Special Tiara, left© Photo Healy Racing
Racegoers at Cork are in for a treat as Henry de Bromhead's Special Tiara is on show in the Cork Handicap Hurdle.
Now a seven-year-old, he looked to have a big future when he won the Grade One John Smith's Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree in April 2013 with Overturn, Alderwood and Sire De Grugy all behind him.
Things have not exactly gone to plan since then - indeed he has not won - but he showed the fire burns bright when conditions are in his favour on his last run over fences, when he finished less than five lengths behind Sire De Grugy in third in the Celebration Chase at Sandown Park.
He had his first ever run on the level at Killarney last month and ran well to be second.
De Bromhead sends him over timber for the first time since he won a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan in July 2012 and off a mark of 116, he must be hard to beat.
The County Waterford handler saddles Equity Swap in the Follow Us On Twitter Maiden Hurdle, which opens the meeting at 2.20, and a reproduction of his Punchestown fourth to Cape Glory might be good enough if he is over his Killarney fall last month.
Dermot Weld 's sole runner on the card is Waaheb in the Social Package Hurdle and he is difficult to oppose.
A winner at the track already, the seven-year-old has not been seen since his emphatic Limerick success on the level in April, but he should prove a class above his rivals. Hard Fought could be well treated off a mark of 95 in the Family Day Out Mares Handicap Hurdle following an improved Wexford performance 10 days ago.
The six-year-old finished third behind Bashful Beauty, with subsequent Galway Festival winner Cacheofgold splitting them, and that form gives her a big chance. Seeyouallincoppers is another potentially well treated in the Ticket Sales Online At corkracecourse.ie Handicap Hurdle.
The gelding has been kept busy on the Flat with recent spins at Navan and Killarney and he ran a creditable third off 6lb higher when last sighted over hurdles at Ballinrobe in June.
