Elliott Can Make His Mark On The Level At Cork

There were a few upsets on Good Friday and some short priced favourites overturned as the All Weather Championships were decided and there’s some more action on the level to look forward to on Saturday ahead of the main focus turning to Fairyhouse for the BoyleSports Irish Grand National meeting.

Cork stage an interesting eight race card with some very well bred sorts and some costly purchases in maidens which could throw up a name or two for the future. There are some decent betting opportunities between the Mallow venue and Musselburgh also.

Lyons To Reap Rewards With Karawaan
Ger Lyons has a good record with owner David Spratt when getting horses from other yards and Karawaan made the perfect start to life in Ireland when the ex-Sir Michael Stoute inmate won the Irish Lincoln at Naas on debut.

The five-year-old should be better over further but his half sister, Rajeem, was a winner of a Group 1 over a mile and in the Lincoln it didn’t prove to be any obstacle to his ability.

Of course, you don’t win an Irish Lincoln on your Irish debut without getting a hike from the handicapper and Karawaan has a 10lbs hike to contend with now although that might still be a fair rise from the assessor.

The vibes after his win on the opening day of the season was that there might be more to come from him and…

he is picked to land the feature race at Cork this Easter Saturday.

Elliott Can Make His Mark On The Level
Gordon Elliott hasn’t really ran enough on the Flat yet this season to give us a good guide as to where his team are at for the level but we should know more after today as he looks to have a couple of good chances.

With a dozen runners in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National on Monday, that will be the main focus of attention for the Meath man but we all know he loves to have winners anywhere and Penyslvania Avenue might be overpriced for the three-year-old only handicap.

The son of Zoffany cost the Nick Bradley Racing Club €60,000 and won his maiden at the second time of asking when scoring at Dundalk last November.

His first assignment was in a race won by Ten Sovereigns so he certainly won’t be adjudged too harshly on that and while he lacks experience of his 17 rivals on his handicap debut and just his third start, a rating of 75 could be fairly lenient on the colt.

Davis Could Cause A Storm In Musselburgh
Sean Davis could well find himself mixing it in the apprentice championship in the UK this season and the promising Irish rider can land a big Saturday feature today if Eye Of the Storm can find anything like his best form.

Any followers of this nine-year-old might be quickly losing faith in the former Aidan O’Brien-trained runner but he’ll get few chances to win a prize like this again.

With just 8st on his back thanks to Davis’ claim, Eye Of The Storm is effectively running off a rating of 82 and for a dual Listed winner and a Group 3 winner that is a lowly mark if he can find his comfort zone back in a lesser grade.

Eye Of The Storm has only won once since leaving O’Brien and that was a Listed race almost four years ago.

He was pitched in at a high level for most of his races however and was a 100/1 shot when last seen in the Cesarewitch. He was a stayer who could win on any ground when in Ballydoyle and some of his runs last year gave some hope that he could win again.

At 20/1 he just looked a horse that was overpriced on a tricky afternoon.

Recommended Bets:
Karawaan (11/4) – 2.30 Cork
Penyslvania Avenue (2/1) – 1.55 Cork
Eye Of the Storm (28/1) – 3.35 Musselburgh

*Prices correct at time of publication.