3.45pm Cork Tips & Betting Preview 02/04/2017

This is another interesting maiden at Cork, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: There are a few with chances in this and ANGEL ISLAND can make a winning debut. She was purchased for a decent sum and is related to a nice winner over further so she could prove too good for these on debut. Set In Stone and Mollie The Moo are two that require close attention in the betting given both are likeable sorts with decent enough claims.

1 ANGEL ISLAND – 65,000 Euro filly who’s a half-sister to a winner over 2 miles. She’s sired by So You Think who has a below average record with his runners to date but this filly could be a nice type on debut and she’s worth a very close market check. Trainers first runner here and he’s been in form of late with a winner from his last four runners.

2 DABULENA – Half-sister to the classy Dabadiyan who broke his maiden over 1m 4f at the Curragh on Good to Firm ground. She’s out of a mare without a win in three starts and everything about her pedigree suggests she is going to need every single yard of this trip and more. She could go on to decent things based on her profile but there are minor concerns about this mile trip. Trainer has a 24% strike rate here.

3 DANGEROUS GROUND – High Chaparral filly who’s been very well beaten in two starts to date. She’s been sent off 66/1 on both occasions and it’s a small positive that she’s stepped back up in trip here. She’s likely to want even further and will be seen to better effect in handicap company. Connections apply a hood for the first time and others make much more appeal.

4 FURIOSA – Bought for an incredibly cheap 3,000 Euros as a yearling and she’s run to a modest level on three starts so far. She finished fourth of 19 on her final start of last year at a huge 66/1 although she was still beaten 8 1/2 lengths. This is probably her ideal trip at this point of her career and the handicapper has given her an official rating of 77. Worth a second look in the betting for a yard with a 16% strike rate.

5 HUSHING – Half-sister to a debutante winner over 7 furlongs. She’s got a decent enough pedigree and she finished down the field last October on Yielding ground at Leopardstown where she was tenth in a 19-strong field. Yard have been slightly out of form of late (without a winner from their last 10 runners) although they do have a decent strike rate of 18% here. One of the more promising types but she may need this on seasonal reappearance.

6 LACE BONNET – Interesting enough runner for this yard with a a daughter of Mastercraftsman. She’s one that’s probably going to take a little time to come into her own although this looks like a good starting point based on her pedigree. One to take seriously if market support arrives but the yard have been quiet of late and have a poor 5% strike rate here.

7 MOLLIE THE MOO – Decent purchase as a yearling having been bought for 42,000 Euros. Her dam was a maiden after 5 starts and was rated just 47 at the end of her career which doesn’t entice support. Her sire was full of speed so it’ll be interesting to see how she fares over this trip on debut for a smart yard that are operating at an 18% strike rate here.

8 RUN FOR THE ROSES – Well-beaten on debut at Dundalk (beaten 31 lengths) and out of a mare who had a career record of 6 wins from 51 starts. She was rated between 50 and 70 throughout her career and this horse is likely to do much better when in similar company in handicaps. Impossible to fancy here.

9 SET IN STONE – Took a big step up on form when second to a nice sort of Dermot Weld’s over today’s trip. The winner that day was beaten off a mark of 85 but that form sets the standard here and it would be enough to see her win this if she’s race fit off a 166-day break. The market should prove useful again having been well-backed for that good run (5/1) and she should be popular today. Yard don’t have a great strike rate here but she’s one of note.

10 SUSAN – Out of a French mare who was a winner over 1 mile in France. She was bought for 20,000 Euros as a yearling and there’s plenty to like about Paul Gammell’s runner here on her racecourse debut. The booking of Seamie Heffernan is eye-catching (£4.25 profit to level stakes at Cork) and the market will be incredibly interesting. Trainer’s first runner here.

11 THE LADY TAM – Mastercraftsman filly out of a mare who failed to win in 5 starts. She finished third of 11 over 7 furlongs and finished her career rated 70 which doesn’t inspire too much confidence on debut. This is his trainer’s second runner here and others make more appeal on pedigree including those with racecourse experience.