Sparan Nua can rise to the challenge at Cork

Also at Cork on Sunday, the consistent Fort Vega has decent claims in the Mallow Handicap.

Sparan Nua goes in the Group 3 Darley Munster Oaks Stakes at Cork. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Tracey

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026 - 05:34

Darren Norris

Three Irish meetings this weekend, two of which are National Hunt cards at Downpatrick, with Flat fare coming from Cork on Sunday where Sparan Nua is fancied to land the Group 3 Darley Munster Oaks Stakes.

Unraced as a two-year-old, the Jim Bolger-trained Dawn Approach filly defied odds of 25-1 when scoring impressively on debut at Naas last month.

That form got a timely boost on Thursday when Cromac Quay, the filly Sparan Nua beat by three and a quarter lengths at Naas, bolted up in a Leopardstown maiden.

And Sparan Nua proved her debut success to be no fluke with an equally emphatic success at Gowran Park last time out.

This step up in class will obviously require more but Sparan Nua looks to have the raw talent required to rise to the challenge.

Joseph O’Brien runs three in his bid to win this race for the first time and Nyra, the choice of champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, may prove the biggest threat to Sparan Nua’s unbeaten record.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Bloom should also be in the mix.

Elsewhere on the card, the consistent Fort Vega has decent claims in the Mallow Handicap.

Trained by Sheila Lavery, the six-year-old ran a big race at a big price when second, beaten just a neck by the reopposing Headmaster, in a similar contest at the Curragh on his reappearance last month.

If he runs to that level again, he should be bang in the mix. Off a light weight, the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Indigo Dream is another for the shortlist.

O’Sullivan also trains Driveonwill, the most appealing bet on Saturday’s eight-race jumps card at Downpatrick.

The six-year-old made it 13th time lucky when scoring at the venue last month and can back up that breakthrough success in the Join Racing TV Now With A Free Trial Handicap Chase.

Recent Listowel second Tropical Image can go one place better in the C. Russell Auto Sales Beginners Chase for Limerick trainer Eoin McCarthy.

Henry de Bromhead is well represented at Downpatrick this weekend and She's A Fine Wine can make a winning reappearance in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle on Sunday.

DOWNPATRICK (Saturday)

1.25 Ardeen Joy

2.00 Liceo

2.35 Nakassama

3.10 Moonshine Girl

3.45 Driveonwill (Nap)

4.20 Tropical Image (NB)

4.55 Doyen Wolf

5.30 Katie Can't Count

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1.25 Spring Waltz

2.00 Cozone