Gowran Park William Hill Series 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle Tips It's the first weekend of National Hunt action at Gowran Park for the new season and Saturday brings a competitive card, with a maiden hurdle for three-year-olds over an extended two-mile trip opening the meeting. A field of 13 were declared, with the likes of Gordon Elliott and Gavin Cromwell doubly represented and we've picked out a NAP and Next Best. NAP: Combs @ SP Next Best: Gforcejenny @ SP William Hill Betting Offer What's New sets the standard for Slattery Andrew Slattery will be hoping it's third time lucky for What's New. The Killenaule trainer saw his gelding come down at the last when held on hurdles bow at Killarney in August and he then settled for second-best at Listowel's Harvest Meeting on yielding to soft ground, behind Hopes Are High in a similar contest to this. That rival was already a winner over timber and it constituted a really pleasing effort from What's New, one that can be upgraded as he stumbled mid-race and lost ground. In the end, he was just under two lengths off the penalised scorer, in turn six lengths clear of the next best. He won on the Flat at Roscommon in between his two hurdles outings and he sets a good standard now for the others to aim at. Combs can brush aside rivals What's New was beaten by Hopes Are High in Listowel and that rival had previously finished third behind COMBS (second) at Down Royal (2m1½f, good) in August. On a line through Hopes Are High, this Gordon Elliott-trained son of Dark Angel looks the one to beat. He was five lengths clear of Hopes Are High in the north, whereas What's New got within less than two lengths on the same terms at the Co Kerry venue subsequently. The horse that beat Combs at Down Royal, Joseph O'Brien's Cinammon Coco, did so impressively and looks a good prospect, having turned around previous form with Hopes Are High from their meeting at Ballinrobe in early August. Combs has plenty of scope for better here and Jack Kennedy sticks with him over Cumberland River, the second Elliott runner, who is surely better than he showed on jumping bow at Killarney in August. Jenny can be a force Newcomers Sporting Claim and Bibe Mus will merit some close examination in the market for good yards but perhaps one with an each-way squeak will be GFORCEJENNY for Gavin Cromwell. The Mendelssohn filly was lacking fluency when midfield on jumping introduction at Ballinrobe (2m2f, soft) last month but she made a better shape at Listowel (2m, yielding to soft) in the race won by Hopes Are High, with What's New in second, since. She was ridden patiently and made some good late progress to come up and grab third spot, a long way clear of the fourth, hinting better could be in the offing soon. Conor Stone-Walsh remains in the plate now and further improvement will have his filly in the mix for this prize.
