2:31 Gowran Park
The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Pat Walsh Memorial Mares Hurdle at Gowran Park brings together a compact but high-class field of seven for this 2m80y contest on yielding to soft ground. With four principals holding KTB Fit Scores between 52 and 68, the race features several hold-up performers and two confirmed front-runners, while overall ratings sit in a narrow band from 107 to 125. KTB's numbers highlight strong course connections for the top-rated contender and underline the negative trainer records at this venue for several others.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with high confidence, as Gino Bella and Speisialta are habitual front-runners who tend to make the running or race prominently. This setup is likely to test those up front late on and play into the hands of the four hold-up horses in the field. The key question is whether the pace collapses sufficiently in the straight to allow the patient runners to close with maximum effect.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Royal Hollow KTB Selection68/100
Royal Hollow arrives as KTB's top-rated horse with a Fit Score of 68 and an official rating of 125. A high-class performer, she boasts strong course connections having won here from three runs at Gowran Park. Her recent form of 21-320 includes solid placed efforts and she possesses a perfect two wins from two starts on yielding to soft ground. She drops back in trip today having won once from 13 starts at this distance. The trainer's 8% strike rate from 321 runs at Gowran and the jockey's 9% from 34 rides offer no particular edge, yet her ability and course record still make her the one to beat. Usually held up, she produces her effort late and should be ideally placed if the strong pace materialises as expected.
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2Daboya54/100
Daboya is next best on KTB's figures with a Fit Score of 54 and carries an official rating of 121. This high-class performer comes into the race with a solid recent record that includes a win last time out. He has placed once from five runs at Gowran Park but the trainer's modest 3% strike rate from 156 runs at the track is a clear negative. This will be his first start on yielding to soft ground and he steps up in trip having won once over today's distance from three attempts. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and will be hoping the race falls apart in the closing stages. Danny Mullins takes the ride for a yard that has shown an A/E of 1.13 in recent team performances.
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3A Law Of Her Own53/100
A Law Of Her Own holds a KTB Fit Score of 53 and is rated 122 officially. A high-class mare, she possesses strong ratings and a solid career record that includes two wins at this trip. She drops back from 3m to a distance she has handled well before while connections have a modest record at Gowran, the trainer operating at 7% strike rate from 43 runs here. She has had only one run on yielding to soft ground so far and this is her first visit to the track. Usually held up, she produces her effort late and could be suited by the expected strong pace. Donagh Meyler is on board for Emmet Mullins whose yard has an A/E of 0.79.
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4Sopelana52/100
Sopelana completes the principals with a KTB Fit Score of 52 and an official rating of 118. A smart performer on the balance of her ratings and race history, she has two wins at today's trip from seven attempts. She drops back in distance after her last run over two and a half miles and has been placed on her most recent completed start. The yard is without a winner from 14 runs at Gowran Park while the jockey is 0-5 here and the horse remains unproven on yielding to soft ground. Usually held up, she will be looking to come from off the pace if the strong gallop materialises. Kevin Healy claims 7lb for the Cian Collins stable.
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5Gino Bella46/100
Gino Bella is rated 115 with a KTB Fit Score of 46. A smart performer who arrives in solid form after two wins and a placed effort from his last three starts, he drops back to a trip he has placed at before though he was well held on his only run on this type of ground. The trainer has a modest 2% strike rate at Gowran from 53 runs while the jockey is still seeking his first winner here from five rides. Tends to make the running or race on the pace.
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6Speisialta46/100
Speisialta holds an official rating of 117 and a KTB Fit Score of 46. A smart performer who showed useful form when winning at this track in the spring before a solid second at Listowel, he is dropping back from 2m2f to 2m which poses a fresh question. The yard's modest 3% strike-rate at Gowran Park is another negative while the jockey has a 7% record here from 126 rides. Tends to make the running or race on the pace and is unproven on yielding to soft ground.
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7Likealightswitch42/100
Likealightswitch is the lowest rated on 107 with a KTB Fit Score of 42. A smart performer who has already won over this trip and at this track, her recent form includes a win and two seconds but the yard's poor record here is a clear negative and the jockey is also well below average at Gowran. She has had only one run on similar ground and it produced no win or place. Usually held up.
KTB verdict
Royal Hollow stands out as the KTB Selection with the highest Fit Score and the most compelling blend of course form, ground affinity and high-class ability. Her win here from three starts at Gowran and perfect record on yielding to soft ground set her apart from the rest, particularly with the strong pace likely to suit her hold-up style. The main dangers are Daboya, who brings a recent winning run and solid placed form at the track, and A Law Of Her Own who drops back to a trip she has handled well in the past. Sopelana cannot be entirely dismissed on her balance of ratings but the negatives around trainer and jockey records at Gowran make her more vulnerable.
KTB Selection Royal Hollow
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:01 UTC, 2 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Hollow | 7/4 | Bet Victor |
| Daboya | 4/1 | Bet365 |
| A Law Of Her Own | 10/1 | Bet Victor |
| Sopelana | 14/1 | Bet Victor |
| Gino Bella | 7/2 | Bet365 |
| Speisialta | 15/2 | Bet365 |
| Likealightswitch | 14/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 2:31 Gowran Park. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Gowran Park racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Gowran Park results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest course record at Gowran Park?
Royal Hollow has won here from three runs at Gowran Park.
How many of the field are proven on yielding to soft ground?
Royal Hollow has two wins from two starts on yielding to soft while the remainder have either no experience or no win or place on the surface.
Which runners are expected to set the strong pace?
Gino Bella and Speisialta both tend to make the running or race on the pace.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Gowran for the selection's stable?
A. Slattery has an 8% strike rate at Gowran Park from 321 runs.
Which horse is stepping up in trip having won once from three attempts at this distance?
Daboya is stepping up in trip having won once over today's distance from three attempts.
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