UK Horse Racing Tips: Cork

MAESTRO DES PINS is a notable French recruit and debuts for top connections at an encouraging time of the new National Hunt season. The four-year-old won a Lignieres AQPS bumper last November from which the fourth-placed horse won next time and he will know his job on jumps debut. Arouet was Listed-placed on the Flat last summer and while he finished 17 lengths behind today's rival Manoir De Mirande on his hurdling debut at Gowran in February, his jumping lacked fluency and he will appreciate a return to better ground. Manoir De Mirande is consistent but somewhat limited.
Prediction : 1st Maestro Des Pins 2nd Arouet 3rd Manoir De Mirande

BIG DISPUTE had promising form last year and will be sharper following an encouraging recent Flat reappearance. A debut bumper winner in 2023, the selection's initial hurdling form was ordinary but was placed in useful maidens last year. The form of his Killarney runner-up effort reads well and this appears to be a suitable opportunity for him to strike. Thisain'tthat was keen at Limerick in March but ran well at Clonmel and can progress, while Blue Train steamrolled bookmakers at the latter venue but is 10lb higher. Royal Soldier was arguably an unlucky loser when falling at the last at Fairyhouse but is 5lb higher and has top weight. Lightly-raced four-year-old Shirzan won well at Limerick and is capable of better.
Prediction : 1st Big Dispute 2nd Thisaintthat 3rd Blue Train

DIVABORIVA was a debut winner in 2024 and has useful recent form over hurdles. Grade 3-placed in a Punchestown Festival bumper in 2025, she bumped into a subsequent Listed winner here last November and then finished second to Grade 1-heroine Place De La Nation at Thurles. The selection's recent Fairyhouse run was useful and her professional rider again claims 7lb. La Cote Fleurie is out of a half-sister to a French Grade 1-winner and commands plenty of respect, despite returning from a 217-day absence. Hillhead Runner debuts for new connections and will appreciate drying ground.
Prediction : 1st Divaboriva 2nd La Cote Fleurie 3rd Hillhead Runner

First-time blinkers sparked LADY BLUEBIRD back to life last month and she should again be very competitive if in the same form. A maiden winner in 2024 and initially rated 116, her form dipped afterwards and while she now has 10lb more than at Tramore, she scored easily there and is suited by today's conditions. Jay Pee M disappointed on his most recent start here in March but is a dual-chase winner who is rated 115 in that sphere and has been freshened up since. Eastmore makes his seasonal reappearance and was consistent last year, while Galavanting George is entitled to bounce back from his Bellewstown fall.
Prediction : 1st Lady Bluebird 2nd Jay Pee M 3rd Eastmore

HUMBLE BRAG was a somewhat unlucky loser last month and can gain some compensation. Donal Hassett's gelding was gambled on when returning to a sounder surface at Wexford in April and was in strong contention until unseating his rider at the final flight. He has been penalised 2lb for that mishap but remains unexposed. Coolboy Christy is another unexposed five-year-old and is entitled to be in the mix on his third handicap start. Bumper winner Shesakindofmagic finished second to Place De La Nation in January and is respected on handicap debut.
Prediction : 1st Humble Brag 2nd Coolboy Christy 3rd Shesakindofmagic

DOCTOR DU MESNIL disappointed at Cheltenham but remains a nice staying prospect and returns to a course where he won takingly on debut last year. In that run, he conceded 7lb when giving an 11-length beating to a subsequent Grade 2 winner. He drops in grade here, with a tongue-tie left off. Jerobeam Machin was a high-class prospect in the 2023/'24 season when winning a Grade 2 bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival and while he has previous point-to-point experience, the seven-year-old should come on bundles from his April reappearance. Doctor Elvis has solid place claims.
Prediction : 1st Doctor Du Mesnil 2nd Jeroboam Machin 3rd Doctor Elvis

The Paul Nolan-trained ONLY FOR OUR MAN can follow up his recent Down Royal win. A former point-to-point winner, the son of Yeats benefitted from a step up in trip to open his account under Rules. A further rise in distance could see the six-year-old progressing again and, given his lightly-raced profile, he looks to be a major contender. Mistyburn was somewhat fortunate to win at Kilbeggan recently but would have been involved even if the last-flight faller had stood up. Philip Rothwell's son of Policy Maker should make his presence felt again. Tramore third Navy Waves is another with solid claims in an open-looking contest.
Prediction : 1st Only For Our Man 2nd Mistyburn 3rd Navy Waves

A well-bred daughter of The Grey Gatsby, AINE can make a winning racecourse debut. Although her half-sister Lantry Lady never ran in a bumper, she was a 2m Grade 3 hurdle winner. Hailing from the Willie Mullins yard, the four-year-old is sure to know her job and looks the one to beat in this finale. Trainer Sam Curling does well with his runners in this discipline and and market support for his newcomer Green Me Granny should be noted. Gordon Elliott's twice-raced Fascinating Rock offspring Cinating looks best of those that have already raced under Rules.
Prediction : 1st Aine 2nd Green Me Granny 3rd Cinating