The flat season is really beginning to heat up in earnest now and on Thursday evening, there’s an all-flat card at Gowran Park. Proceedings commence at 5.30pm and Shaimaa stands out in the Gowran Park Golf Race Evening Handicap.

The ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained six-year-old has won her two most recent starts and indeed last time, she gallantly responded to Martin Harley’s urgings to beat Monteriggoni in an extended 10-furlong handicap at Dundalk on April 24th. Shaimaa, acquired by her present connections from Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation, was raised six lbs to a new mark of 86 for that success and she should continue complete a quick hat-trick here by proving marginally superior to Kaitlin’s Joy.

Drombeg Dawn is likely to be there or thereabouts in the Early Bird Green Fees At Gowran Park Handicap. The Andrew McNamara-trained Drombeg Dawn caused a mild upset when winning an extended seven-furlong handicap at Limerick on April 21st and the Orpen-sired filly should continue on her merry way here by getting the better of Hello Bunclody.

Knight Eagle looks the part in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden. A colt by Night Shift, the Kevin Prendergast-trained Knight Eagle is bound to derive benefit from his debut outing when he finished a fine fourth to Gold Bubbles (beaten a little over four lengths) at Leopardstown last month. The likelihood is that Knight Eagle should have most to fear here from Rigid Rock.

Prendergast should actually depart with two winners for his dual runner-up Samba School should attain due reward for her consistency by disposing of April in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden and Araschan is likely to upstage Vicky Lane in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.

Dermot Weld’s three-year-old Casual should have most to fear from the vastly more-experienced Crooked Throw in the Gowran Park Rooftop Restaurant Race whilst First Symphony should continue the excellent run of trainer Brian Nolan by seeing off Patrickswell in the closing Gowran Park Golf Club Handicap.