12:15 Cork

Leg 1 Selections: Blood Destiny 

This isn’t as competitive as the numbers suggest and this could go to Willie Mullins’ BLOOD DESTINY, who shaped well when second on his only previous start in France and that form has worked out well with the third boosting the form since. He could be a Triumph Hurdle horse for connections and is likely to be a warm-favourite for this race, so he should therefore prove difficult to beat in the opener here. 

12:45 Cork

Leg 2 Selections: Mercurey

Willie Mullins’ MERCUREY absolutely bolted up on his debut in a bumper and while he was turned over at short-odds next time, he retains potential and could be smart in this sphere. He will make a fine chaser in time for connections but he should prove to be just as effective over hurdles and is expected to take the spoils and hand both Sean O’Keeffe and Willie Mullins a double in the first two races. 

13:15 Cork

Leg 3 Selections: Monbeg Park 

MONBEG PARK showed a lot of promise in bumpers, winning once and placing twice from his three starts and ran a promising race on his hurdles to finish second to Affordale Fury, who would have gone close in a Grade Three next time until falling at the last hurdle. This five-year-old, however, comfortably went one better when last spotted and, with the best form on offer, he is the one to beat. 

13:45 Cork

Leg 4 Selections: Impervious 

IMPERVIOUS won her first three starts over hurdles last season, including a Grade Three, and then wasn’t disgraced in Grade One/Grade Two events the next three times. She won her chase debut in very good style in October, where her jumping was very assured, and she is open to further improvement. This is a high-class mares’ chase event as her two nearest rivals in the betting, Dinoblue and Instit are equally classy, but Colm Murphy’s charge shades the vote. 

14:20 Cork

Leg 5 Selections: Energumene

It is great to see the return of Champion Chaser ENERGUMENE who is impossible to oppose as he bids to win this for a second year in a row. He has won seven of his eight chase starts and bagged another Grade One on his final start last term when easily brushing aside stablemate Chacun Pour Soi. He is expected to outclass these. Master McShee is a good horse in his own right though who won a Grade One last December and can chase home the former here. 
 

14:50 Cork

Leg 6 Selections: Gorgeous Suspect, Krabat

GORGEOUS SUSPECT made the frame in his first two starts and while he could only manage seventh on his return, he’s expected to leave that run behind him and be competitive on his handicap debut. KRABAT has to shoulder top-weight but a good claimer has been booked to ride and he must have solid claims of at least making the frame here. I’ll be surprised if one of these doesn’t end up in the shake-up in the outcome of this wide-open contest.