group race at Cork this evening

not for the first time, the best racing today comes an Irish evening meeting - at Cork, where the Group Three Give Thanks Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 1/2 miles at 20.55 CET is the main event. This looks very competitive with all the top Irish stables represented and Aidan O´Brien has no fewer than 4 of the 13 runners, with his best chance probably Beyond Brilliance in the family colours and ridden by daughter Anastasia. She was fourth last time in the Irish Oaks, also ridden by Ana, and that form is certainly the best in today´s field. Shell House (Seamus Heffernan), up in grade, could be the best of the Coolmore runners from the O´Brien stable. The Aga Khan also wants to win this race and three entries, Tarana (Declan McDonough)- who looks the best of the 4 older fillies in the field- and Tarziyna (Niall McCullagh), both trained by John Oxx, as well as Edelmira (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen). The last-named is however held by Circling (David Wachman/ Conor KIng) from their form in the Munster Oaks over this CD. Roheryn (Ger Lyons/ Colin Keane) also looks dangerous, but we hope to see Ana win her first group race here and justify her father´s faith in his 17-year-old younger daughter..
The listed race over a mile at 19.55 here has also attracted a decent field. Brendan Bracken (Ger Lyons/ Keane) is just top-rated, but we expect one of the 3yo´s to score here, with Flying Jib (Weld/ Smullen) just given preference over O´Brien´s Michaelmas, this time with his son Joseph on board. Flying Jib was well beaten last time in the Belmont Oaks in New York but had won her three previous races and looks better class than most of these.
The 4 U.K. meetings - Catterick and Ffos Las in the afternoon, and Kempton )(a.w.) and Ripon in the evening are of relativelylittle interest, but we hope to see Local Hero (Steve Gollings/ Mikey Ennis) run a good race in the 1 3/4 mile handicap at 16.15. It has been expensive to follow this German-bred, a full brother to classic winner Liquido, who is also a smart hurdler; but his last win over sticks was 2 years ago, and his only win on the flat almost 4 years ago. This looks quite a tricky race, but he is now well handicapped and has a very competent claimer in the saddle.
There is also Irish N.H. racing this evening at Roscommon, where our best bet is Molly Connors (Henry de Bromhead/ Davy Russell) in the maiden hurdle at 19.05; she has run well on all her starts and looks certain to win soon, possibly today.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: General Marshall - I Will Excel - Blackbriar
2. Race: Full Steam Ahead - Forebear - Belts And Braces
3. Race: Insearchofadream - Apache Gold - Little Sweetheart
4. Race: Flying Jib - Michaelmas - Brendan Brackan
5. Race: Antique Platinum - Calorie - Sea Coast
6. Race: Tarana - Beyond Brilliance - Circling
7. Race: Aussie Guest - Shutter Island - Calle Aneto