UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

BAD DESIRE chased home a useful Ballydoyle-trained colt on his debut at Galway in August and, although last of six, wasn't beaten all that far in a Group 3 at Chantilly the following month. He represents an in-form trainer/jockey combination and sets the standard while any further rain that falls will be to his advantage. Super Sox, third at Dundalk earlier in the month, is speedily bred so stepping up in trip by a furlong isn't sure to suit but Paddy Twomey rarely makes the wrong call in these matters and his strike-rate has been typically impressive in the opening weeks of the campaign. Ata Rangi ran well when fifth in a back-end Curragh maiden and is a likely improver while Help Me Rhonda cost 110,000gns as a yearling and is a half-sister to four winners.
Prediction : 1st Bad Desire 2nd Super Sox 3rd Ata Rangi

Dual winner KARLSBERG has finished second on her reappearance in each of the last two seasons so her absence since July is not a major concern. Shane Crawley's mare is back down in this grade for the first time since winning over 7f here in 2021 and may be able to take advantage under a claimer who has ridden winners for the yard. Martin and Wayne Hassett were narrowly denied a winner at Gowran on Wednesday and Magic Charm, a winner at the Curragh last term, should come on from his seasonal debut at that venue which saw him finish third in a big field in March. Toriangel has steadily come down the ratings but shaped with promise a few times last season while Spring Collection was narrowly denied at Naas two starts ago and has Colin Keane's assistance.
Prediction : 1st Karlsberg 2nd Magic Charm 3rd Toriangel

SUMIHA looked a promising type when winning a Curragh maiden over 1m2f in August and is taken to cope with the step up to stakes company. The daughter of Sea The Stars should have no problem with the extra quarter-mile and the filly she beat at the Curragh, Thunder Roll, went one better in a Listed contest at Galway next time. The latter lines up here under a 3lb penalty and had a good run in a Group 3 over course and distance earlier last year so merits plenty of respect. Countess Of Tyrone easily won a Galway maiden last summer and is another taking a big rise in class. The bare form is nothing special but respect for her trainer means she has to be on the shortlist. Trevaunance was a dual Group winner in France in 2022 and ran well in Group 1 company a couple of times last year. She didn't shine in two runs in Dubai in the spring but should be sharper for them.
Prediction : 1st Sumiha 2nd Countess Of Tyrone 3rd Trevaunance

LA JULIANA was beaten by Expecto last October but is marginally less exposed and steps up in distance on her first start aged three. Out of a half-sister to a Group 1 winner, she gained her handicap mark over shorter distances last year, can progress and is 4lb better off with Expecto than at Gowran. Expecto herself steps up in distance and achieved her rating from sprint maiden distances and can also progress. Natural Ruler was a beaten odds-on favourite in a recent Dundalk handicap and while well held by the easy winner, steps up markedly in distance which might bring about improvement. Gregorinaran ran well at Dundalk recently but is a 13-race maiden while Jurality is tried in first-time blinkers and Dont Do Dramas steps up in distance.
Prediction : 1st La Juliana 2nd Expecto 3rd Natural Ruler

HIGHBURY cost 650,000 euros as a yearling and is out of a Group 3-winning dam whose own granddam was champion American filly Surfside. The Ballydoyle runner has obligatory entries in the Epsom and Irish Derbys and could be smart. Himalayan Heights ran quite well on probably unsuitably testing ground on Leopardstown debut. There are plenty of French stakes performers in his pedigree and he could put his experience to good use. Aztec Sun is from an Aga Khan pedigree, is a half-brother to a Group 2 winner with his dam being a half-sister to a Group 1 winner. He was well held on Dundalk debut last November but shaped nicely and should improve. Royal Entry (wearing an eye-shield) is a sister to two black-type performers including Group 3 winner Smash Williams while Birdman is out of a winning half-sister to two Group 3 winners including Elusive Pimpernel. Frankel-sired Alonzo was reported to have 'lost his action shortly after leaving the starting stalls' when pulled up last year and is second-string today.
Prediction : 1st Highbury 2nd Himalayan Heights 3rd Aztec Sun

Homeless Songs' brother SPOKEN TRUTH ran well on debut last October. That Leopardstown form is nothing outstanding albeit the winner is now rated 91, but the selection wasn't beaten far and ran quite well to the line, suggesting he will improve for a trainer who sent Harzand to win a course-and-distance maiden in the past. Bacchanalian is by a top stallion and himself ran well at the Curragh last October. That winner was subsequently Group 1-placed and he too is open to plenty progression. Psalm is experienced and finished ahead of subsequent maiden winner Agenda last October but is vulnerable to smart types and runs in a first-time tongue-tie. Slaney Swagger has a race-fitness edge and has place claims while homebred Maharajjah is a half-brother to four winners.
Prediction : 1st Spoken Truth 2nd Bacchanalian 3rd Psalm

STROMBERG showed good juvenile form and drops in grade on reappearance. He won by huge margins at Galway and Roscommon last year and while beaten in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes, met some interference and wasn't beaten too far by smart types. The selection also has plenty of big-race entries. Frankel-sired Euphoric is similarly well-entered and won on October debut. The runner-up has won twice subsequently and while Euphoric is open to more progression, nonetheless meets a capable selection. Neski Sherelski defeated a subsequent all-weather maiden winner on Dundalk debut in January but faces a stiffer test and is second-string. Messerschmitt has size and should progress but steps up from his Thurles debut dead-heat win. Bremen was unable for stakes level last autumn and has a bit to find.
Prediction : 1st Stromberg 2nd Euphoric 3rd Neski Sherelski

The race-fit TAKE HEART finished mid-field in the recent Lincoln and should be much better suited to this drier ground. Ideally suited by this distance, he ran well in another valuable Curragh handicap last September and reverts to that same distance. Notstringattached is also suited by this distance. Her form is largely on easy ground but was placed on yielding and, being somewhat unexposed as a lightly-raced type, can progress. Cristal Clere seems ground-versatile and while he has top weight, today's same rider was unable to claim his 7lb allowance when finishing fourth at Listed level recently, for which he has been raised 2lb. Jaafel's show-price collapsed from 9/1 to even-money favourite at Dundalk during madcap Cheltenham-week but was well held in that Claimer and is a 19-race turf maiden who runs for a new trainer. Reappearing Mr King has form but doesn't look ahead off the handicapper while Derry Lad reverts from hurdling last Christmas. This distance will stretch seven-time winner May Night's stamina and he is 3lb out of the handicap.
Prediction : 1st Take Heart 2nd Nostringsattached 3rd Cristal Clere