Sunday's Selection

Father Bertie was well backed yesterday and he put up a much improved performance to finish 3rd, beaten just over a length. He travelled really well and when he kicked clear coming into the final couple of furlongs I thought he had made a race winning move. However, he was reeled in at the death and could find no answers as two rivals surged past him. He held on well for third though and our each way money was safe. Today's racing is not of the highest standard, but I like the look of a reserve at Gowran and with a couple of non runners in the race he looks as though he is going to get a run.

Like A Prayer is a 5yo son of Compton Place and he was won 2 of his 24 starts, both on the all weather. He took an 8f handicap at Kempton back in January 2014 off 59, and won a similar event at Lingfield (8f) off 65. He hasn't managed to win since but he has run some decent races in defeat for Garvan Donnelly and two of his best efforts last season came at Gowran Park.

He was an excellent 2nd in this race last year off a mark of 65 (8f good) when he found only Hilary too good. He was poor on his next couple of runs but he again ran a decent race on his return to Gowran (8f good to firm) when finishing 4th, beaten 6L off 62. He again ran a cracker when returning here (8f yielding) last September, beaten less than a length off a mark of 55, and he followed that up with another solid effort at Ayr (7f good) off the same mark, again filling the runner up spot.

He didn't run too badly on his seasonal reappearance at Dundalk last month, finishing 10th but beaten only 5L and his poor effort last time out at Leopardstown came on heavy ground, a surface he hates. He returns to Gowran off a mark of just 52, a full 13lbs lower than when 2nd last year and, as if that wasn't enough, promising young claimer Gary Phillips takes off another 5lb, The ground has dried out nicely for Like A Prayer and he will have his optimal conditions for the first time this season. He loves the track, sneaks in off a feather weight and he should run a big race at a nice price in this wide open handicap.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 4.40 GOWRAN-LIKE A PRAYER E/W 22/1