13:58 Fri 21 April 2023

WELCOME TO OCANA FEST 2023 MAIDEN

Distance 1m

Prize €12,500 Age 3yo Race State Declaration Surface Turf Runners 15

Going Yielding to Soft

Looking at the provided horse racing data and comments for the Cork race, the top four rated horses are Dutch Gold, Sea Gardens, Highland Rahy, and The Black Tiger.

Dutch Gold has a total rating of 310.0 and is priced at 5/1. He has shown promise in his three 2yo starts and finished second on his last outing at Navan. He could be worth considering, but may need to be fully tuned up on his seasonal return.

Sea Gardens has a total rating of 302.5 and is priced at 5/2. He looked green in his only 2yo outing but ran well to finish just 1l behind the winner. Many subsequent winners have come out of that race, and the yard can ready one returning from a break. He could be a serious contender.

Highland Rahy has a total rating of 292.6 and is priced at 16/1. He finished fourth of 14 on debut at Dundalk and stayed on well, suggesting that this longer trip could suit him. He could be a dark horse in the race.

The Black Tiger has a total rating of 270.2 and is priced at 7/2. He was the favorite on his debut at Leopardstown earlier this month but finished last. However, he was struck into during the race and also coughed post-race, so there may have been extenuating circumstances. While there are mixed signs in his pedigree about testing ground, he is well-bred and should not be ruled out.

It is worth noting that Walsingham ran well in a race at Leopardstown in October but has struggled on very testing ground since. Additionally, Prove It finished sixth of 20 on debut at the Curragh and was only beaten 8l, suggesting he could do better with this extra furlong.

In terms of jockey and trainer ratings, none of the horses stand out as having particularly high or low ratings. However, it is important to consider each horse’s suitability for today’s conditions, particularly given the yielding to soft ground. Sea Gardens and Highland Rahy may appreciate these conditions, while it remains to be seen how Dutch Gold and The Black Tiger will handle them.

Overall, Sea Gardens looks to be a strong contender based on his previous outing and potential for improvement, but Dutch Gold, Highland Rahy, and The Black Tiger cannot be counted out.

14:33 Fri 21 April 2023

CAPTAIN RUBEN OCANA MEMORIAL HANDICAP

Distance 1m

Prize €10,500 Rated (47-65) Age 4yo+ Race State Declaration Surface Turf Runners 16

Going Yielding to Soft

Looking at the ratings, Pallasmore Lass (12), Sondheim (4), You Owe Me Money (5), and Leclerc (7) are the top four rated horses in this race. Pallasmore Lass is the highest rated horse with a total points score of 327.1, followed by Sondheim with 306.6 points, You Owe Me Money with 265.2 points, and Leclerc with 264.1 points.

In terms of odds, Pallasmore Lass is the current favorite at 11/4, followed by Asisaid (2) at 13/2, and Patrick Street (9) at 4/1.

Pallasmore Lass is well-suited to today’s conditions, having run well over this course and distance in the past. Sondheim is a course winner, but his best form has come at 7f, and he is unproven in these conditions. You Owe Me Money has shown some promise in the past but has yet to win a race. Leclerc has won back-to-back races on the all-weather, but it remains to be seen if he can transfer that form to the turf.

It’s worth noting that Asisaid left his previous form behind with a heavy ground win at Leopardstown, but was well below form last time out at Gowran Park. He’s now wearing cheekpieces and returning quickly, which is an interesting move by his connections.

Overall, Pallasmore Lass looks like a strong contender for the win, given her past performances and suitability for today’s conditions. Asisaid is an interesting outsider, given his recent win and the addition of cheekpieces, but he will need to bounce back from a poor run earlier this week.

15:08 Fri 21 April 2023

IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF NOBLESSE STAKES (Listed)

Distance 1m 4f 25y

Prize €50,000 Age 4yo+ Race State Declaration Surface Turf Runners 11

Going Yielding to Soft

Looking at the ratings, the top four rated horses are Term Of Endearment, Annerville, Zola Sakura, and Irish Lullaby. Of these, Term Of Endearment has the highest total points and speed rating, and also finished second to Yaxeni in a Listed race at Naas over this distance. Therefore, Term Of Endearment appears to be the one to beat.

Annerville is rated highly and has been placed in a Listed race on the all-weather surface, but has been well beaten in Group company in Dubai. Zola Sakura has won a Naas handicap and was fourth in a Listed race over 1m2f, but may struggle to stay the longer distance. Irish Lullaby is a likeable handicapper who won at the Galway festival over this distance and was narrowly denied in a valuable contest at Haydock over 1m6f, but ran poorly in a Listed race at Naas in October.

It’s worth noting that Ottilien, the odds-on favourite, has the highest last race rating and trainer rating, and is confirmed as a front-runner. However, she has not raced since being bought for 600,000 Euros in December and could be vulnerable on her seasonal debut. Additionally, she has never raced on ground softer than good to soft, so the yielding to soft conditions could be a factor.

Overall, the top-rated Term Of Endearment looks the one to beat, but Annerville and Zola Sakura could be each-way options. Irish Lullaby and Ottilien have claims but both have question marks over them, with the former having run poorly last time out and the latter potentially needing the run and having not raced on this type of ground before.

15:43 Fri 21 April 2023

BUY TICKETS AT corkracecourse.ie MAIDEN

Distance 1m 2f 30y

Prize €12,500 Age 3yo+ Race State Declaration Surface Turf Runners 15

Going Yielding to Soft

Looking at the ratings, Sea Legend (FR) is the top-rated horse with a total of 317.3 points, followed by Kingswood with 261.4 points and Nations Call (IRE) with 254.7 points. These horses are closely matched in the ratings, and the odds reflect this with Sea Legend at 7/2, Kingswood at 10/1, and Nations Call (IRE) at 11/8.

Sea Legend has shown promise in his previous races, having been beaten only by a small margin in his juvenile season. His yard is also in good form, and he has the addition of a tongue-tie for his return. Kingswood has an Irish Derby entry and has shown improvement from his debut, and the extra furlong should help his chances. Nations Call (IRE) has been entered in both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and both the Derby and Irish Derby, indicating that connections have high hopes for him.

Intellotto (IRE) is another horse to consider, having shown promise on his debut and narrowly missing out in a 1m Punchestown maiden three weeks later. He has an Irish Derby entry, suggesting he has been well-regarded by connections, and the testing ground could bring his stamina into play.

Other horses that could be considered include Sixpack, who only lost by roughly 4l on debut and may have needed his Navan return, and Chain Of Destiny, who left his previous form behind when finishing third in a Curragh maiden but has since been tailed off.

Factors that might be overlooked by the overall rating include the step up in trip for Kingswood, the suitability of the testing ground for Intellotto, and the addition of a tongue-tie for Sea Legend.

Overall, Sea Legend, Kingswood, Nations Call (IRE), and Intellotto (IRE) are the horses to focus on, with Sixpack and Chain Of Destiny also having some potential.

16:18 Fri 21 April 2023

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Distance 1m 2f 30y

Prize €17,000 Age 3yo Race State Declaration Surface Turf Runners 5

Going Yielding to Soft

In the 4.18 Cork race, there are five runners with relatively high total points. Alder is the second favorite at odds of 2/1 and has a total of 359.4 points, with a good last race rating and speed rating. The horse has shown promise in its debut at Curragh and has confirmed its high standard of form in a 1m Group 2 at Leopardstown. Bertinelli is the current favorite at odds of 9/4 and has the highest total points of 462.2. The horse was a staying-on second in an easy ground Leopardstown maiden and has a strong pedigree for the trip. Lark In The Mornin, at odds of 7/2, has a total of 375.2 points and won its debut race at Listowel, with the runner-up winning next time and being rated 83. The horse holds an Irish Guineas entry and is another who should get this trip based on pedigree. Serious Challenge, with odds of 4/1, has a total of 327.5 points and was a Galway maiden winner but has not performed well in its last two starts. Finally, Starry Heavens, with odds of 12/1, has a total of 351.1 points and has won at the Curragh but missed the start in a Group 3 at the same venue. The horse is stepping up in trip on its seasonal bow and has an Irish Oaks entry.

Factors that could be overlooked by the overall rating include the ground conditions, with yielding to soft ground conditions favoring some horses more than others, and the jockey and trainer ratings, which could give insight into how the horse has been performing recently. Overall, the top four rated horses seem to be the strongest contenders, with Alder, Bertinelli, and Lark In The Mornin being the top choices, followed by Serious Challenge and Starry Heavens.

16:50 Fri 21 April 2023

GAIN THE ADVANTAGE SERIES HANDICAP

Distance 1m 2f 30y

Prize €15,000 Age 3yo Race State Declaration Surface Turf Runners 13

Going Yielding to Soft

In the 4.50 Cork, the top four rated horses according to the Total points are Evenings Empire, Rattle And Hum, Dubawi Spectre, and Western Cape. Evenings Empire has the highest Total points of 318.1 and is priced at 17/2. Rattle And Hum has a Total of 283.0 and is priced at 13/2. Dubawi Spectre is rated third with 280.8 points and priced at 100/30. Western Cape is fourth with 265.8 points and priced at 11/1.

Matt Connor, although not in the top four, has an impressive jockey rating and trainer rating and may have a good chance. He ran his career-best on handicap debut last month and shaped like further would suit him. However, his ability to handle testing ground is yet to be seen.

Evening’s Empire won a 7f maiden at last year’s Galway festival, but he has not shown any significant improvement since then, and his handicap mark may be too high. He may struggle to stay the distance.

Rattle And Hum appreciated a step back up in trip when beaten roughly 1l at Thurles on his penultimate start, but he has mixed signs on whether this trip will suit him. Dubawi Spectre is a fairly consistent performer, but he is not sure to appreciate testing ground, and he was a non-runner due to ground on heavy earlier this month.

Western Cape showed promise in maidens for Donnacha O’Brien and had an encouraging debut for his current yard when beaten roughly 5l in an AW claimer when returning last month. However, he is not sure to appreciate this new trip.

In summary, the top four rated horses have the best chances of winning, with Matt Connor as a possible dark horse. Evenings Empire may struggle with the distance and his handicap mark. The ground may be an issue for Dubawi Spectre, and Western Cape is not sure to appreciate the trip.

17:23 Fri 21 April 2023

RACING AGAIN MAY 5th & 6th HANDICAP

Distance 1m 2f 30y

Prize €21,000 Age 3yo+ Race State Declaration Surface Turf Runners 12

Going Yielding to Soft

Looking at the race card and analysis for the 5.23 Cork, there are 12 runners competing in the Racing Again May 5th & 6th Handicap over a distance of 1m2f on yielding to soft ground. The total prize money for the race is £11,150, and it is open to 3-year-olds and above.

The top four rated horses are Sionnach Eile, Vellner, Giladah, and Mashhoor. Sionnach Eile has a total rating of 413.4 points and is offered at odds of 9/1, while Vellner has a total rating of 404.8 points and is the second favorite at 7/2. Giladah, with a total rating of 403.6 points, is offered at odds of 7/1, while Mashhoor has a total rating of 366.0 points and is the favorite at 2/1.

Sionnach Eile has improved in its last two starts with the hood on and won a Premier Handicap at Galway festival. However, it is returning after a break and dropping back to an inadequate trip without the hood. Vellner is a potential improver, having won a Curragh race in its last start with subsequent Irish Cesarewitch winner Waterville finishing third. The long absence is not a concern from this yard, and it is now a gelding and has a tongue-tie on.

Giladah won three of its four starts last season and was not far off the placed horses in a Listed contest at Hanover, which was won by recent Gladness Stakes winner Goldana. The hood worn for its last two wins is back on, and it has run well over the trip in the past. Mashhoor finished fourth in this race last year and won a Premier Handicap over this trip at the Curragh. It is still 9lb higher than its latest win and has not been seen since finishing midfield in last month’s Irish Lincoln.

Other horses worth mentioning are Timourid, who was second over this trip at Leopardstown on its seasonal debut, and New Hill, who returned pleasingly at Leopardstown and finished fourth of 16, only half a length off Timourid. Morph Speed is now 1lb lower than its latest winning mark but has not run in nine months. Cold Steel ran well in a Leopardstown handicap last summer before winning twice over 1m2f/1m4f in Dundalk in mid-winter. It wasn’t seen again until last month’s Dundalk race, where it was beaten 3l.

Overall, Vellner is an interesting proposition given its potential and the absence not being a concern. Mashhoor has a decent record over this trip and won a Premier Handicap last year, but it has been off the track for a while. Giladah has won over the trip in the past and is returning from a break with a hood back on. Timourid and New Hill are others that could be in the mix. The ground may also play a significant factor given that it is yielding to soft.