UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

YESHIL, a half-brother to winning hurdlers in France, had 23 rivals behind when second in a valuable Punchestown Festival bumper in the spring and now makes his hurdling debut having switched yards. The Punchestown winner is due to begin his hurdling career at the same venue on Saturday. Willie Mullins had plenty entered for this and relies on Kirsca De Thaix. A half-sister to a pair of jumps winners in France, the daughter of Cokoriko was bought for 200,000 euro after winning a bumper over this trip at Le Mans just over a year ago. Firebrand, a winner on the level last month, was runner-up in a C&D maiden in March and can put his experience to good use.
Prediction : 1st Yeshil 2nd Kirsca De Thaix 3rd Firebrand

Not a lot of depth in this maiden and WORKAHEAD can make winning start under Rules despite a long absence. The half-brother to Grade 2-winning hurdler and useful chaser Bronn was a point-to-point winner for Colin Bowe in early 2023 and can take this on his debut for Henry de Bromhead. His Nibs, placed in three bumpers and a half-brother to a useful jumper in Britain, was beaten a long way when third at Galway last month but should progress from that seasonal/hurdling debut and the runner-up was narrowly beaten in another maiden next time out. Bumper winner Miss Mini Bee wears a hood on her hurdles debut, while Down Royal third Presenting Max could be place material.
Prediction : 1st Workahead 2nd His Nibs 3rd Presenting Max

STAR OFFICIAL hit a good vein of form on testing ground this time last year, including a victory over this trip at Thurles, and won't mind testing ground. The six-year-old has run respectably on his first two starts following a lengthy layoff and a more prominent showing can be expected here. Rockbrook produced a gritty front-running performance when winning in a higher grade at Galway and a 6lb rise looks fair. Ifitwasme, tailed off on the Flat last time, bolted up on his most recent hurdles outing at Listowel and can't be discounted back over flights. The long-absent Boghlone Honey has won her last two completed starts, while handicap debutant Tyson showed promise in his first couple of maidens.
Prediction : 1st Star Official 2nd Rockbrook 3rd Ifitwasme

CROSSING THE BAR, a three-time winner in Britain, was a little disappointing when favourite for at Sligo last month after catching the eye on his Irish debut at Clonmel. He has winning form on soft ground, may be better suited by this more galloping track and looks well handicapped at present. The unexposed Paddy's Milestone attracted plenty of market support when getting off the mark over this trip at Down Royal and can step forward again from that seasonal debut. Meehall won decisively at Galway last month but is markedly up in grade here and may have to settle for minor honours. Big Debates ran well for this rider in a valuable chase at this venue but his recent hurdles form is moderate.
Prediction : 1st Crossing The Bar 2nd Paddys Milestone 3rd Meehall

A Grade 1 juvenile hurdle winner, ZENTA was a creditable third in a Grade 2 on her chase debut here last December. Sent back hurdling after that, she ran respectably in a couple of top handicaps but disappointed when odds-on for her second chase start at Ballinrobe in May. She has won when fresh and now steps up in trip which is unlikely to be an issue against this level of opposition. Majestic Force, fifth in the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham, easily won her only point-to-point and is interesting on chase debut. Iris Emery ran a useful gelding close over 3m at Fairyhouse, while Enjoy The Dream has run respectably on her first two outings over fences.
Prediction : 1st Zenta 2nd Majestic Force 3rd Iris Emery

The locally-trained NOBLE TALENT enters handicap company after landing a beginners' contest at Gowran in good style. Tom Nagle's charge will be better suited to softer ground here and has a nice racing weight with a talented claimer taking 5lb off. Falco Blitz won twice on winter ground early in the year and wasn't beaten far when fourth in the Munster National at Limerick last month. Battle It Out won easily at Naas in February and should be all the better for last month's return at Galway, where he shaped okay before unseating rider late on. In the same colours, Invictus Machin returns from a break since beating a subsequent winner over 3m1f at Kilbeggan.
Prediction : 1st Noble Talent 2nd Falco Blitz 3rd Battle It Out

EL CHAMPO represents a yard in good form and has plenty of experience. Runner-up to useful types three times in a row in early autumn, he wasn't beaten far when fourth in a useful Limerick handicap last month. Banjaxed also has the benefit of handicap experience and was second at Kilbeggan in the summer. He should be sharper for his comeback at Down Royal and he was badly hampered early in the contest. Chasing debutant Lightkeeper ran well over hurdles last time and has point-to-point experience. The Lovely Man showed promise without winning over hurdles and has shaped well in his first two chase starts, while point-to-point and hurdles winner Dancingondaceiling is another to note.
Prediction : 1st El Champo 2nd Banjaxed 3rd The Lovely Man