UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

NEW THEORY ran a lovely race on her debut at Navan and can go one better now. She came to dispute inside the final furlong then before losing out by a length-and-a-half to Camille Pissarro in the finish. With that run under her belt she looks the one to beat. Sir Yoshi was also second on his debut, when losing out by half a length to Proudly Yours at Dundalk last month. He was a touch green then and is entitled to improve. The Joseph O'Brien-trained newcomer, Barton Key, is one to note in the market. He is a half-brother to decent handicapper Apache Outlaw.
Prediction : 1st New Theory 2nd Sir Yoshi 3rd Barton Key

Better ground and a drop in trip should suit CHERRY BLOSSOM. The No Nay Never filly had some very strong juvenile form, finishing second in Group 2 company and a fine fourth in the Cheveley Park Stakes. She failed to make much impression over seven in heavy ground on her return at Leopardstown and it looks significant that connections revert to sprinting now. Navassa Island ran a solid race when fifth to Givemethebeatboys on her return at Navan just under two weeks ago and could be the danger now. Heart Of Darkness was value for a bit more than her winning margin in a Dundalk maiden last month and is a potential improver.
Prediction : 1st Cherry Blossom 2nd Navassa Island 3rd Heart Of Darkness

EMERALD BANNER had three good runner-up efforts last season and may be able to make a winning return here. The Starspangledbanner filly ran into some smart sorts, including subsequent Group 3 winner Prime Art, and looks the form choice off her mark of 86. Annie Edson Taylor was placed on both her starts last term and that form looks fairly solid. She looks like an obvious danger. Monasterboice already has a run under his belt, finishing a close third at the Curragh last month, and he also has to be on the shortlist, while Grand City Hall is another with placed form that has to come into calculations.
Prediction : 1st Emerald Banner 2nd Annie Edson Taylor 3rd Monasterboice

JANOOBI may be able to defy a hike for his comeback win at Naas in March. The Night Of Thunder gelding overcame a serious injury to get back on the track then and ran out a very cosy winner. He was good value for the subsequent 10lb rise and is still an unexposed horse despite being five. Stag Night has been in good form this season and is just 2lb higher having lost out narrowly at Naas last time. He looks like an obvious danger. Tango Flare heads the weights and had a couple of nice runs in stakes company last season. He could make a bold bid despite carrying 10 stone.
Prediction : 1st Janoobi 2nd Stag Night 3rd Tango Flare

SEA EAGLE ran a nice race on his first outing for Ger O'Leary at the Curragh last month and may be able to step forward now. He stayed on when a close fourth to Zephron then, over seven, and should appreciate stepping up again in trip. His sole win in England came on the all-weather so a better surface now may also help. Andalusian Star is unexposed on just her third career start and commands respect. She won a Dundalk maiden back in February and an initial mark of 76 here doesn't look harsh. May Night was also a winner last time, scoring over in Chelmsford in late March, and he also has to come into calculations.
Prediction : 1st Sea Eagle 2nd Andalusian Star 3rd May Night

PSALM may come forward a bit from his seasonal debut here a fortnight ago. He finished second to a useful looking type in Spoken Truth over course and distance and just couldn't match the winner late on then. With that run under his belt he should go close now. Bad Desire is rated 4lb superior by the handicapper and is another obvious contender. The Wootton Bassett colt finished third to Sharinay over a mile here on his return two weeks ago and may benefit from the step up in trip. Ozark Daze was second on the all-weather at Dundalk last month when sent to post a big price, and could get into the money again.
Prediction : 1st Psalm 2nd Bad Desire 3rd Ozark Daze

DECLAREE may be worth a shot here in an open looking maiden. She shaped with plenty of promise when third at Dundalk on her debut and should step forward from that initial effort. The Fastnet Rock filly disputed briefly inside the final furlong then and was only beaten just over a length-and-a-quarter by Higher Leaves. Harbour Gem sets the standard off a mark of 83. She hung to her left when seventh at Leopardstown last time and is capable of better than that showing. Lady Doris and Evening Blossom were second and third to Port Fairy at Dundalk last month and are others that have to come into the mix.
Prediction : 1st Declaree 2nd Harbour Gem 3rd Lady Doris

KILLEANEY BEAR was too free over a mile-and-a-half here a fortnight ago and dropping back in trip now should suit. The Kodi Bear gelding disputed turning for home then but was headed under two furlongs out and eventually finished fourth. He has shown enough to land a race of this standard. La Juliana was a couple of places behind the selection then and could be a danger now. She had been narrowly denied over a mile on her final start of last season and is another who may be better at this trip. Hanoi didn't run too badly when fifth at Dundalk on his most recent start and is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Killeaney Bear 2nd La Juliana 3rd Hanoi