Blood Destiny 5/6: Mullins and Townend to Dominate Listowel's 16:07
The standout runner of the day is Blood Destiny (5/6), who lines up in the 16:07 at Listowel over 2m 3f. Trained by the imperious Willie Mullins and ridden by his top jockey Paul Townend, Blood Destiny ticks virtually every box. The gelding has been in stellar form, comfortably winning a similar contest at Punchestown last month by five lengths. Expect further improvement today, especially with conditions forecast as good, with yielding patches. Mullins' strike rate in novice events at Listowel is an eye-watering 38% over the past five seasons, and there’s a strong chance this figure will edge even higher today.
For punters keen to back today's banker, Blood Destiny looks near bombproof. You can compare this selection with others in similar contests using our horse comparison tool.
Competitive Handicaps Take Centre Stage at Gowran Park
If it's big fields and juicy odds you're after, Gowran Park is the meeting for you. The track kicks off at 13:59 with a 16-runner mile handicap, and the day is sprinkled with fields consistently in the double figures. With no fewer than four races boasting 17 or more runners, there’s real potential for some each-way gems. You can explore all the runners for these races on our Racecards page.
Not Just Any Eagle 20/1 in Gowran 14:34: A Genuine Each-Way Shot
A standout in terms of longer-priced value is Not Just Any Eagle (20/1) in the 14:34, a 1m 4f handicap with 19 runners. This 5-year-old has finished just outside the places in his last two starts, both over similar trips. He also makes a key jockey switch today, as rising star Robyn Donaghue-Leahy takes the reins. The gelding has a featherweight to carry, with just 8st 12lb on his back, and has shown a preference for good ground, which he gets today. Though currently an outsider, the race is wide open, and with four places available from most major bookmakers, he represents cracking each-way value. Check today's full list of runners here.
Zitkala Sa 14/1 Could Spring a Surprise in the Gowran 17:29
The 17:29 at Gowran Park is another strongly contested handicap, this time over 1m 1f and featuring 15 runners. One runner that catches the eye is Zitkala Sa (14/1), set to be ridden by one of Ireland’s top jockeys, Shane Foley. The mare’s recent form figures aren’t flashy, finishing down the field in her last three starts, but a deeper dive suggests she’s been contesting in higher grades and simply needs this drop in class. With a mark of 75, she races off her last winning rating and appears to have been aimed at this specific contest. Connections would be hoping for an improved showing today, and at 14/1, she’s absolutely worth an each-way play.
Listowel’s Marathon 17:17: Can An Bhoireann Make History at 40/1?
For fans of long-priced speculation, An Bhoireann (40/1) in the 17:17 might be worth a small bet. Rarely does a 40/1 shot come with any real chance, but the AI confidence level of 46% is higher than you’d expect for such odds. Ridden by Mr R M Staunton, the horse has no standout form to boast, but stranger things have happened in these long-distance amateur races. An each-way punt here might add some spice to the finale at Listowel, though this is a race best approached with caution. For those looking for guaranteed consistency, our tips page features AI-vetted selections with higher confidence ratings.
Accumulator Potential?
Several high-confidence, shorter-priced runners could be combined for a Monday accumulator. Start with Blood Destiny (5/6) at Listowel 16:07, then add two of today’s other AI-backed favourites like Baytown Sundance (4/5) at Lethbridge 03:20 (on dirt), and Saburo's Grace (4/5) in the Lethbridge 03:45. Together, this treble offers odds of just under 4/1 — not massive, but a tidy return for strong selections. Use our accumulator tips page for more combinations and guidance.
Best Bets Summary
- Blood Destiny (5/6), Listowel 16:07: NAP of the day. Mullins and Townend pair up for what should be a masterclass.
- Zitkala Sa (14/1), Gowran Park 17:29: Huge each-way value in a competitive handicap.
- Not Just Any Eagle (20/1), Gowran Park 14:34: Well-weighted for an upset. At least worth an each-way flutter.
- Baytown Sundance (4/5), Lethbridge 03:20: Reliable second leg for an accumulator.
Don’t forget to check out the latest non-runners before placing your bets, and use our betting calculator to work through potential returns. For early insight into tomorrow's action, head to tomorrow’s tips page.
Best of luck with your Monday selections — let’s hope for a profitable start to the week!
