UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

POWERFUL NATION should benefit from his career debut over C&D recently and looks quite capable. He showed some signs of greenness pre-race but ran well when failing by a short-head to concede 4lb to the winner. Ballydoyle's Alfred Tennyson was a 220,000gns yearling purchase and boasts a top pedigree, with his grand-dam a winner of the Cheveley Park. He could be smart but meets an experienced selection. Shamrock Breeze was a 100,000-pound breeze-up purchase on April 24 and it is very encouraging to see her debut so soon.
Prediction : 1st Powerful Nation 2nd Alfred Tennyson 3rd Shamrock Breeze

OHAILBHIC met trouble in-running when finishing strongly at Naas recently and appears nicely handicapped. He was a capable performer at Dundalk last winter and having been blocked in his run last time, the son of Exceed And Excel is now proven on turf and should progress. Branding is closely matched with the selection on a Dundalk maiden meeting last December but that was the selection's debut run. Michael O'Callaghan's colt was himself a good handicap winner over this distance at Navan recently but is now 13lb higher. Kendall Roy is unbeaten in three handicap runs, all at this distance, and may well have more to offer.
Prediction : 1st Ohailbhic 2nd Branding 3rd Kendall Roy

ANNIE EDSON TAYLOR hasn't run since October but showed solid form on her latest run at Navan. The form was significantly boosted by the winner scoring twice subsequently and improving his rating to 87, while the well-held third also won subsequently and is now rated 73. Ojw Legacy is herself a proven and consistent performer and has recent form. Despite being rated 2lb higher than the lesser-exposed selection, her form possibly isn't as strong but can be counted upon to run her usual race. Cuban Confusion raced too keenly when last seen at Dundalk but may benefit from dropping in trip.
Prediction : 1st Annie Edson Taylor 2nd Ojw Legacy 3rd Cuban Confusion

SUMMER SNOW was beaten two lengths under a 7lb penalty at Naas last month, but she has better recent form than most of her rivals and is suited by conditions. She won at this distance five days prior at Gowran Park and might fare better having had a longer break between races. Run Forrest Run is a five-time winner and while he has been running over shorter trips recently, he won twice at this distance in 2021 and is ground-versatile. Veteran Shawaamekh has run well twice already this season and while suited by this distance, drying ground is a concern.
Prediction : 1st Summer Snow 2nd Run Forrest Run 3rd Shawaamekh

TIMANA has run well in two maidens thus far and debuts in handicaps. She lacks a recent run and wears first-time cheekpieces against more experienced rivals, but her February form was boosted by the runner-up winning a recent maiden, which suggests she might be nicely treated rated 69. The Bear Trap is in form, ground-versatile and has gone well at this distance but is nonetheless an 11-race maiden who might bump into one or two too strong. Dream Ticket missed the break when disappointing on her latest run at Dundalk in December but had previously shown good form in nurseries and should be well suited by a sounder surface.
Prediction : 1st Timana 2nd The Bear Trap 3rd Dream Ticket

FAMILIAR DREAMS became a rare four-time bumper winner when landing a Grade 3 at the recent Punchestown Festival and debuts for new connections, having sold the following day for 310,000 euros. Initially a 4,000gns purchase as an unraced three-year-old from Roger Varian, she has smart ability and should be fine at middle-distances. Sixandahalf finished second to the selection in March when in receipt of 21lb and showed improvement to also win at Punchestown. A National Hunt-bred, she might struggle to reverse placings from level weights but is expected to give a decent account. Bloom Vega is out of a Listed winner and ran really well on Curragh debut and while the third-placed horse was beaten since, she is open to improvement.
Prediction : 1st Familiar Dreams 2nd Sixandahalf 3rd Bloom Vega

PASCALIA has run well in 2024 and might be suited by stepping up in distance. There is plenty of speed in the dam's side but she saw out a mile quite well on testing ground at Cork last month, suggesting she could stay further. Dromore Glory returned from a huge 652-day layoff when finishing second over this distance at Dundalk last month and appears to still be fairly treated, with Colin Keane is a notable booking. Explorers Way's four wins were on the UK all-weather and he may step forward from his Irish return.
Prediction : 1st Pascalia 2nd Dromore Glory 3rd Explorers Way

NOT JUST ANY EAGLE's only previous win was gained over course-and-distance in July 2022 and the five-year-old has been running well in defeat in races since last July. Ground-versatile and well suited by this distance, this may be the opportunity for him to strike once again. One-time Barrier Trial winner Jeaniemacaroney is fit from hurdling and while she had form at this grade and over this distance last summer, continues to be frustrating to follow and is an 11-race maiden. Power Drive is rated just 2lb higher than when winning easily at this distance at Dundalk in April but the nine-year-old's seven wins have all come on the all-weather.
Prediction : 1st Not Just Any Eagle 2nd Jeaniemacaroney 3rd Power Drive