Bocca Can Land Fitting Win At Gowran

Ahead of the Punchestown Festival next week and following the jump season climax at Sandown on Saturday, an eight race flat card is the focus of attention on Sunday.

3.40 Gowran Park
At the last Gowran Park meeting earlier in the month the Dermot Weld-trained Discipline made a very impressive debut to score by seven and a half lengths and she steps up to listed company on Sunday in the Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes.

Not only is the sister to Famous Name stepping up in class but she is also stepping up in distance as well having won her maiden over seven-furlongs and this being over an extended nine furlong trip. The step up in trip is unlikely to be an issue going forward…

…but on this occasion Discipline may be about to bump into one too good in Bocca Baciata.

Trainer On Form
Jessica Harrington left Limerick on Saturday with a double and while the four-year-old has to concede a lot of weight (17lbs) to the likely favourite, Bocca Baciata’s (6/5) experience and the class that saw her run well in Group One company last season will make a big difference.

The drying ground will suit the daughter of Big Bad Bob and it would be fitting if she could oblige on the weekend that her sire died in an accident at the Irish National Stud.

5.10 Gowran Park
Both of the handicaps on the card are of the lowest grade and it may prove to be a trappy day for punters and the penultimate conditions race on the card may only have five runners going to post but it too is not simple to unravel.

Dermot Weld spoke highly of Ebediyin following his winning debut at Galway last year and he looked likely to go off favourite but Aidan O’Brien’s Lieutenant General (3/1) probably didn’t reach the dizzy heights expected last term and maybe he is one we can side with on this occasion.

The Ballydoyle team are in sparkling form and this drop in class and step up in trip may help the son of Fastnet Rock to return to winning ways but he is very much a tentative selection.

*Prices correct at time of publication.