UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

DARK OAK showed useful form on the Flat last year, is helped by having recent hurdles form and is also suited by easy ground conditions. Generally consistent, she ran well on her jumps debut at Limerick last Christmas, with that race's runner-up subsequently boosting the form by scoring at Grade 3 level. She again ran well at that same course last month and can now put her experience to good use. Bumper winner Eternal Echo was himself placed at Limerick last March and while admittedly that was at Listed level, makes his jumps debut here. Jacko Star is open to plenty progression following a useful debut run.
Prediction : 1st Dark Oak 2nd Eternal Echo 3rd Jacko Star

KING OF KINGSFIELD has been employed as a pacemaker recently, including in last month's Champion Hurdle, but drops markedly in grade today. He was unable to sustain his gallop in Leopardstown and Cheltenham but will be far more restrained today. Joseph O'Brien won the Galway Hurdle with Nurburgring last summer and his Intellotto has a similar profile. He makes his seasonal reappearance though, and is also 14lb 'wrong' with the selection. Lincoln-placed Smooth Tom has recent form but needs to improve to win.
Prediction : 1st King Of Kingsfield 2nd Intellotto 3rd Smooth Tom

French import COLONIA VICTORIA ran well on her jumps debut last month. Much of her good pedigree is Flat-orientated, she herself finished fourth in a French Group 3 last November and boasts a half-brother who previously managed a Grade 1 hurdle success. The selection showed promise on jumps debut, is suited by easy ground and has proven stamina. Hurdling debutante Divaboriva hasn't run for almost a year but quickened well to win at Wexford last May, with the runner-up now being rated 125 over hurdles. Her lack of a recent run is an obvious concern but she is capable. Teenage Kiss showed promise in a recent point-to-point but steps up here.
Prediction : 1st Colonia Victoria 2nd Divaboriva 3rd Teenage Kiss

Most of GOD OF THUNDER's form is on a sound surface but he ran well on soft last month and also won at Limerick earlier this month. A dual Flat all-weather winner, the selection has recently progressed very well over hurdles and contested a useful Navan contest last month, from which two subsequent winners have emerged. He also defeated a subsequent scorer at Limerick and should compete from his revised rating. Goraibhmaithagat has run just three times over hurdles but has shown smart form and should be competitive under his 5lb claimer. Stablemates Addragoole and reappearing Tonaghneave Well have useful handicap form.
Prediction : 1st God Of Thunder 2nd Goraibhmaithagat 3rd Addragoole

Former point-to-point winner ROKATHIR returned to his best earlier this year and will be suited by both this distance and softening ground. He has been raised 12lb following his Punchestown win in February but scored easily on that occasion and may well have more in the tank. Cullig has more recent form, having won a course-and-distance handicap by 20 lengths in March before failing by just a short-head this month. She is 3lb higher than at Naas, but should continue to progress and is well suited by stamina tests. Getaway Charlie has won just once from 22 runs but ran well in a course-and-distance handicap last month.
Prediction : 1st Rokathir 2nd Cullig 3rd Getaway Charlie

Veteran ASTERION FORLONGE won last year's renewal so is likely to have had this race as a target. Although failing to scale the heights of the top races, he was a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler who showed smart form over fences and easily won last year's two-runner renewal of this race. He bumped into Hewick at Thurles last time and seems in good order. Younger Fil Dor has been busier but was hampered on more than one occasion when pulling up in the Grand National. His previous form was consistently useful and is helped by receiving 6lb from the selection. Mister Policeman has largely frustrated and while just a seven-year-old and returning following a long break, nonetheless pulled up on his last two runs.
Prediction : 1st Asterion Forlonge 2nd Fil Dor 3rd Mister Policeman

MIRAZUR WEST is a Grade 2-winning hurdler who might get his turn over fences here. A keen-goer who can also jump right, he was wayward on his chase debut at Tipperary in November before trying Grade 1 company at Christmas and disappointing last time at Thurles in February. He will appreciate going right-handed again and drops to a slightly lower level today. Foxy Girl is the joint top adjusted-rated runner and while she has good recent form, might struggle to beat an on-song selection. Pinot Gris is rated 141 over hurdles but makes his chase debut , while Maidenstreetprince has been running well and has place claims.
Prediction : 1st Mirazur West 2nd Foxy Girl 3rd Pinot Gris

DOCTOR DU MESNIL represents Willie Mullins, who has a 33 percent record with his bumper runners in the past five years, and gets the vote to make a winning debut. A 55,000-euro store purchase, the selection is by the same sire as his trainer's top hurdlers State Man and Sharjah, while he is the first foal out of a well-bred French chase winner. Jack The Lad and Thedeviluno boast an experience edge and have each shown useful form. Eastbank Warrior showed ability last year but is long absent, while Lacaduv was a 185,000-euro purchase and debuts in a first-time tongue-tie.
Prediction : 1st Doctor Du Mesnil 2nd Jack The Lad 3rd Thedeviluno