Cork 7:15 Result

In a chaotic 21-runner handicap, recent form and a leading yard/jockey combo stand out. Holy Lettuce (W J Lee, K J Condon) is unexposed at just 3 starts, ran a career-best 4th last time out just 8 days ago and shows clear improvement (5-2-4-7 reading right to left as 5,2,4,7 with the 4 and 7 both solid efforts). Lee is one of the strongest jockeys in Ireland and Condon's yard is in form. The horse is fresh (ran just over a week ago, quick to back up), has a workable draw (3) and at only OR 67 with a lightly-raced profile there looks more to come. Rivals like Highbury See See and Sherekiya (Weld/Aga Khan) are respected but Sherekiya is stepping up in class off a wide draw and hasn't won since a maiden, while Highbury See See's decline in his last two runs (040309 reading recent-to-older, so last run was a 9th) is a slight concern after an initial promising placing. Expound has the profile of one who's struggled to find his form this year (-54047) and carries a big weight at 143lbs, top of the handicap. Star Strewn looks interesting on placed form but has been running well without winning and faces a leap in class/field size. Overall, Holy Lettuce's trajectory, quick backup, in-form stable and top rider tip the balance in a wide-open contest.