UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

HARSH showed promise on the Flat including when just denied on testing ground over 1m4f at the Listowel Festival and there was plenty to like about his hurdle debut at Punchestown last month. The Dark Angel gelding nearly lost his rider at the first hurdle and didn't enjoy a clear passage in the straight before staying on nicely into third behind the impressive Mighty Bandit. Stablemate Jeaniemacaroney may provide the chief threat. She won a barrier trial and was placed a couple of times on the Flat and has taken well to hurdles keeping on well into third behind Semblance Of Order at Punchestown with Timeless Piece, successful twice on the Flat, close behind in fourth. Evening's Empire won a two-year-old maiden on soft ground at the Galway Festival and is another to note on her hurdle debut.
Prediction : 1st Harsh 2nd Jeaniemacaroney 3rd Timeless Piece

WESTERN DIEGO won his only point-to-point start in good style and was a useful sort in bumpers last season scoring in decisive fashion over 2m3f at Naas. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was far from disgraced in the Cheltenham Festival bumper and is an exciting recruit to hurdles. No Time To Wait impressed in a Down Royal bumper and is closely matched with the selection on running in the aforementioned Cheltenham Grade 1, but was soundly beaten along with Raglan Road and Teuchters Glory in the maiden hurdle won by Ile Atlantique on heavy ground at Gowran last month. Teuchters Glory won two bumpers and probably boasts the best piece of form over hurdles with his third to Spillane's Tower at Naas last spring, while Old Port holds a rating in the 90s on the Flat
Prediction : 1st Western Diego 2nd Raglan Road 3rd No Time To Wait

There is little to choose between Solitary Man and WHAT PATH judged on filling the first two places in a Listed race over C&D last month. The selection, who won twice over this trip earlier in the season, is not the most fluent of jumpers and was again let down in that department at a crucial stage last time. Search For Glory was highly tried over hurdles last season and took advantage of a good opportunity in a Galway maiden this autumn before placed behind better fancied stablemate Croke Park in a 2m4f Navan Grade 3 last time. Mahon's Way won his only point-to-point start in good style last year and successfully switched to hurdles over 2m3f at Naas last month. He should be suited by this step up in trip.
Prediction : 1st What Path 2nd Solitary Man 3rd Mahons Way

HARMONYA MAKER likes to force the pace and easily won twice over hurdles at Fairyhouse last season. The daughter of Saddler Maker may prove even better over fences as she jumped well and handled heavy ground when beating Brandy Love by 11 lengths at Gowran last month. Willie Mullins mounts a strong challenge with three useful mares including Hauturiere who also won twice over hurdles last term including a Listed race at Punchestown. She's been given a summer break since winning easily on her chase debut at Killarney in May. Zenta showed smart form in juvenile hurdles last season winning a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse and, after filling third spot behind stablemate Lossiemouth in the Triumph Hurdle, landed a Grade 1 at Aintree.
Prediction : 1st Harmonya Maker 2nd Hauturiere 3rd Zenta

EL FABIOLO is already a short price for the Champion Chase in March and it would be a major shock if he couldn't make a winning return here. The Spanish Moon gelding swept all before him in a faultless novice campaign last season, with the most impressive performance coming at Cheltenham where he ran out a convincing winner over Jonbon. With stablemate Energumene out for the season this division looks at his mercy. Even giving weight away to his rivals he still has a fair bit in hand. Vanillier is next best on official ratings but needs a good bit further than this to be seen at his best. Fil Dor may be the one to chase him home. He has already posted a decent effort this season, when second to Dinoblue in Naas.
Prediction : 1st El Fabiolo 2nd Fil Dor 3rd Vanillier

EL FABIOLO is already a short price for the Champion Chase in March and it would be a major shock if he couldn't make a winning return here. The Spanish Moon gelding swept all before him in a faultless novice campaign last season, with the most impressive performance coming at Cheltenham where he ran out a convincing winner over Jonbon. With stablemate Energumene out for the season this division looks at his mercy. Even giving weight away to his rivals he still has a fair bit in hand. Vanillier is next best on official ratings but needs a good bit further than this to be seen at his best. Fil Dor may be the one to chase him home. He has already posted a decent effort this season, when second to Dinoblue in Naas.
Prediction : 1st Ricky Bobby 2nd The Banger Doyle 3rd Skinnider

MAGIC CONQUEROR wouldn't be winning out of turn here after a couple of good runner-up efforts. The Presenting mare chased home Blossom De Mai at Tramore 12 days ago and is now 5lb better off with that rival. She didn't do much wrong the last day and has been generally consistent so deserves her turn. Blossom De Mai came wide, maybe on slightly better ground, last time and was a good winner at the line. That was a big improvement and it will be interesting to see if she can back it up. C'est Rien, who was fourth in that Tramore race, is another that has to come into calculations.
Prediction : 1st Magic Conqueror 2nd Blossom De Mai 3rd Cest Rien