16:55 Cork

Saturday 6 May 2017

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

Cork Handicap

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 1m 40.28s

(8)

Heartful⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 78

5/1

Off the mark in fine style at Dundalk on the AW in February, drawing away to win readily and is one to consider with that confidence booster to feed off.

Form: 0240-14

(6)

Honor Oak¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: W J Lee| T: T Hogan| OR: 72

9/1

Is 8lb higher than when winning over this trip in December at Dundalk on the AW, comes here off a 141-day break and jockey is in excellent form.

Form: 405218-

(1)

Tenerezza⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: C R King| T: J G Murphy| OR: 67

9/1

Going the right way since joining this yard, off the mark on AW with narrow Wolverhampton success over extended mile in February and not beaten far over 1m2f at Dundalk next time off this mark. May leave previous turf form behind.

Form: 5-42138

(4)

Saga Altais¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K J Manning| T: A Mullins| OR: 75

3/1

Just the four runs, was beaten only 1¼L when fourth of 16 on handicap debut at Limerick last month over this trip. Very much entitled to build on that showing from the same mark now.

Form: 43-94

(2)

Harbour A Secret^p1⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S Foley| T: Jane M Foley| OR: 72

10/1

Has run well enough in four AW maidens at Dundalk over 7f/1m to warrant a second glance for this handicap bow in first-time cheekpieces. Trainer's strike rate is low and 0/27 on the Flat in previous 12 months.

Form: 7-334

(3)

Keep Believing^p⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: C P Hoban| T: B Nolan| OR: 69

11/4

Improving sort, winning at Navan and following up from career-high mark in the space of six days late last month, both over this trip. Looking for third success in 12 days now with another 9lb to carry.

Form: 890-211

(5)

Vocal Response²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Rory Cleary| T: J S Bolger| OR: 68

4/1

Handicap debutant, ran decent races here and at Tipperary last month over shorter trips and has a chance off what looks a fair opening mark.

Form: 8-35

(7)

Simafar²¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: R P McNamara| OR: 66

20/1

Just moderate promise in three maidens last year for Dermot Weld, first run here for this trainer and makes handicap debut. New handler needs to get a spark from him.

Form: 445-

Forecasts

Keep Believing (11/4), Saga Altais (3/1), Vocal Response (4/1), Heartful (5/1), Honor Oak (9/1), Tenerezza (9/1), Harbour A Secret (10/1), Simafar (20/1)

Heartful opened his account in good style on the AW last time out and is not going to be underestimated in famous colours for this handicap bow. It won't be any surprise to see him go close, but he's likely to be priced accordingly. Honor Oak is also one to note off a break while Tenerezza has improved under this trainer and might prove a different proposition on return to turf. Harbour A Secret is another going the right way but this might go to SAGA ALTAIS, who shaped well on handicap bow at Limerick over the trip and on just his fifth run could have more to offer. The hat-trick seeking Keep Believing might find his latest hike, along with a third run in 12 days, enough to halt progress for now.

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