Gambling Girl lands the Gowran spoils

Gambling Girl scored an all-the-way victory in Gowran Park as she blew her 19 rivals away in the two mile maiden hurdle at 8/1.

The four-year-old filly, with Robbie Power in the saddle, quickly moved to the head of affairs from flagfall and strode out well on the soft, yielding in places going. Chicago who was well-backed this morning, looked to be a threat as he moved towards the front rank at the third last. However, a blunder at the second last hurdle stopped him in his tracks and he weakened in finishing fifth at 7/4f.

Upon popping the last, Gambling Girl increased her winning margin as she put nine and a half lengths on second-placed Red Flight (14/1) at the line. Robbie Power didn’t have to get serious with her as she hacked up. It was a further nine lengths back to Spa Hill in third at 7/1.

Successful trainer Jessica Harrington said: "She was great. She wasn't meant to make the running as she is very free. Tom Lombard had her before and he did a lot of schooling with her which is great.

"She will go the mares’ novice hurdle route now and she seemed to handle the ground fine."

Gambling Girl won her bumper in Bellewstown in August and then was fifth in a mile and a half flat maiden at the Curragh in mid-September.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy