Cork - Sunday 10th May 2026
MAESTRO DES PINS is a notable French recruit and debuts for top connections at an encouraging time of the new National Hunt season. The four-year-old won a Lignieres AQPS bumper last November from which the fourth-placed horse won next time and he will know his job on jumps debut. Arouet was Listed-placed on the Flat last summer and while he finished 17 lengths behind today's rival Manoir De Mirande on his hurdling debut at Gowran in February, his jumping lacked fluency and he will appreciate a return to better ground. Manoir De Mirande is consistent but somewhat limited.
BIG DISPUTE had promising form last year and will be sharper following an encouraging recent Flat reappearance. A debut bumper winner in 2023, the selection's initial hurdling form was ordinary but was placed in useful maidens last year. The form of his Killarney runner-up effort reads well and this appears to be a suitable opportunity for him to strike. Thisain'tthat was keen at Limerick in March but ran well at Clonmel and can progress, while Blue Train steamrolled bookmakers at the latter venue but is 10lb higher. Royal Soldier was arguably an unlucky loser when falling at the last at Fairyhouse but is 5lb higher and has top weight. Lightly-raced four-year-old Shirzan won well at Limerick and is capable of better.
DIVABORIVA was a debut winner in 2024 and has useful recent form over hurdles. Grade 3-placed in a Punchestown Festival bumper in 2025, she bumped into a subsequent Listed winner here last November and then finished second to Grade 1-heroine Place De La Nation at Thurles. The selection's recent Fairyhouse run was useful and her professional rider again claims 7lb. La Cote Fleurie is out of a half-sister to a French Grade 1-winner and commands plenty of respect, despite returning from a 217-day absence. Hillhead Runner debuts for new connections and will appreciate drying ground.
First-time blinkers sparked LADY BLUEBIRD back to life last month and she should again be very competitive if in the same form. A maiden winner in 2024 and initially rated 116, her form dipped afterwards and while she now has 10lb more than at Tramore, she scored easily there and is suited by today's conditions. Jay Pee M disappointed on his most recent start here in March, but is a dual chase winner who is rated 115 in that sphere and has been freshened up since. Eastmore makes his seasonal reappearance and was consistent last year, while Galavanting George is entitled to bounce back from his Bellewstown fall.
HUMBLE BRAG was a somewhat unlucky loser last month and can gain some compensation. Donal Hassett's gelding was gambled on when returning to a sounder surface at Wexford in April and was in strong contention until unseating his rider at the final flight. He has been penalised 2lb for that mishap but remains unexposed. Coolboy Christy is another unexposed five-year-old and is entitled to be in the mix on his third handicap start. Bumper winner Shesakindofmagic finished second to Place De La Nation in January and is respected on handicap debut.
DOCTOR DU MESNIL disappointed at Cheltenham but remains a nice staying prospect and returns to a course where he won takingly on debut last year. In that run, he conceded 7lb when giving an 11-length beating to a subsequent Grade 2 winner. He drops in grade here, with a tongue-tie left off. Jerobeam Machin was a high-class prospect in the 2023/'24 season when winning a Grade 2 bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival and while he has previous point-to-point experience, the seven-year-old should come on bundles from his April reappearance. Doctor Elvis has solid place claims.
The Paul Nolan-trained ONLY FOR OUR MAN can follow up his Down Royal triumph. A former point-to-point winner, the son of Yeats benefited from a step up in trip to open his account under Rules. A further rise in distance could see the six-year-old progress again and, given his lightly-raced profile, he looks to be a major contender. Tramore third Navy Waves and the veteran Halsafari appeal most of the remainder.
A well-bred daughter of The Grey Gatsby, AINE can make a winning racecourse debut. Although her half-sister Lantry Lady never ran in a bumper, she was a 2m Grade 3 hurdle winner. Hailing from the Willie Mullins yard, the four-year-old is sure to know her job and looks the one to beat in this finale. Trainer Sam Curling does well with his runners in this discipline and and market support for his newcomer Green Me Granny should be noted. Gordon Elliott's twice-raced Fascinating Rock offspring Cinating looks best of those that have already raced under Rules.
The consistent Manoir De Mirande has an experience edge and sets the standard on form. He defeated AROUET last time but he may struggle to confirm the form now that rival has some hurdling experience under his belt. He showed a high quality level of form on the Flat where he was a 10f winner and he should make significant improvement now tackling a quicker surface. French bumper winner Maestro Des Pins has joined top connections and is also a big player on his hurdle debut.
BIG DISPUTE has been in good form in both codes and should come on for his latest Flat outing. The bumper winner has proven progressive in this sphere and his experience edge can help him gain a first victory in the discipline. The consistent Thisain'tthat brings in some good handicap form and looks the main danger ahead of Royal Soldier who may have won on his follow up attempt last time but for falling.
Bumper winner HILLHEAD RUNNER has an experience edge on her rivals and is chosen to make a winning return. She hasn't been seen since the summer but was a touch unlucky on her penultimate start and she remains unexposed over this longer trip. The consistent Divaboriva brings in some strong Listed handicap form and looks the clear danger while Noble Name is also of interest at a bigger price. She was poor last time but the point and bumper winner had shaped with promise on debut previously.
An open race can go to LADY BLUEBIRD who was an easy winner under an aggressive ride last time. She's gone up 10lb for that but is still potentially thrown in on her maiden form so is chosen ahead of Fairyland Opera. The top weight bounced back to form over a seemingly inadequate 2m on her hurdles return and is another who lurks on a dangerous mark judged on her maiden efforts. The admirably consistent Eastmore can do best of the rest on his return from a break.
Bumper winner SHESAKINDOFMAGIC has been given a lenient opening mark judged on her debut run over hurdles and she returned to form with a promising midfield effort last time. With a top jockey booked and further improvement likely now stepping up in trip she is likely to defeat strong stayer Way Down South who split a pair of in form rivals when runner up last time. Jisco Du Brem was successful in bumpers and though he may have shown his best hurdles form over staying trips he looks well treated back in a handicap so will be a big player if getting a stiff test.
The frustrating Doctor Du Mesnil sets the standard on form following a couple of placed efforts in maidens. He is easily forgiven his latest run where he was outclassed in the Albert Bartlett but he has looked slow and may once again find the ground on the quick side. JEROBOAM MACHIN was well held under a big weight on his return from a lay off in a bumper last time but he was previously a Grade 2 victory in that discipline. With that run under his belt he is chosen to make a winning hurdles debut with the step up in trip likely to be in his favour. Doctor Elvis went too fast in a hot handicap last time but had previously shown promise in maidens and should be able to find a race soon for his top yard. He also rates a threat in a decent contest.
Sallap was unlucky not to follow up last time falling late when looking in command so if getting a run she would be a strong selection off 2lb higher. However she needs a couple to come out and of those guaranteed a run veteran HALSAFARI makes most appeal. He isn't the force of old but he has proven he retains his ability this spring in claimers and looks on a dangerous mark judged on that form. Of those at bigger prices Orinoco Walk makes some minor appeal on his handicap debut. She looks fairly treated on her debut run and though she has been struggling since those efforts have come over inadequate distances. Stepping up to staying trips for the first time could bring significant improvement.
The standard is set by Cinating on her debut placed effort behind a rival who franked the form by following up at Punchestown. However she was disappointing in a modest contest next time so may be vulnerable to a talented newcomer. AINE fits the bill as a half sister to a Grade 3 hurdles winner as she starts out under rules for top connections. She is picked ahead of A Stoirin who represents a yard which is no stranger to first time out winners in either code.
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