UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

SEA GARDENS showed potential on debut and can turn around form with Walsingham. By Siyouni and out of a Group 3-winning half-sister to Lope De Vega, he was beaten a half-length having headed Walsingham in the closing stages of that Leopardstown race, but ran a little green and should improve. Walsingham is reliable, but is vulnerable to smart types. Well-bred The Black Tiger flopped on debut 16 days ago and while reported to have 'coughed a few times' post-race, he was also reported to have been struck into, so should leave that form well behind. Dutch Gold was capable last year but faces a stiff task on reappearance.
Prediction : 1st Sea Gardens 2nd Walsingham 3rd The Black Tiger

SKONTONOVSKI has been well beaten on recent runs but is a six-time winner who is ideally suited by a mile, with drying ground a help. His Dundalk form this winter is useful and while well beaten at Bellewstown, was unsuited by heavy ground and has dropped to a workable mark under his 5lb claimer. Asisaid beat Patrick Street to win at Leopardstown, but disappointed badly since and is now tried in first-time cheekpieces, with both horses being well beaten by the selection on one previous clash each. Sondheim is capable at this level, but was well held on his most recent start and most of his form is at seven furlongs. Dual Dundalk winner Leclerc has yet to win on turf and was bogged down on heavy at Leopardstown, but will appreciate drying ground. Pallasmore Lass seemed to stay this mile last September, but is nonetheless an 18-race maiden.
Prediction : 1st Skontonovski 2nd Asisaid 3rd Patrick Street

OTTILIEN is a high-class recruit for Joseph O'Brien and can give away a 3lb penalty and win. A sister to Group 1 winner Morandi and bought for 600,000 euros last December, her UK and French form is strong and concluded last year with a Group 1 runner-up effort in the Prix de Royallieu. Her lack of a recent run is a concern, but she is ground-versatile and likes this distance. Term Of Endearment was quite progressive last year and seemed to improve at this distance at Naas in October. She holds Moracana, Venice Biennale and Irish Lullaby on previous meetings and can give the selection most to worry about. Annervillle was well beaten in recent runs at Meydan, but finished second in last year's renewal (Venice Biennale fourth) and is race-fit. Star Image and Zola Sakura are closely matched on heavy-ground form last November and while both are ground-versatile, Zola Sakura is race-fit. Icykel steps up from a maiden win.
Prediction : 1st Ottilien 2nd Term Of Endearment 3rd Annerville

INTELLOTTO showed promise last year. He was a little short of room on his Curragh debut and then ran well in a smart Punchestown maiden, with plenty of winners and placed-horses finishing behind. Irish Derby-entered, he will be suited by this distance. The third-placed Punchestown horse subsequently beat Sea Legend at Killarney in October and Sea Legend runs in a first-time tongue-tie on reappearance. The well-bred Nation's Call was beaten by a smart winner at Navan, with both finishing well clear of the remainder (Sixpack fourth). He holds Epsom and Irish Derby entries and has a race-fitness advantage. Squire Danagher was well enough held on debut at Gowran but nonetheless showed promise and can improve, while Kingswood ran well in a lesser maiden at Tipperary last year. Mr King runs in a tongue-tie having disappointed on debut.
Prediction : 1st Intellotto 2nd Sea Legend 3rd Nations Call

LARK IN THE MORNIN shaped with promise when winning on debut and can step forward. From a good German pedigree and out of a half-sister to a German Derby winner, he beat a subsequent dual winner at Listowel and should improve considerably. Alder was Group 2-placed last year and while a smart type, the selection is open to more improvement. Bertinelli showed promise on debut and while workmanlike in winning at Dundalk, has an excellent pedigree and should improve with racing. Serious Challenge is held by Alder on Leopardstown form while Starry Heavens, out of an unraced half-sister to Alpha Centauri, was well held at Group 3 level last October and faces a tough task.
Prediction : 1st Lark In The Mornin 2nd Alder 3rd Bertinelli

DUBAWI SPECTRE is a six-race maiden, but he has form and bumped into a well-handicapped winner in February. By Dubawi and out of a Group 3 winner, the winner of his Dundalk run is now rated 9lb higher and he seemed to stay 1m2f. Evening's Empire beat the selection at Listowel last September but while race-fit, doesn't appear as progressive. Matt Connor ran well from his rating at Dundalk recently and further progression is possible at this trip. Givemefive may have been bogged down on heavy ground when well backed at Bellewstown but has plenty to prove from 1lb lower and without his rider's 10lb claim, running in cheekpieces. Eastern Legend and Union Flag have some form in smart maidens and debut in handicaps, while Western Cape was third in a recent claimer.
Prediction : 1st Dubawi Spectre 2nd Evenings Empire 3rd Eastern Legend

SMOOTH TOM finished behind Timourid and New Hill at Leopardstown but might turn the form around, having encountered traffic. Suited by conditions, the selection is 2lb worse off with Timourid (whose rider claims 5lb) and 3lb better off with New Hill, but with a smooth passage, could beat both. Mashhoor was probably unsuited by testing conditions in the Lincoln and will appreciate both drying ground and this extra distance. Cold Steel met some trouble in-running at Dundalk recently and while a dual all-weather winner, could be suited by reverting to the turf, with further progression possible. Giladah finished sixth in a Hanover Listed race in October and has claims on her best form, which was over slightly shorter. Vellner debuts in handicaps but is long absent and reappears in a first-time tongue-tie. Top-weight Sionnach Eile reappears over a distance which is short of his best.
Prediction : 1st Smooth Tom 2nd Timourid 3rd Mashhoor