Cork gets the Easter programme underway this afternoon with a mixed card but it's the opening two flat races that can pay off for punters, initially in the apparently unlikely shape of Stillanall.
The phrase unlikely is unavoidable considering Stillanall's trainer Pat Flynn hasn't had a winner since mid-November but maybe this tough and hardy seven-year-old can break that streak.
Certainly there was nothing too wrong with his seasonal debut at Gowran three weeks ago when Stillanall was a beaten favourite behind Peace Prevails. That race was over a mile however and two victories at Galway and Navan last year testify that what Stillanall needs is a sprint distance on soft ground.
He gets that today in the opener and considering he is still on the same mark he won off at Galway, he doesn't look badly treated.
Ranged against him are very realistic dangers such as Mick Kinane's mount Carhue Gold, Shanko, the Curragh runner-up Basin Street Blues and maybe most dangerous of all the course and distance third Irish Lady.
However all those are drawn high while Stillanall is drawn next to the stands rail where the decent apprentice Danny Grant should be able to ride a race from. Given the right splits, Stillanall should go close. The forecast 'soft' ground should not inconvenience the Lake Coniston newcomer Paper Moon in the fillies maiden and Aidan O'Brien's high opinion of Paper Moon can be vindicated at the expense of Gifts Galore and the talented but luckless juvenile of last year, Yara.
The most valuable race is the £20,000 Murphys Handicap Hurdle which could see Dustin with a chance of returning to Navanwinning form while Conor O'Dwyer and Arthur Moore can team up successfully now that the dual-Punchestown scorer Lord Of The Dance returns to the two miles for the handicap chase.
Corrogurm has been runner-up in two starts to date, including when behind Knock Lad at Gowran, but is hard to get away from in the bumper.
