1.25pm Cork Tips & Betting Preview 20/11/2016

IN SUMMARY: This race has often been used as stepping stone for Willie Mullins’s top hurdle prospects and hopes will be high that BACARDYS can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Champagne Fever and Bellshill. Third in both Champion Bumpers at Punchestown and Cheltenham last term and winner of the Grade 2 Bumper at the Aintree Festival in April, he is well thought of by his trainer who has high hopes of him becoming one of the Novice Hurdlers this year. Sunni May also has good bumper form and can fill the runner-up spot along with Black Zambezi who has improved for every run over hurdles so far and only just missed out last time. William B should improve for his first run also.

1 Bacardys – Finished a couple of lengths third behind Ballyandy at Cheltenham in the Champion Bumper and then followed up by winning the Grade 2 Bumper at Aintree next time out by half a length. Was six lengths third behind Blow by Blow and Moon Racer in equivalent at Punchestown on his last start before being put away over the summer. Looks set to take top order in this sphere this year after glowing reports from his trainer and should have no problems making a winning start here.

2 Black Zambezi – Showed good form when previously trained by Colm Murphy and has started well for his new yard, finishing fourth on debut behind a Gigginstown runner and then an excellent second behind another Gigginstown horse – Potter’s Point out of Gordon Elliott’s yard three weeks ago. Will win races this year but does not have the same profile as the favourite and is playing for minor honours.

3 Bouldtailorquigley – Has been off for 21 months and was only 13^th of 16 on NH debut. Once-raced maiden who will seriously struggle.

4 Dr Mikey – Won a bumper here over two miles on good ground in August and followed that up when easily accounting for the Noel Meade trained Dos Picas by eight and a half lengths at Tipperary on seasonal reappearance in October (soft). That was decent enough form, but will need a huge effort to trouble Bacardys on hurdling debut. Best watched in the market but playing for minor honours.

5 Graphic Legacy – Maiden after two starts and easy to see why, finishing tenth of 14 on debut at Wexford (2m) and then 13^th of 16 at Sligo (2m 4f) in May. Has been off for 6 months and is back down in trip today, but hard to fancy chances.

6 Hold Your Nerve – Robin Des Champs gelding who is still lightly raced for a five-year-old. Only sixth of nine in a novice hurdle 13 days ago when he pulled hard. There are questions about his attitude and he won’t get close to the favourite today. Should make his mark in Handicaps later in the season.

7 Nicole’s Milan – Ran in a bumper event here a month ago on seasonal appearance finishing eighth of nine. Second here in a point-to-point back in March on first start, but showed nothing on second run. Probably better than bare form but doubt he will trouble these today.

8 Select Opportunity – Was 100/1 on debut and ran like odds suggested, finishing 22^nd of 30 in a Novice Hurdle at Navan 57 days ago. Up against it again today.

9 Souphanouvan – Lightly raced maiden who was a decent fifth behind L’Andana (Jessica Harrington) 31 days ago. Will come on for that and makes hurdling debut today for a yard that continues in fine form and can fill a runner-up spot.

10 Spare Brakes – Hasn’t been for seven months and has shown nothing in two runs for yard so far. Hard to envisage improving on those runs in this.

11 Sunni May – Has been off for six months, but finished first in a Bumper over 2 miles (heavy) at Leopardstown by one and three quarter lengths. Followed that with two solid third place finishes at Fairyhouse and then Punchestown in the spring. One to take note of in the betting and the trainer likes to unleash one in these races. Hard to see him troubling the favourite though, but the one most likely to capitalise if he is not fully wound up.

 12 William B – Has a good staying pedigree and will improve for his outing when second behind War Anthem (Charles Byrne) when last seen in August. Has a good staying pedigree – being a son of the great Yeats – and worthy of attention in the betting. Wears a tongue tie for the first time.

13 Pixie Lane – Has moved to Colin Bowe’s yard and has shown promise so far, finishing second of 16 in a Novice Hurdle at Roscommon on his NH debut 110 days ago staying on well that day. Wears a tongue strap for the first time and huge improvement needed to get involved here.

14 Sunset Sadie – Only raced twice for Eamon O’Connell and finished tenth of 12 at odds of 100/1 last time out at Limerick (heavy). Absence of seven months and looks up against it.

15 Wind & Reign – Made debut for this yard when finished sixth of ten runners at Clonmel last month. Wasn’t knocked about and has progress in her, but doubt she will be able to show that today against the market principles.