Cordouan (4/1) improved on '555' form-figures in recent claiming races when gaining a third career win today, landing Gowran's opening Gowran Park Claimer for trainer Ado McGuinness, jockey Cian MacRedmond and owners Dooley Thoroughbreds.

The 70-rated six-year-old had previously won for trainer John Gosden in the UK and on Irish debut for McGuinness at Laytown on 2022, and today quickened well racing alongside the inside railing, when beating Magical Bay by 2.25 lengths.

Prior to being claimed for €5,000 by Dick Donohue, McGuinness had reported “he (Cordouan) was a classy enough horse but he's had plenty of problems and that's why he's in this grade. He's just a fun horse now.

“He ran some good races for us last year and it's great for the boys, and great for Cian to get a winner on him. We can't do a huge amount with him at home but I think the less we do the better he is at the minute.

“He gave him a good ride and the race just panned out for us. We put first time headgear on him today and I think it probably helped him. We'll either go back handicapping, he was well in today to win this race off his rating, or he'll go back into another claimer.”

Three other horses were later successfully claimed namely; Academy Winner €20,000 by Denis Hogan, Cross Border for €9,000 by Eric McNamara and Rumbled Again for €9,000 by Gavin Cromwell.

Quotes from Gary Carson