A head to head Bank Holiday clash Cork versus Fairyhouse sees Fairyhouse winning the battle for runners, although there is more money on offer down south. The nap is confidently appended to Arctic Copper in the Hangover Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
He runs in the name and colours of the Grand Alliance Racing Club whose membership is heavily weighted with politicians of the calibre of Brian Cowan, John O'Donoghue and Dessie O'Malley.
After he had won his bumper at Navan in December, his trainer Noel Meade predicted that the club members would be sure of plenty of fun over hurdles. His first jumping run was at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day when in a big field he stayed on to be third to the more experienced Gaelogan.
You could toss a coin between Pat Hughes's pair, Quinze and Mantles Prince, in the four-runner Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle but on this right-handed circuit Quinze will be the more effective.
Another trainer to provide a small field puzzle is Dessie Hughes in the bumper. There has been money of late for Southbay, one of his two runners, but Philip Fenton has been booked for the other, Parnell McGlue. Stay-athome backers may find Charlie Swan's newcomer King Balthasaar a safer option.
Although Royal Barathea (215) finished well back behind Young American at Leopardstown, this useful flat handicapper ran well to two out and could show the necessary improvement to beat the biggest field of the two cards.
Since going freelance Barry Geraghty has ridden with significant success for some of the biggest stables in the country but today he could have a double for two small Co Kildare yards, partnering Give Over (1-45) for Edward Hales and and Empor Star (3-15) for Peter Mc Creery.
Despite the meagre runners Cork punters could still be seriously perplexed in their search for winners. I see nothing of nappable quality, although the 7lb claim of Shane Fitzgerald on Rossmill Native could change the holiday season fortunes of Pat Flynn in the first round of the Power Gold Label Handicap Hurdle series. Moscow Retreat (12-30) will have a struggle on his hands to concede 10lb to Philip Carberry's mount Mill Lane Lady, who already this year has upset a favourite over fences when defeating Royal Marine at Tramore on New Year's Day.
