UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

TRANQUIL SEA has plenty of experience over hurdles and appears to have found a decent opportunity to open his account. The son of Teofilo was only beaten half-a-length by Eagles Reign at Punchestown and the winner went on to finish a highly creditable second at the Cheltenham Festival. He also filled the runner-up spot behind hotpot Angostura in a Gowran maiden earlier this month. Malbay Madness has earned a rating in the 80s following two wins on the Flat including at the Galway Festival last summer and was quite highly tried on his only hurdle start in a Listed race at Auteuil. Firebrand showed some promise on the Flat in France and wasn't disgraced on his hurdle debut at Fairyhouse while Shahbaz and Park That are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Tranquil Sea 2nd Malbay Madness 3rd Firebrand

SIR GERHARD looks the one they all have to beat. The three-time Grade 1 winner landed both the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and, after some disappointments over fences, successfully reverted to hurdles at Punchestown this winter. He appeared not to get the trip last time in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham and is well treated here at the weights. Call Me Lyreen won a valuable handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival back in 2022 but has been soundly beaten both over hurdles and fences in the past year. Sempo was fifth behind Freewheelin Dylan in the Irish Grand National but now reappears after nearly three years on the sidelines, while Doyen Ta Win likes to force the pace and has won three handicaps at a low level.
Prediction : 1st Sir Gerhard 2nd Call Me Lyreen 3rd Doyen Ta Win

CAST A SPELL won a bumper at Southwell last summer for Gary Moore and appeared to show much improved form over hurdles when fourth to Birdie Or Bust in a Listed mares novice at Thurles just before Christmas. A reproduction of that latest effort would leave her hard to beat although this testing ground is a concern. Jokers 'n' Clowns won a point-to-point at Tattersalls Farm but weakened on the run-in when runner-up to Queen Nel in a Gowran maiden hurdle on very heavy ground earlier this month. Lep Around is another point-to-point winner to consider having also filled the runner-up spot both in a bumper and over hurdles, while Smiling Bess and Royal Cave are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Cast A Spell 2nd Jokers n Clowns 3rd Lep Around

NOW IS THE HOUR fell when holding a clear lead two out in a 2m3f Limerick maiden hurdle at Christmas but has made amends winning both outings since including an impressive success in a Grade 2 novice hurdle over three miles at Haydock. This drop back in trip may not be ideal switching to fences but on the plus side he handles heavy ground really well and showed smart form in point-to-points. An Epic Song was probably the pick of these over hurdles having been just touched off by Langer Dan in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last year but he's been lightly raced since and jumped left when well beaten on his debut over fences at Punchestown. Fortunedefortunata and point-to-point winner Extrapolation have both won three times under Rules and merit respect.
Prediction : 1st Now Is The Hour 2nd An Epic Song 3rd Fortunedefortunata

This ought to be a confidence-boosting success for ASTERION FORLONGE, who reverts to fences having finished a creditable sixth in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham 17 days ago. He's not the most reliable at times, but the 10-year-old retains plenty of ability and, given a clean round of jumping, ought to have far too much for Lucid Dreams, who has been coming up short at this level and is rated 15lb inferior.
Prediction : 1st Asterion Forlonge 2nd Lucid Dreams 3rd null

Having finished a creditable third in the Boyne Hurdle, DA CAPO GLORY was far from disgraced in the Coral Cup next time out. The son of Fame And Glory can now take advantage of using his Irish handicap mark and, in a less-competitive heat, he could regain the winning sequence. Top-weight Ashdale Bob makes significant appeal with 7lb claimer Conor Smithies aboard, while Shadow Rider, who bolted up at Fairyhouse in February, remains in contention, despite a 10lb hike in the ratings.
Prediction : 1st Da Capo Glory 2nd Ashdale Bob 3rd Shadow Rider

There was a lot to like about the manner in which LOVELY REACTION asserted herself when she was asked to win the race at Leopardstown at the start of this month and a 9lb higher mark might not prevent the mare from following up here. That performance reads well in the context of the task in hand here and although Jerk and Thedancingfarrier also rate highly on the back of successful performances, neither caught the eye as much as the selection.
Prediction : 1st Lovely Reaction 2nd Jerk 3rd Thedancingfarrier

There is a tried and trusted formula being put to the test here as Willie Mullins sends out an unraced individual who boasts a live chance of making a winning debut on paper. A 95,000 euros-purchase, JACKSON WOOD is the one to fly the flag for the Closutton powerhouse yard and the son of Al Namix is too difficult to ignore. Churchroad Prince showed promise on his hurdling debut at Punchestown in January and has to be of interest back in this sphere, while Donnie Devito is another potential improver to bear in mind.
Prediction : 1st Jackson Wood 2nd Churchroad Prince 3rd Donnie Devito