ACE COULD BE THE STAR OF THE PACK IN THE DANNY CORKERY MEMORIAL
Barry Drake
The €5,000 to the winner Danny Corkery A3/A4 stake gets underway at Curraheen Park tonight, and it promises to be a great event over the next couple of weeks.
In the second heat, Oakfront Ace stands out for trainer John Morrisey and owners the Oakfront Syndicate. The April puppy has a couple of eye-catching trial runs in the book, and that was a big run around Shelbourne Park last time out. The selection looks like an improving sort, and he has a nice touch of early pace. If doing things right, the exciting prospect should make all the running.
Borna Pedro is another with claims along the rails for William Curtin. He has plenty of pace, but he needs to come away better. If he can improve in the trapping department from the rails pitch, he should give them all plenty to think about in this.
In the third heat, Burgess Dream is of interest for the kennel of JJ Fennelly. The selection has yet to score in four starts, but there are a couple of decent runs in the book. He looked in need of that outing last time out, and with improvement expected, he should be in the mix. Drawn well along the inside of the track, the well-graded runner looks capable of a very big run.
Victory Queen is another with claims for the Pat Moloney team. This lady has some fine form around Youghal, and she's improving all the time. The in-form tracker can start and stay, and she should deliver a big performance on Curraheen Park debut.
In other races, Confident Hugo, for trainer James Kelleher, has claims of recording back-to-back winning performances in the opener. In the ownership of the Length And A Half Syndicate, the strong-running selection beat a strong field of runners on Laurel's final night.
Drawn well along the inside of the track, if producing one of his better starts, he will take a great deal of stopping. The step back up in distance will suit, and he will have plenty of supporters in this. A previous 29.64 winner around course and distance, it will take a good performance to turn him over.
David Harrington's Super Syd is another that ran well on Laurel's final night, and he's not without a chance. A quick start will be needed, but he is capable of a big display in this.
Of the others, Peroni Turbo can't be ruled out for trainer Kieran Lynch and the Hold On To Your Hat Syndicate. The in-form kennel enjoyed a great double last Saturday night, and this pacey performer has the gears to be in the mix.
In the second, Arch Whisperer is the pick for the Home By Ten Syndicate. In the care of Marguerite Grassick, the five-time winner has been a real success story in recent months.
A Curraheen Park sales purchase, he has delivered a couple of big performances in recent times. Last time out, he made no mistake when winning a nice little stake around Kilcohan Park.
The in-form selection drops back down in distance here, and he's well able to produce a fast start. In doing so, he is the one they all have to beat.
Bridevalley Max, for the O'Herlihy family, is next best. He was below his usual best last time out, but he has some smart winning form in the book, and he could well bounce back in this.