THE three-mile handicap hurdle has been divided to form an eight-race card at Cork this evening and the best bet on the card may be in the first heat.
Black Franks Angel stands out on her handicap debut in the race off a mark of 98.
The former point-to-point winner looks to have everything in her favour now with trip and ground to suit.
She ran a decent race to finish third in a Tramore maiden hurdle last time but appeared in need of further than the two-mile-five-furlong trip that day.
Her best run was undoubtedly when third to Augusta Kate at Thurles last November over a trip just shy of today’s.
She disappointed on softer ground on a couple of occasions subsequently and definitely seems more at home on a decent surface.
A mark of 98 looks lenient enough and she has certainly shown enough ability in the past to exploit it.
Paleos Du Charmil caught a tartar in Prince Garyantle at Tramore last month but ran really well behind the runaway winner.
That was an improvement on previous winter form and he looks a threat off just a pound higher mark, but it’s hard to ignore the strong pointers for Black Franks Angel.
The rated novice hurdle has attracted a competitive field and Bold Emperor looks the unexposed horse in the field.
He didn’t look to beat much when scoring at Limerick in March but that form has actually worked out alright, with the second finishing runner-up again since.
Trainer John McConnell expected the Galileo gelding to improve for better ground and he looks a nice prospect for summer novices.
Ruby Walsh is an
eye-catching booking for the Henry de Bromhead-trained Little Folke in the two-mile contest.
She won well at Tramore last time and while it wasn’t the strongest race, she looks open to further improvement.
The opening maiden hurdle looks an interesting contest and Ruby Walsh gets the leg up on French import Royal Hawk for Willie Mullins.
The fact that he has the benefit of placed form over jumps from his homeland may give him the edge over some Flat recruits.
Unicorn, the latest ex-Ballydoyle horse to go jumping for Joseph O’Brien, is sure to attract plenty of attention but a lot of the yard’s horses have improved for a run or two over timber.
