Cork primed for starring role

Cork All Star is all set for the Bar-One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday after coming through his latest piece of work with flying colours.

The five-year-old won his first four National Hunt Flat races last season culminating in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham before being beaten at Punchestown and he made a successful hurdling debut at Fairyhouse last month.

He has hardened to 6-4 favourite from 7-4 with Cashmans for the two-mile heat.

Harrington said: “It was grand, perfect, and I’m very happy with him, but it looks being a very hot race.

“I don’t want it too soft, but it’s the same for everyone and we’ve got to start somewhere.”

Eddie Harty warns that if the going was heavy he would not risk Captain Cee Bee, who was trimmed to 5-1 from 10-1, while Colm Murphy also does not want it too soft for Megans Joy.

Captain Cee Bee, owned by JP McManus, has won his two hurdle races this autumn, both at Punchestown, in impressive fashion.

“I couldn’t have asked him to do any more than he’s done so far,” said Harty.

“He’s come out of his last race very well. The only proviso I would have is that if we got too much rain and the ground went heavy, he wouldn’t run.

“All things being equal, he’ll run on Sunday. It’s a hot race and it’s entitled to be – it’s a Grade One – but he’s in good form.”

Megans Joy has improved out of all recognition since the start of the season, winning five races in succession – culminating with a victory at Grade Three level at Down Royal last time.

“It will all depend on the weather if she runs on not, If the ground is very soft or heavy she won’t run,” said Murphy.

“Anything better than that and she probably will run.

“She wants decent ground and all her form is on nice ground.

“It’s yielding at the minute so we’d be running at the moment but I don’t want to pull her about on soft ground.”

Bar-One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, Cashmans bet: 6-4 Cork All Star, 3-1 Noel Meade stable (Jered, Muirhead, Narquois), 9-2 Megans Joy (with a run), 5-1 Captain Cee Bee, 12-1 Sizing Africa, 14-1 Woodbine Willie, 16-1 bar.