15:50 Cork

Sunday 18 June 2017

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Cork Derby

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 2m 35.01s

(7)

Sikandarabad^v⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Smullen| T: D K Weld| OR: 98| BF

5/1

Galway maiden winner last summer over 7f, then highly-tried in valuable handicaps. Similar tale on reappearance in Irish Lincolnshire but ran nice race here over 1m2f last time when beat ½L. Visor back on and should be competitive.

Form: 2/126-93

(10)

Le Vagabond³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 95

10/1

Ran an excellent race off a mark of 93 here over 1m2f in April on previous Flat outing when second (Sikandarabad just behind). Up 2lb on that and has toiled in two hurdles races since.

Form: 5517-92

(4)

Ringside Humour⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 94| D

10/1

Behind a couple of these rivals here over 1m2f in April, has since run commendable race over timber at Punchestown and wouldn't require all that much more to have a say.

Form: 1068-17

(5)

Spruce Meadows^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D M Simmonson⁽⁷⁾| T: J Feane| OR: 87

11/2

Excellent effort at the Curragh last time out behind Glamorous Approach (runs in previous race) off this mark. That form will look decidedly good should the Bolger filly oblige in the Group 3 and, regardless, has claims in this contest.

Form: 17-6062

(3)

Moonmeister^t²³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: O J Orr⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 86| D

8/1

Beaten a head when finishing runner-up over an extended 1m1f at Gowran Park (soft) in September last year. Held in two subsequent starts in valuable handicaps and worth a check in the market for shrewd connections.

Form: 763207-

(1)

Mawaany³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Colin Keane| T: G M Lyons| OR: 85

5/2

Ex-Sir Michael Stoute inmate has won both starts since arriving in Ireland, had plenty in hand when taking 1m2f Curragh handicap on good ground last month and, despite 8lb rise, looks a likely sort to go well in this field.

Form: 0/226-11

(2)

Zamira²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 82| D

11/2

Ex-Dermot Weld filly is thriving for this in-form yard, winning her last two starts - a Roscommon maiden and Tipperary handicap - both over this sort of trip. Rises another 4lb for that win but no guarantee she's finished improving.

Form: 26-4211

(9)

Here For The Craic¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 8-9| J: Wayne Lordan| T: D Budds| OR: 79| C

14/1

Ten-years-old and has two wins from 18 career starts on turf, though often finds a place. More exposed than some of these and probably holding place claims at best now.

Form: 6107-69

(6)

Nearly Famous¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: N G McCullagh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 74

16/1

Been struggling since switched to handicaps and lacks the scope held by others. Beaten 4L be Sea The Lion last time out and 1lb wrong at the weights for this.

Form: 5100-54

Non-Runners

(8)

My Brother¹⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: L Smyth J: Shane Kelly

(11)

Sea The Lion¹⁵

Weight: 8-9| Age: 6

T: J P Fahey J: Ronan Whelan

Forecasts

Mawaany (5/2), Sikandarabad (5/1), Spruce Meadows (11/2), Zamira (11/2), Moonmeister (8/1), My Brother (8/1), Le Vagabond (10/1), Ringside Humour (10/1), Sea The Lion (12/1), Here For The Craic (14/1), Nearly Famous (16/1)

This looks to be a fiercely competitive renewal of the Cork Derby and plenty will arrive down at post fancying their chances. Last year's winning trainer/jockey combination have fair claims with Sikandarabad, who is closely matched with Le Vagabond on their previous meeting here over 2f shorter and both should go well again. My Brother and Sea The Lion are respected on recent runs while the improving filly Zamira could easily take another step forward. The two to focus on however might be Mawaany, two from two since arriving in this country, and SPRUCE MEADOWS. The latter ran a fine race behind Glamourous Approach at the Curragh previously and the form could be boosted in the previous race. Either way, the Intikhab gelding shouldn't be far away if repeating that performance.