Crystal Pearl can get off the mark for Charles Byrnes

Crystal Pearl should be capable of giving Charles Byrnes his first success of 2015 in the opener on Cork’s Red FM Student Race Day at Cork racecourse in Mallow today.

This Beat Hollow filly, a winner on the flat for Mark Tompkins in England, has filled the runner-up berth in two of her three starts since joining Byrnes and is expected to bounce back from a disappointing run in Navan last time.

Second to Vercingetorix on her hurdling bow at Limerick over Christmas, Crystal Pearl then started favourite for a mares maiden at Leopardstown and failed to cope with Golan Road, with subsequent winner Bonny Kate back in sixth spot.