A total of four weekend fixtures in Ireland might strike most as overkill considering there will be no more action until next weekend but at least a number of decent looking betting possibilities are available.

The Irish Horseracing Authority chief executive Martin Moore commenting on the weekend deluge of racing, said yesterday: "This seems to happen every year because we are trying to get the dates to suit the racecourses, the fixtures people, the trainers and everybody else.

"I agree it would be better to get a spread but we have to balance the needs of the industry and we've seen that anything midweek isn't exactly filling the houses. At weekends racecourses get the chance to get patrons through the gates."

The most interest at today's Gowran fixture will centre around the performance of Aidan O'Brien's possible Derby hope Apollo Victoria who beat the impressive Legal Jousting by a length at Leopardstown last year and goes in the nine furlong challenge race here. O'Brien has said he will put the Sadlers Wells colt in at the deep end after this so a smooth winning stroke is demanded in this company.

Another to watch on this ground and over the two miles of the novice chase is Donadino but up north at Down Royal another couple of worthwhile looking opportunities look to exist courtesy of I'll Decide in the first division of the maiden hurdle and Spirit Glen in the Bumper. Tomorrow's Cork fixture features a £15,000 handicap chase which looks within the capabilities of the Thyestes runner-up Palette but for nap purposes it could be worth checking out the claims of Sparkling Harmony in the seven furlong handicap.

Jim Gorman is already off the mark for the season courtesy of Castenetta at the Curragh last Sunday so his expanding team is in form. Sparkling Harmony's form tailed off towards the end of last season but he won this race last year off 56, he loves cut in the ground and is reported in decent form.

The bet of the day at Fairyhouse should be Well Ridden in the novice hurdle and Frances Crowley could have a good day courtesy of Soviet Blues and Hill Port.

Jim Turner takes a gamble on the weather today when he enters his smart chaser Inn AT The Top for the Martell Gold Cup at Aintree next Thursday.