19:40 Cork

Friday 4 May 2018

All16:4517:2017:5518:3019:0519:4020:15

Buy Online At corkracecourse.ie Handicap Hurdle (80-109)

Off time: 19:40 | Winning time: 6m 42.04s

Victoria Bay¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: C Bowe| OR: 106| D

7/1

Well held in maiden hurdles and on handicap bow, but much improved when winning cosily at Fairyhouse (2½m) last month. Half-sister stayed 4m, so longer trip may help her offset big rise in the handicap.

Form: 4-86061

Letter Of Credit³³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 102| D

20/1

Veteran campaigner who is without a win since May 2015. Better over fences, but mark reflects that, and ran well when 14-length third in C&D handicap last month.

Form: 343-573

Nicole's Milan⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: S Aherne| OR: 102| D

11/4

All three wins have come at Fairyhouse, most recently in a 2m5f handicap chase in February. Unseated rider last time, and returns to hurdles off lower mark with Davy Russell an eyecatching booking.

Form: 7/7213U-

Winter Breeze^p1⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: M Winters| OR: 101| D

14/1

Dual winner over hurdles last summer, and one of his better efforts since when 19¼ lengths fourth of 11 to Danse Away here (2½m) in March. More required, but possible fitting of cheekpieces will help.

Form: 9/59594-

Double Portrait²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Dempsey| T: S J Mahon| OR: 99| C

16/1

Bumper winner on good ground here a year ago, but yet to blossom over hurdles, leaving Gordon Elliott prior to penultimate start. Potentially well handicapped with return to 3m a positive, though, so market informative.

Form: 21/P635-

Wood Emery^t⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 99| BF| D

7/1

Stepped up markedly to score on handicap debut at Punchestown (3m) with tongue tie fitted, but failed by a long way to confirm that improvement last time (favourite), and needs to bounce back.

Form: 8500/19-

Nerual¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: A W Short⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 98

13/2

Has proven consistent in staying handicap hurdles, although remains a maiden after 18 outings. Ran up to best when 2½ lengths second of 14 to Perfect Man at Limerick last time, and sure to be on premises again.

Form: 92-42U2

Casadel Sol¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: A E Lynch| T: K Purcell| OR: 95

20/1

Some promise in bumpers, and best effort to date over hurdles when keeping-on fourth of 12 to All Good Things in 2m3f maiden at Limerick last time. Steps up in trip for handicap debut, and open to improvement.

Form: 634304-

Misdflight²⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr W J Gleeson⁽⁷⁾| T: J F Gleeson| OR: 95

25/1

Sole win came in November 2015, and failed to cut any ice in three runs for Paul Nolan last season. Returns from a break for another new yard now, and probably best watched.

Form: 235/009-

The Last Armada²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: W C O'Brien| OR: 93

40/1

Runner-up all completed starts in points, and best effort over hurdles when 11¾ lengths third of 11 to Castafiore Park in mares maiden at Limerick on penultimate start. Fairly treated on that form, and longer trip will help now handicapping.

Form: 22/0838-

Pack Your Bags^p⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Mark Walsh| T: R Tyner| OR: 92| BF| D

8/1

Has improved as stamina has been drawn out in this sphere, finishing second in handicaps at Down Royal and Navan, and presumably amiss when pulled up over fences when last seen. Should bounce back, and remains fairly treated.

Form: 37/022P-

Taggle Og^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: P E Corbett⁽³⁾| T: D H Kelly| OR: 90| D

28/1

Point winner who is well related, but looks fairly limited, albeit stepping up on earlier efforts when fifth over 2m3f at Limerick last time. Tongue tie retained for handicap debut, and may yet progress.

Form: 1/9085-

Chapter Two⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: I J McCarthy| T: T F Shaw| OR: 83| D

14/1

Twice placed in hunter chases over 3m here last year, and a multiple winner in points. Bit disappointing last time (tongue tied), but potentially well treated reverting to hurdles, and not dismissed lightly.

Form: 135323-

Scotch Quay¹²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: E Griffin| OR: 81

12/1

Best effort in handicap hurdles when third over 2m at Thurles in November. Below form more recently, and debatable whether marked step up in trip is of any benefit.

Form: 880344-

Carrow Queen^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: V T O'Brien| OR: 80| D

40/1

Poor handicapper on balance, and has been struggling off similar marks in recent starts, so easy to oppose.

Form: 800055-

Kilderry Prince¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: J M Moore| T: A J McNamara| OR: 80| D

33/1

Won a 2¾m handicap chase at Downpatrick last May, but hasn't come close to repeating the feat in subsequent starts, and pulled up on return from absence at Tramore last month.

Form: 7/1FP0P-

Non-Runners

Itscatrionaschoice¹⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: J Dullea J: Katie O'Farrell

Forecasts

Nicole's Milan (11/4), Nerual (13/2), Victoria Bay (7/1), Wood Emery (7/1), Pack Your Bags (8/1), Scotch Quay (12/1), Chapter Two (14/1), Winter Breeze (14/1), Double Portrait (16/1), Itscatrionaschoice (16/1), Letter Of Credit (20/1), Casadel Sol (20/1), Misdflight (25/1), Taggle Og (28/1), Kilderry Prince (33/1), The Last Armada (40/1), Carrow Queen (40/1)

Plenty to consider here, but NICOLE'S MILAN returns to hurdles off a very fair mark, and has the assistance of Davy Russell. He's preferred to the consistent maiden Nerual, with Pack Your Bags another switching from fences and capable of better in this discipline.