Cray, red, winning at Tipperary© Photo Healy Racing
Cray bids for quick back-to-back wins at Cork today after landing a significant gamble on Thursday.
Gavin Cromwell ’s charge left his previous hurdles form well behind when backed from 16-1 into 5-1 favourite at Tipperary.
Jonathan Moore steered the Rip Van Winkle gelding to a cosy three-length success then and he has just 4lb extra to carry now.
The five-year-old, a winner over two-miles-one on the level, steps up to three miles for the first time over timber and Cromwell feels that will not be a problem.
The Buy Online @Corkracecourse.ie Handicap Hurdle does not looks the strongest event and if recent exertions have not left a mark Cray looks like he could prove hard to beat. Call Of The Loon also comes into the race in winning form, having scored at Kilbeggan just over two weeks ago.
David Ryan ’s charge was also an easy winner last time, scoring by six and a half lengths at odds of 20-1. The handicapper reacted by sticking him up 13lb and he may find life a bit tougher. Popong looks to have found a nice stepping stone in the Ballymaloe Relish Rated Novice Hurdle earlier on the card.
Henry de Bromhead’s charge went to post a 16-1 shot on her debut at Wexford but belied those odds to run out a convincing winner.
That form has been boosted with the third Trappist Monk winning recently and a mark of 116 may prove lenient enough for the daughter of Subtle Power.
Hugh Morgan again takes a valuable 7lb off her back in the two-mile-three contest. Jack Hackett winner of the point-to-point bumper at Cork last month, turns his attention to hurdling in the Examiner Maiden Hurdle.
Dot Love ’s gelding looks a horse on the upgrade after an impressive point-to-point win at Durrow followed up by that Cork victory.
The three-mile trip and the decent ground look in his favour and he may be able to register a hat-trick.
