Shield out to fend off Cork rivals While Aidan O'Brien's focus is on his battalion of Classic contenders at this time of year, the master of Ballydoyle will also have half an eye on the jumps card at Cork on Friday evening. O'Brien runs two at the Mallow track and will be hoping Shield can gain an overdue win in the opening maiden hurdle. The JP McManus-owned gelding bids to atone for a disappointing effort at Gowran Park last time when he faded tamely in the closing stages having been sent off a 4-9 shot. The five-year-old has been placed five times now over timber, the best of those efforts when chasing home the smart Sure Reef at Leopardstown over Christmas. The testing conditions may have been against him at Gowran as having gained his sole win on the all-weather surface at Dundalk it is fair to assume he wants better ground. Willie Mullins provides the main threat in the shape of Ashjar who looked unlucky at Wexford when badly hampered at the last. O'Brien is also represented by Maasai in the three-mile maiden hurdle later on the card. The Milan gelding has been bought by McManus having shown promise on his sole start last November when fifth at Fairyhouse. Springbelle looks a leading contender in the staying event after some good efforts at the start of the year while Thekingofconnemara would be a big player if reproducing his Leopardstown run behind Is Love Alive and Emperor Of Exmoor.
