FRANCISCAN Rock looks on a nice mark for his handicap debut at Cork this afternoon.
The Mouse Morris-trained gelding came good over timber when scoring at Thurles last month and there looks more to come from the Fame And Glory gelding.
He seemed to really appreciate stepping up in trip last time, when running out a cosy winner over just shy of three miles.
That came on better ground than he will face today but he has run well in testing conditions before, so looks to be versatile.
The six-year-old had been running in some hot maiden hurdles before his success and a mark of 121 here doesn't look harsh at all.
Gordon Elliott's charge Run For Pat looks an obvious danger in the race having run out a good winner at Fairyhouse on his last outing.
The Ocovango gelding was good value for his two-and-three-quarter length win that day but has to defy an 8lb hike now.
Waittillitellyou, who chased him home that day, is entitled to get a bit closer now. He may just have been given a bit much to do when held up out the back then.
West Breeze is another for the shortlist in a competitive contest. The Westerner gelding was well supported at Clonmel last month and won authoritatively.
It's interesting that he steps up in trip now and there could be further improvement to come.
Franciscan Rock is a decent sort though and is fancied to be a bit better than these rivals.
In the opening four-year-old maiden hurdle Calico may be worth another shot despite becoming a bit frustrating.
She has plenty of placed form, including finishing runner-up in a listed hurdle, and getting half a stone off the geldings leaves her the one to beat on known form.
It would be no surprise if Willie Mullins took the two bumpers on the card.
Blizzard Of Oz was turned over at a short price at Limerick last time but can land the finale today.
He bumped into a useful sort in stablemate Captain Cody in late January, who was a fine sixth at Cheltenham last week.
In the preceding ladies race Jody Townend takes the ride on newcomer Pure Notions.
The Authorized mare is a half-sister to three winners including stablemate La Prima Donna, who has won over hurdles and was runner-up in a valuable Fairyhouse handicap last Easter.
CORK TIPS
2.05 Calico (dbl) - Luminous Light
2.40 Battle It Out - Knockraha Lass
3.15 Astrophysicist - A Dublin Job
3.50 Franciscan Rock (nap) - Run For Pat
4.25 Jump The Shark - Killinure Lass
5.00 Pure Notions - Armed And Fabulous
5.30 Blizzard Of Oz - Native Speaker
