Irish racing today

Both Irish meetings today, at Gowran Park and Downpatrick, are mixed affairs, with racing on the flat, over fences and over hurdles on the card. Most valuable event is the grandly-named Ulster Oaks at 16.45 CET at Downpatrick, which is in fact a handicap over 10 1/2 furlongs. Angels Storm (Jim Bolger/ Declan Moran) won this last year, but the ground was very soft then and on today´s much faster surface Whispering Wind (Joanna Morgan/ Danny Mullins) - fifth then- could well take revenge. Timoca (Edward Lynam/ Chris Hayes) and Temecola (Mike Halford/ Sean Foley) are both easy last-time-out winners moving up in grade and could prove troublesome. Joanna Morgan also has an interesting runner in the handicap over the same distance half an hour earlier in top-weight La Petite Bleue (Chris Geoghagan), who is out of German classic winner La Blue. Ex-German Green Mile (Tony Martin/ Robbie Power) is not the most consistent, but if in the right mood could win the 2 1/2 mile handicap chas e here at 17.45. Best bet at Gowran Park, where there are maximum fields in most races, should be the well-bred Spinning Well (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) in the 9 1 /2 furlongs fillies maiden at 16.25. She just failed last time and that is the best form in the race.

Gowran Park - betting forecast:
1. Race: Montecchio - Boxing Day - Palm Ridge
2. Race: Toufan Express - Quench The Flame - Aleonard
3. Race: Noble Galileo - Lac A Dancer - Spinning Well
4. Race: Samovar - Taralga - Equator
5. Race: Cloone Stream - Mutadarek - Shadow Of The Wind
6. Race: Rudi Tuesday - Le Reveur - Chronomatic
7. Race: Byeforthepresent - Definitive Edge - Coole Avenue

Down Royal - betting forecast:
1. Race: Indian Spring - Valain - Insan Flyer
2. Race: Ross Accord - Valhalla Vision - Mister Lucky
3. Race: La Petite Bleue - Rouvres Girl - View From The Top
4. Race: Whispering Wind - Angels Story - Miss Keller
5. Race: Nice Dream - Gold Blossom - Four Kicks
6. Race: Green Mile - Dream Champion - Air Of Confusion
7. Race: Sutherland Star - Ocean Swell Jelly - Remarkable Power