At Cork, Pierce Construction sponsors a seven race all National Hunt card. The recent dry spell means that the fields are small.
The featured event is the E35,000 Listed Pierce Group Kinsale Handicap Chase, where nine runners will face the starter. John Fowler's Fiery Ring is a consistent sort but with a top weight of 12st, may find it difficult to give weight away to a few of these rivals.
Michael Hourigan's King Carew makes his chasing reappearance after a heavy fall at the Galway Festival in July. This front runner has performed well on the Flat recently, but is best watched here.
Willie Mullins' Tuesday is somewhat unexposed in comparison to some of these experienced handicappers. Although he is without a run since February (when finishing five lengths third to the smart Kadoun at Limerick), runners from this yard rarely lack fitness and the lightly raced gelding may provide some value here.
The concluding bumper is an intriguing contest. Breach Of Trust and Beauchamp Gigi hail from yards which regularly produce first time bumper winners and look sure to start at short prices. Former point to point winners Blink Of An Eye and Brown Rooney have had plenty of opportunities to win bumper, and are best avoided.
Pat Morris' Early Hours is selected to win on the basis that the filly looked to have regained some of her best form when finishing third behind Rory Sunset at Down Royal last month. Her career debut, in December 2001, saw her chase home the promising Ar Mhuin Na Muice in a winners bumper at Navan. A reproduction of either of those efforts may suffice.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
