2022 Cork Hilly Way Chase Meeting Preview – DS
2022 Cork Hilly Way Meeting Preview and Tips
What a brilliant ride it was by Lily Pinchin on our 25/1 NB Dame Du Soir. She could have easily panicked and chased the leader when he went on early but she was happy to bide her time and she timed her challenge to absolute perfection. Broken Quest let the side down, he probably wants an easier track at that distance. We should be at Punchestown tomorrow but the meeting has fallen foul of the wintry weather. Instead, we head to the Rebel County, check out Dave Stevos’ 2022 Cork Hilly Way Chase meeting tips and preview below.
1.15 – Stayers Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)
The opening two maidens will likely be dominated by the horses at the head of the market so we start with this 3 mile hurdle for the novices. The ground down in Cork is likely to be tacky enough given the frosty conditions this morning. The ground shouldn’t pose any problems for the versatile Monbeg Park. He has won two of his last four, a bumper and a maiden hurdle last time at Punchestown (21.5f yld). A former P2P winner, this trip should be right up his alley and he holds obvious claims.
Letsbeclearaboutit found just American Mike too good last time out. He has already placed in a G2 bumper behind Kilcruit and also in a Listed bumper behind Sir Gerhard. He looked a shade fresh on his return from a long absence at Down Royal and he ought to come on for that considerably. An argument could be made that he has the best form in the book in this contest and he won’t mind the ground.
Naas Winner
Hiddenvalley Lake is by the mighty Sholokhov and he landed a Naas maiden last time out (19f yld/sft). The runner up has won a maiden since so there is a bit of substance to that form. He’s related to a few 3 mile winners but this is a big enough ask on just his second ever run under rules. Cool Survivor has proved to be a better hurdler than bumper horse. A maiden win at Punchestown on good was followed by a Listed win over today’s C&D on testing ground to make it 2/2 over timber. Himself and the runner up pulled over 20L clear of a decent enough horse in 3rd and odds of 9/2 look generous considering his profile.
Senecea was impressive when winning at Wexford but then fell last time at Listowel. Worryingly, he pulled up on his sole try over 24f in a P2P. Easy Fella is a maiden after three starts but he has improved with every run.
If there were 8 runners here I’d give him a small squeak of nicking 3rd. He would have finished closer to Landrake at Clonmel last time only for a bad mistake two out and he also ran a decent race on his hurdling debut at Punchestown. However, Monbeg Park and Cool Warrior are likely to fight out the finish and with just two places on offer e/w, I’ll sit this one out. No bet.
2022 Cork Hilly Way Meeting Tip: No Bet
1.45 – Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2)
Another small field and not a race to get overly excited about. Dinoblue and Impervious head the betting. They both were decent over timber and they both won their chasing debuts. Dinoblue’s win came over this C&D and that might just give her an edge over Colm Murphy’s mare. Instit shaped ok in a couple of Listed hurdles back in the Spring and she has her first run back of the season. She’s ground versatile but she is probably best watched today.
Roseys Hollow chased home Dinoblue last time but it is hard to make a case for her turning that form around. Hope Des Blin was beat when falling behind those two here last time and a clear round will be her priority this afternoon. Another race where the market leaders should dominate. No bet.
2022 Cork Hilly Way Meeting Tip: No Bet
2.20 – Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2)
Forget Energumene, the one I can’t wait to see back in action is Master McShee. Pat Corkery’s son of Malinas won for us on Stephens’ Day last year and he went on to run a couple of very good races behind Galopin Des Champs. This will be a sharp enough test for him on his seasonal bow and he is up against one of the best two milers in the business. Energumene is the reigning Champion Chaser of the UK and Ireland and his only defeat last year was in that epic race vs Shishkin. He hosed up at 1/3 in this race last season, a similar outcome could be on the cards today.
Master McShee has run well after breaks in the past so he should be best of the rest. Born By The Sea is another friend of the blog who won the Blazers at Galway for us a couple of years ago. He surely wants further than this. Epson Du Houx ticks the course form box having landed a handicap chase off 140 here last November. After over a year off the track, he’s best watched.
Fastorslow is another one that would probably prefer a longer trip. Martin Brassil plotted his way to the Spring Festivals with this lad and finished 2nd at both Cheltenham and Punchestown. Those runs came over 19f and 21f and he could need this to blow away the cobwebs. Energumene is the most likely winner by far but old habits die hard and at 12/1, I can’t resist having a small e/w bet on Master McShee. He should be able to get 2nd and if Energumene misfires…
2022 Cork Hilly Way Meeting Tip: Master McShee e/w @ 12/1 nb
2.50 – Bar One Racing Handicap Hurdle (0-116)
A minefield of a handicap hurdle. Emmet Mullins, a man lauded as a genius for getting horses handicapped (unllike some other, less fashionable trainers), has the well backed favourite here. Hardy Bloke sports first time cheekpieces and it will be interesting to see what effect the application of cash has. The son of Rail Link showed a glimmer of ability at Gowran when 5th last time off 109 but he was still beat over 20 lengths. Is this another Emmett Mullins plot job? Probably, but on all known form I couldn’t be backing him at odds of 5/2.
Meetingofthewaters has also been well backed. However, he is making his handicap debut and I’ve learnt from experience that backing horses having their first handicap start can be a costly business. The one I like at half decent odds is Low Lie The Fields.
He ran a nice race over this C&D last time out when 3rd. Yes, he was beaten almost 9L but it was a big improvement on his seasonal comeback. This ground will be to his liking and he has placed off 116 in the past. So, with Mikey O’Connor’s 5lbs claim, he looks well handicapped off effectively 109. His jumping can be sketchy at times but the first time cheekpieces could sharpen him up in that department and in a wide open race, Low Lie The Fields is the e/w selection at 14/1.
2022 Cork Hilly Way Meeting Tip: Low Lie The Fields e/w @ 14/1 (5 Places) NAP
3.20 – Novice Handicap Hurdle (80-102)
A low grade handicap for the novices closes the show at Cork. We have another Emmet Mullins favourite here. A Cheap Thrill, pulled up last time and beaten a combined distance of 488L on his eight completed starts, is 7/4. Another one where the application of cash (and cheekpieces) will need to elicit a monstrous amount of improvement.
At massive odds, maybe this step up in trip will enable Flemenora to run on late for a place. Trained by Yvonne Dunleavy, this daughter of Flemensfirth ran her best race to date on her handicap bow at Limerick last time out (16f sft). She was ridden patiently and while she was 30L behind the easy winner Brandy Harbour, she kept on well enough from the back to finish 6th, 12L behind A Mere Bagatelle, who finished 2nd off 4lbs higher on his next start.
This 5yo mare has tried this trip before but in maiden company on better ground. Her half brother, The Questioner, has won over 24f on soft ground and her dam is a half to Monksland, a soft ground G2 winner over 24f and also to the very useful staying chaser, Lord Accord. Flemenora can throw in the occasional jumping error but she didn’t jump too badly last time and the step back up in trip should help her as they won’t be going quite as quickly. In a trappy race, hopefully she can stay on late to pick up some e/w money at odds of 80/1.