UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

ANNA BUNINA can get off the mark here having exited at the second last at Bellewstown recently when in contention. Anna Bunina was a capable flat performer and while she pulled up in two of her three most recent starts, those were in high class races and her most recent run at Bellewstown (when in the process of running a big race) was another smart contest and today's race is a much lesser contest. Little King Robin's first foal Rock Me Robin is open to plenty progression, being the first foal from smart Grade 2 and eight-time winner Little King Robin. Rock Me Robin was well enough held on debut in June but ran a solid race behind an easy winner at Downpatrick recently and any progression from that run, which is likely, would see her involved at the business end today under her same 7lbs claimer. Guinevere, in contrast, is well bred for the flat and having shown useful form in that sphere is a notable hurdling newcomer. She will have no problem staying national hunt trips and while well held on her latest Curragh run, has been in good form recently and will be well schooled by a trainer who had plenty experience in the business. Marmolata has shown solid ability in five runs on the flat and while she is no star, did stay on well enough at Dundalk recently and could do well as a hurdler. Paris Duvet is likely to be well schooled on jumps debut but all her racing has been at a mile or less, is by sprint/middle-distance stallion Clodovil, so isn't certain to be as effective at two miles.
Prediction : 1st Anna Bunina 2nd Rock Me Robin 3rd Guinevere

Barry Connell is one of Irelands most recognisable owners this millennium and has his first runner as a trainer with SURMISE here, and the gelding can win. Surmise ran a promising race on debut for trainer Paddy Twomey at Leopardstown last March and has since joined Connell, who will presumably hope for a winning start today. The form of the Leopardstown race is likely to prove very strong as the third-placed horse had previously won a race and Surmise, being flat bred, will be well suited to a sound surface today and this looks winnable. Yafordadoe has previous hurdle experience and will provide strong opposition. He is already a dual flat winner, is rated 78 in that sphere, and while he has failed to win in five starts, has shown promise and should get involved at the business end here. Segenhoe is interesting on jumps debut, having shown bits of useful form on the flat. He looks likely to get national hunt trips, will be well schooled and his 7lbs claimer Philip Donovan has ridden 13 winners over jumps in Britain. Mithmaar was well beaten on Kilbeggan jumps debut recently but has some place claims as a proven stayer while Reddiac (was also engaged to run at Leopardstown on Thursday) has been a little disappointing on the flat and while he could do better over jumps, might bump into a few too good here.
Prediction : 1st Surmise 2nd Yafordadoe 3rd Segenhoe

SHANROE can complete the hat-trick. A triple Bumper winner, he was beaten long distances initially over hurdles (albeit he ran in a hot Grade 2 in January) but returned to form with a flat win at Limerick and a handicap hurdle win at Tipperary. He has been raised 12lbs for that Tipperary win and while he looks capable of defying that, is further aided by today's rider's very useful 5lbs claim. Whatsinthecorner is himself 7lbs higher than when winning at Bellewstown recently and while his revised 110 rating is the same as his chase mark, he is far more exposed than the selection and might struggle to follow-up. Getaway Katie has previously raced for Paul Nolan and Willie Mullins, for whom she won at Ballinrobe last September but is absent since then which won't held on handicap debut today. Farid has very much disappointed in his Irish career thus far, having won a French bumper on debut in April 2018 but, as a result, has been handed a 115 rating, which is surely workable. More was clearly thought of him in the past (he was a beaten 30/100f on hurdles debut in December 2018) and while his latest runs were on testing ground, he nonetheless looks best watched on a contrasting sound surface today. Barwell was a good maiden hurdle winner who has shown some useful handicap form but lacks a recent run while Lucky Phil reverts form chasing having fallen at Tipperary latest but has shown some useful handicap form in the past and is helped by her rider's 5lbs claim.
Prediction : 1st Shanroe 2nd Getaway Katie 3rd Farid

JACK HACKETT can turn previous placings with Felino De Bersy and win. Jack Hackett is already a proven stayer, being a point-to-point winner and 2m3f bumper winner and while he has yet to win in six hurdle outings, has shown promise on occasions. He was 0.25L behind Felino De Bersy when the pair met at Downpatrick recently, but today's extra two furlongs will suit the selection who now meets Felino De Bersy on notable 15lbs better terms. Nero Rock is rated 116 and while he pulled up on his only previous start at 2m4f, that was when pulling up at Wexford last October and is better judged on more promising runs. His latest run at Thurles was a useful effort (the winner is smart) and it is also notable he was second in a maiden hurdle at this venue on a sound surface in May 2019. Chead Solas was a bumper winner in November 2018 but has presumably met with setbacks since then (he had a 279 days absence). Today is his third hurdle start and is also his first since being well beaten at Gowran last October, so is possibly best watched for now.
Prediction : 1st Jack Hackett 2nd Felino De Bersy 3rd Chead Solas

It is unlikely GUNFIRE REEF (was also engaged to run at Limerick on Thursday) has found big improvement aged 10 but he comes here in excellent form and connections have found an ideal opportunity for him to gain a first hurdle win. Both his wins were gained over fences and while successful initially in November 2018, ended a losing run with a comfortable win at Tipperary on Sunday. His new chase mark of 115 is now 23lbs higher than this current hurdles mark and while he has failed to win in seven previous hurdles, this looks an ordinary contest and he should take beating. Ruler Of Dubai is very interesting in that he is unexposed. He bumped into a well handicapped winner when third on handicap debut at Tipperary last month and having now proven himself at this trip in handicaps, could be the type to win races. Fu's Island has been a fine servant, having won five times but was well held at Tramore on her recent reappearance run. Deauville Society wasn't beaten far in a similar race at Tramore recently and has place claims.
Prediction : 1st Gunfire Reef 2nd Ruler Of Dubai 3rd Fus Island

MY LOVELY BOY and Naturally Blonde were placed behind Pilbara over 3m at Tipperary, and obviously faced an impossible task with the winner (fancied in the next at 7.15) having gone up 20lbs in the ratings for a facile success. The selection had also run well over this trip at Punchestown in the spring, and his rider Gavin Brouder was one of the 'finds' amongst the claiming riders last season. Naturally Blond went on to bump into another well-treated sort at Tramore and went down by just a short head, so comes here in great heart. Fleurys Fort is a six-time winner over flights and is still on a competitive mark to judge by his two most recent starts, while Oromo registered two recent Flat wins at Fairyhouse but his best hurdles form has been over 2m. Winsor Vixen made a good start for her new trainer when third at Kilbeggan, with Fleurys Fort just behind her in fourth.
Prediction : 1st My Lovely Boy 2nd Naturally Blond 3rd Fleurys Fort

Any horse going up 20lbs in the ratings for a win is, by definition, going to face a much stiffer task next time out, but facile Tipperary winner PILBARA might be up to it. He was backed off the boards when showing much improved form then to win by seven lengths, with Double Windsor fourth (hugely better off at the weights here). Limerick winner Hello Pilgrim was soundly beaten at Ballinrobe on Wednesday, while Earl Of Desmond takes a big step up in trip having run a close third in a maiden at Roscommon. Rebel Waltz was a faller over fences last weekend, but his last run over hurdles saw him chase home subsequent winner Bread And Butter at Tipperary. Shannon Fields should come on a bit from his third at Tipperary last month and is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Pilbara 2nd Hello Pilgrim 3rd Earl Of Desmond

ANNIE G made a good start to her career when fourth against geldings at Tipperary, and the winner that day Mr Jackman followed up at Gowran. Second in a 3-y-o bumper at Exeter last year for Harry Kelly, Finest Evermore has now joined Willie Mullins and is respected, while Kalinda was well-backed before her debut fourth at Limerick. Newcomers to note are Bally Dun Liss, Abunchofmemories, Serenisa and Black Op's half-sister April's Moon in what looks a very competitive bumper.
Prediction : 1st Annie G 2nd Finest Evermore 3rd Kalinda