Irish racing today

As usual, the best racing on a Sunday comes from Ireland, with a strong N.H. card at Fairyhouse and the only flat racing of the day from the British Isles at Cork. The best race here is the listed Cork Stakes over 6 furlongs at 15.55 CET, in which Maarek (Evanne McCutcheon/ Declan McDonogh) is certain to start a warm favourite, despite conceding weight all round. He is one of the best sprinters in Europe, winner of the Abbaye last year, and the heavy ground will be no problem. He is running for the first time for this trainer, but she certainly knows him well enough; he was previously trained by her fiance and is owned by her father. In fact we understand that she drove the horsebox to Paris for the Arc Meeting last year! English raider Smoothtalkingrascal (David O´Meara/ Danny Tudhope) could be next best, although we also expect Bold Thady Quill (Keith Condon/ Joseph O´Brien) to run well; he is very inconsistent, but won the race last year and has run twice in the past fortnight, giving him a possible fitness
advantage.

There are 4 graded races at Fairyhouse, and it is indication of the dominant position Willie Mullins holds in Irish jumps racing that he has at least 3 runners in all of them. He will most likely win them all as well, although it is not always clear which is his best candidate. We will go for Arvika Ligeonnaire (Paul Townend) at 15.10, Flourishwells d´Ete (Tony McCoy) at 16.15 - incidentally out of a German mare- Renneti (Townend) at 16.50 and Wicklow Brave (Townend) at 17.20, although we will not be surprised if we are on the wrong one every time. For those looking for longer-priced alternatives to the Mullins armada, we suggest Folldubh (JP Ryan/ Paul Carberry), a course specialist who won ther race last year, in the opening Norman Grove, and Le Vent d´Artan (Liz Doyle/ Barry Geraghty) at 16.50.

The two U.K.jumps meetings are much lower grade. The groiund will be heavy at Ffos Las, which will not be to the liking of German-bred Lava Lamp (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney); however he has come down in the weights and we hope he can run into a place at least in the handicap hurdle at 17.10. At Market Rasen, yesterday´s Grand National heroes Dr. Richard Newland and Leighton Aspell can keep their winning run going with Ardkilly Witness at 16.20 and Regal d´Estruval at 17.25; Newland´s other runner, Dalmo (Ally Stirling) also has a chance at 14.45.

Fairyhouse - betting forecast:
1. Race: Twinlight - Turban - Foildubh
2. Race: Nearest The Pin - Abbey Lane - Dogora
3. Race: Urticaire - Adriana Des Mottes - Layla Joan
4. Race: Renneti - Apache Stronghold - Lieutenant Colonel
5. Race: Wicklow Brave - Valseur Lido - Real Steel
6. Race: Carry Each Other - Golden Wonder - Are Ya Right Chief
7. Race: James - Burren River - Quel Esprit
8. Race: Measureofmydreams - Time For A Pint - Martello Tower