UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

AURORA VEGA, a sister to the recently ill-fated four-time Grade 1 winner Facile Vega, can take this winnable maiden on hurdling debut. The daughter of Walk In The Park won her first three starts in bumpers last year, including a Grade 3 at Gowran, and performed well in defeat in two other Graded contests in the spring. Folly Beach is a fair stayer on the Flat and went close on hurdles debut at Tipperary last month. She didn't land a blow at Killarney last time and now drops back in trip. Jana Colombe, a sister to top-class chaser Gerri Colombe, ran respectably in a Sligo bumper on debut and may fare better over obstacles.
Prediction : 1st Aurora Vega 2nd Folly Beach 3rd Jana Colombe

SPY had run creditably a few times on the Flat before switching back to hurdles at Killarney, where he made late headway into sixth. Charles Byrnes' five-year-old was unfancied on that occasion and market support would be significant. The selection is unexposed in this sphere and may be able to handle this slight step up in class. Flidais has been consistent in similar contests this year and had Only One Plan back in third when gaining a first win in handicap company at Ballinrobe. The form of Makfils' breakthrough win at Punchestown in May has worked out and he will be better suited by this right-handed track than when finishing behind a couple of these rivals at Tipperary.
Prediction : 1st Spy 2nd Flidais 3rd Makfils

An ordinary contest can go the way of IMPAKT ST GEORGES, who has acquired a fair bit of experience and ran well when fourth at Wexford last time. The Coastal Path gelding wasn't far off a 109-rated rival, who finished a place ahead of him, and stepping back up in trip should suit. Huntsgrove was placed in a couple of bumpers last year and has run creditably in his first two starts over hurdles. John Ryan's runner was returning from a long absence when chasing home two useful performers at Ballinrobe last month. Confidential Gosip has twice run well over 2m4f at Bellewstown this year and now takes a big drop in trip after an unplaced run at Killarney.
Prediction : 1st Impakt St Georges 2nd Huntsgrove 3rd Confidential Gosip

Lightly raced for his age, LISPENDENSE has run OK a couple of times over hurdles and may be capable of taking this on handicap debut. Denis Cullen's charge has won a bumper and ran well in a Flat handicap at Tipperary last summer. The Arcano gelding appreciates a bit of decent ground so connections will be hoping the rain stays away. A point-to-point winner in May, Onefortheditch had Mist On The Bog back in third when getting off the mark under Rules at Kilbeggan last month and the Shirocco mare is open to further improvement. Ask Cillian went close on handicap debut over 2m5f at Ballinrobe in May and a leading rider now takes over in the saddle.
Prediction : 1st Lispendense 2nd Onefortheditch 3rd Ask Cillian

THE STRIKER DYLAN showed much improved form on his third start in handicaps when touched off at Wexford last month and Liam Cusack's charge can go one better. Well supported in the market on that occasion, the Affinisea gelding stayed on well and this step up in trip can bring forth further improvement. Say It So, placed in staying contests on the Flat on his last two starts, was fourth in a higher grade at Tipperary when last seen over hurdles and is another likely to be suited by this longer trip. Moulane West was rated a lot higher in the past and ran his best race for his current yard when a well-backed third at Sligo in June.
Prediction : 1st The Striker Dylan 2nd Say It So 3rd Moulane West

Smart chaser SAINT SAM won a conditions chase on the final day of last year's Galway Festival, but connections swerved Ballybrit this time to come here. A Grade 2 winner at Gowran in February, the seven-year-old was a good second to prolific stablemate Easy Game at Listowel last time. He hasn't run over hurdles for well over a year, but is nicely in at the weights and can make all. Beacon Edge retains plenty of ability and was a creditable fourth in a valuable handicap at Galway on Saturday. He would prefer further, but won over this trip at Ballinrobe in May. Tag Man, who beat a useful rival in a novice chase at Clonmel in June, looks next best.
Prediction : 1st Saint Sam 2nd Beacon Edge 3rd Tag Man

KING FERDINAND won over hurdles and fences at Tipperary last summer before being touched off in this race at his local track. The Milan gelding wasn't seen until last month, when running without his usual tongue-tie at Tipperary. That outing will help to have him spot-on for this and, with the breathing aid reapplied, he can gain compensation for last year's narrow reversal. Harley Street was fourth of 20 in a Galway handicap on the opening day of the Festival. The five-year-old is unexposed over hurdles and stepping back up in trip should suit. Aussie Warrior, a couple of places behind Harley Street at Ballybrit, had been runner-up in his previous two starts and is another who merits consideration if turning up after Sunday's Galway engagement.
Prediction : 1st King Ferdinand 2nd Harley Street 3rd Aussie Warrior

Killarney runner-up Ballysax Hank looks best of those with form, but this is likely to go to a newcomer and KING PEAK gets the vote to uphold family honour. The Mount Nelson gelding is a half-brother to a string of bumper winners, including smart types Blackstairmountain and Mt Leinster, and can take this for the champion trainer. Joseph O'Brien, fresh from winning the Galway Hurdle, fits a hood on Walk On The Beach, which suggests the five-year-old is a keen-going type. It will be interesting to see how strong he is in the market in relation to the selection. Champagne Mal represents a yard that has sent out two winners and a second from their last three runners in bumpers.
Prediction : 1st King Peak 2nd Walk On The Beach 3rd Champagne Mal