengths when with Kieran Purcell then.
Johnny's Saturday selections at a glance:
