Navigation Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

Race Time: 3.35pm Meeting: Cork Day: Saturday 17th October
Distance: 1m 100yds Full Race Name:  Corkracecourse.ie Navigation Stakes (Listed Race) 

One Listed race away from the Channel 4 cameras this Saturday sees a frankly poor five runner turn out for the £25,000 or so in guaranteed prize money – not just British owners failing to support their own races then?

First time blinkers are applied to Corail (10/1) this afternoon and if they work then we have the likeliest winner as the three year old daughter of Lope De Vega is already best in at the weights according to the official handicappers. She has only won a solitary Limerick maiden from her seven career starts which is underwhelming yet they continue to persevere in the higher grades so she must be showing plenty at home on the gallops. Sixth of seven to Tested in a Tipperary Group Three last time out we suspect the headgear may be close to a last resort to get her to put everything in when asked and we cant rely on her here unfortunately with too may unknowns in the equation.

Five year old gelding Sruthan (3/1) has bits and pieces of form that would give him chances this afternoon and has already won a Listed race and a couple of Group Threes in 2013 and 2014 and placed in similar races already this season including a second to Onenightidreamed over this trip at Leopardstown when going under by a nose in the Group Three Amethyst Stakes and surely a repeat of that would be good enough to take this today? Sadly, that can’t be guaranteed as he failed dismally in blinkers when last seen at Tipperary which they leaved on today for reasons unknown, a factor we need to think about and that is enough to put us off.

Poor old Brendan Bracken (4/1) is very much on the slippery slope of late tumbling down the ratings at the age of six, from a high point of 117 in October 2013 to the 103 he is rated today. Well Beaten in the Group Threes he has contested of late, he was then dropped in to handicap company, again without success, and although he would be more than capable of winning this a couple of years ago, we see no evidence of late that he as the same horse and can let him run unbacked today.

Not too many horses make it to the age of five in the O’Brien yard before being whisked off to stud or the breeding paddocks, but Akira (3/1) is the exception and comes here on the back of a win over course and distance last time out on the same soft ground predicted for Saturday. That was only a little three runner event but we can’t imagine them using a valuable box for a horse that isn’t up to scratch and she could run a big race here, especially if any of the principles pull out in the next few days.

Lastly, we have heard that Jim Bolger expects better from Flight Risk (4/1) this afternoon as the four year old steps back up in trip after below par efforts over six and seven furlongs. His best run for some time was when second to Sovereign Debt over this trip at The Curragh (well beaten but still a good effort), which is presumably why they try him here today, and he is another worthy of consideration for all the big priced players with each way a poor mans option in such a ridiculously small field.