Gowran Park Races Today – Get Gowran Park Tips from Kilkenny Course
The southeast of Ireland is one of the sparser areas of the Emerald Isle for horse racing with perhaps one notable exception. Gowran Park races today offer the region’s best quality Flat and jumps action with meetings almost all year round.
As the sole course in County Kilkenny, and with no tracks in neighbouring Laois and Carlow, it lies between the top stables belonging to Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle in Tipperary and Willie Mullins’ Closutton base. We provide free Gowran Park tips for all right here:
History of Gowran Park Racecourse
Right from its very first meeting on 16 June 1914, Gowran races on the Annely Estate some 15km east of the county town of Kilkenny combined Flat action with the National Hunt code. It continues this tradition, but with separate days of racing rather than mixed cards.
According to the official Gowran Racecourse website, not only did its current company form in 1948, but it became the first track in Ireland to provide on-course commentary in 1952. By the time of the first Tote Jackpot came along in 1966, this venue already had its flagship race.
That January, Flyingbolt won the Thyestes Handicap Chase following in the hoofprints of Tom Dreaper stable companion Arkle (two years earlier) in carrying topweight of 12 stone to victory in the track’s feature contest. Such exploits helped establish the reputation of Gowran Park races today as a place to prepare good horses for the springtime festivals.
In and around the turn of the century, the course made improvements to its jumps programme. First with the creation of the Gowran Champion Chase in 1998, the Galmoy Hurdle then followed four years later. On the Flat, meanwhile, the track received its first Pattern race above Listed level in 2006 when the Denny Cordell Fillies Stakes attained Group 3 status.
Such innovations continue right up to the present. The creation of the Gowran Classic in 2024 is unique in the British Isles as a Sales race for three-year-olds, rather than two-year-olds. We have Gowran tips and more on the big races that matter most from here below.
Are Gowran Park Races Today Flat or Jumps?
There is both Flat and National Hunt racing at Gowran Racecourse at different times of year. Action from both codes takes place on a right-handed, that is clockwise, undulating track with a full lap about a mile-and-a-half all the way round. The highest part of the course is turning out of the back straight with a sharp descent around the final bend.
It’s then a steady uphill climb in the home stretch all the way to the winning post. In hurdle races at Gowran Park, there are six flights on a complete circuit. Three of those come down the back. There’s then a cross hurdle before the home turn completely unfolds and then two more to jump in the straight before the line.
For the steeplechases at Gowran, there are eight fences on a full lap. The four in the back straight all come on the ascent with the second in this line being an open ditch. Right at the top of the hill there’s another plain fence before the course swings sharply downhill. After turning for home, there’s another line of three to cross with the middle one of these another ditch.
Key Meetings & Fixtures at Gowran Park Races Today
There are 16 jumps and Flat race days from Gowran throughout a calendar year. Dealing with the major meetings in chronological order, there’s Goffs Thyestes Day on a Thursday about two-thirds of the way through January. This is the feature National Hunt race at Gowran Park.
In the middle of February, it’s the Red Mills race day when horses can have a final prep run for the Cheltenham Festival or one of Horse Racing Ireland’s big spring meetings that follows. Come March, Gowran races today has its Shamrock Chase day. After this, attention turns to the Flat.
By May, the course has the Vintage Tipple and Victor McCalmont Stakes on the same card. In early June, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic takes centre stage. During mid-July, the big race is the Marble City Stakes. During August, it’s the Hurry Harriet Stakes and September has the Denny Cordell Lavarack Fillies Stakes.
Last, but by no means least among the meetings at Gowran Park Racecourse every year, there’s the October Festival. Prior to the PwC Champion Chase day on the first Saturday of the month, they also race on Friday when the Pat Walsh Mares Hurdle and Mucklemeg Mares Bumper headline the opening card.
The Biggest Races We Have Gowran Park Tips for
There are dozen races at Gowran with a first prize of over €20,000 at the moment. It is these events in particular that we focus our free horse racing betting tips on from the course. Each contest looks worth shining some light on.
Gowran Classic
The most valuable of all Gowran Park races today with €108,000 going to the winner in 2025. Currently run as the Irish EBF Gowran Classic, this three-year-olds only Median Auction Sales race takes place over nine-and-a-half furlongs at the track in early June.
Thanks to outside sponsorship from the European Breeders Fund, that helps the prize money element here. Only introduced in 2024, the Gowran Classic is unique. With such a large pot on offer, this helps to attract runners to the course. Draw bias can make or break Gowran Park racing tips on this contest with those drawn in the middle faring best so far.
Goffs Thyestes Chase
A Grade 3 handicap chase over three miles and a furlong in January. Dating back to at least the 1960s, this is the most famous of all races at Gowran today. Initially seen as a trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it has become in more modern times one for the world’s most famous steeplechase instead.
That is because three subsequent winners of UK Grand Nationals in Hedgehunter, Numbersixvalverde and Nick Rockett all won the Thyestes. Willie Mullins has a record ten victories in the contest and it’s well worth his while to send smart steeplechasers to Gowran Park for it. That’s because first place comes with €59,000 in prize money again in 2026.
The Thyestes is unusual as prep race for the Aintree Grand National on paper. That’s because the Merseyside track is a flat, left-handed course and this track the polar opposite. What these two events have in common, though, are tests of stamina. The going is often heavy at Gowran Park races in January, meaning successful horses must stay.
Denny Cordell Lavarack Fillies Stakes
A Group 3 fillies’ stakes race, also open to mares, over nine-and-a-half furlongs in September. In fact, any female Flat thoroughbreds aged three and up can run in the race than remembers racehorse trainer Denny Cordell-Lavarack.
Inaugurated in 1996, it has taken place in August and October in the past, but settled on its current September slot from 2008 onwards. Smart Gowran tips will focus on fillies and mares representing the Jessica Harrington and Joseph O’Brien stables here as both yards have a good recent record. First prize in 2025 was €35,400.
Hurry Harriet Stakes
A Listed race for fillies and mares aged three and up over nine-and-a-half furlongs taking place over the summer in August. First run in 2007, it is a trial of sorts for the Denny Cordell Lavarack the following month.
Aidan O’Brien often sends one of his females to Gowran Park for the Hurry Harriet. The Ballydoyle maestro has a record seven wins in it. Prize money of €32,450 went to the winner of this in 2025.
Victor McCalmont Stakes
Officially the Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes in honour of the racecourse administrator and owner-breeder of the same name, this fillies and mares only Listed race in May has had some changes to it down the years. Originally run over a mile-and-a-half, it changed in 2000 to nine-and-a-half furlongs.
By 2025, this closed to three-year-old fillies. The Victor McCalmont is now only for older females, so Gowran Park tips today need to keep that in mind. Ger Lyons made it three wins in seven years in this contest when he picked up the €29,500 first prize again in its latest edition.
Vintage Tipple Stakes
Introduced in 2018 on the same May card as the Victor McCalmont, this is another Listed race for older fillies and mares aged four and up. Unlike other Black Type races on the Flat at Gowran, the Vintage Tipple tests stamina with a distance of a mile-and-three-quarters.
Joseph O’Brien saddled the winner for a second time in 2025 when he took home €29,500 in prize money for leading owner JP McManus after their homebred mare Goodie Two Shoes prevailed. The Vintage Tipple is a great advert for keeping older females in training.
John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle
Inaugurated in 2002, this Grade 2 staying hurdle contest is the chief supporting race on Thyestes day in January. Contested over an extended three miles, it honours racehorse Galmoy and his trainer John Mulhern. Presenting Percy and Teahupoo are famous names on the race’s roll of honour.
Due to the going being so testing at this time of year, the essential element in Gowran Park horse racing tips here is stamina. It can also leave a mark on the winners as the heavy ground leaves no hiding places for staying power. In 2026, first place is again worth €26,550 to the successful horse and their connections.
Marble City Stakes
A new Listed race for three-year-old fillies over a mile-and-a-half in July added to the Gowran programme in 2024. Father and son trainers Aidan and Joseph O’Brien have won the Marble City so far, which also comes with €26,550 in prize money for first place.
Gowran Park Champion Chase
Currently run as the PwC Champion Chase, this Grade 2 contest over two-and-a-half miles is the feature race of the October Festival at Gowran Park. First run in 1998 when Dorans Pride delivered, this event because synonymous with Sizing Europe, who won it four times in a row between 2011 and 2014.
The Gowran Park results here show punters which horses come to hand in the autumn. It sits between the Galway Plate at the Galway races and Down Royal Champion Chase for any horses looking to climb from handicaps to the highest level over fences. Western Fold ran in all three race in 2025 and his win here saw him scoop prize money of €26,550 for Gordon Elliott.
Red Mills Chase
The feature steeplechase on Red Mills day in February with Grade 2 status over a two-and-a-half miles. It often attracts a small field with conditions often still testing at the track even though the worst of midwinter is behind us at that point.
While this might be stating one of the more obvious Gowran Park tips, Willie Mullins has landed the last four editions of the Red Mills Chase with a record nine victories in total. Classic Getaway added the latest of those and €26,550 in prize money in 2025 with it.
Shamrock Handicap Chase
A two-mile handicap chase in March that had Listed status before 2025 and used to be over two-and-a-quarter miles. The Shamrock is one of the symbols of Ireland. While this isn’t one of the most famous Gowran Park races today, there’s still good prize money of €26,550 on offer for winning it.
Red Mills Trial Hurdle
A Grade 3 hurdle race over two miles on the Red Mills card in February. Since its downgrading in 2017, this contest seems to have gone out of fashion a little bit as past winners include the likes of Danoli, Hardy Eustace, Newmill, Solwhit and Un De Sceaux.
The best Gowran Park race tips here always consider whatever one of the leading National Hunt stables in Ireland run in the race. Subsequent Grade 1 winning novice chaser Kitzbuhel landed this in 2025 and picked up €22,125 in prize money into the bargain.
Other Gowran Races of Note
There are also some less valuable, but still notable races taking place at Gowran Park. The February fixture has the old Careys Cottage Cup Handicap Chase on it, won by the likes of Arkle in the past. It’s the October Festival which has the most prize money distributed across a single meeting, though.
Besides the Pat Walsh Memorial Hurdle for mares and a Listed bumper for females, another supporting race here is the Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle over three miles. While not so valuable as the Gowran Park Champion Chase, it’s still a pot worth having for decent staying hurdlers.
FAQs
Are Gowran Park races today on?
There are 16 race days at Gowran including Ladies Day with at least one meeting per month on average throughout the year.
Where is Gowran Park race track?
Gowran Park Racecourse is 15km east of Kilkenny city centre near the village of Gowran on the Annely Estate in County Kilkenny in the Republic of Ireland.
Why give free Gowran Park tips?
We can provide free tips and Gowran Park race results simply because the computer does all the data sourcing. Artificial Intelligence (AI) powers Racing Tipster, so all the legwork is done by machine learning.
Where can I find Gowran Park results?
Click through our tips at the top of the page after an event has finished to see the latest Gowran Park racing results free of charge.
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