Saturday Lucky 15 at Cork: 'The yard's exceptional form can continue' By Enda McElhinneyCork hosts a competitive seven-race card, featuring four hurdle races, two chases and the closing bumper. The highlight, the 2m4f handicap chase at 15:22, sees some potential improvers lock horns. The action kicks off at 12:35 and runs through to the finale at 15:57 and our expert has provided selections and analysis for four of the races on Saturday’s card. 13.05 Cork - Spinola Bay Gordon Elliott had a Christmas period that he won't forget in a hurry and the yard's exceptional form can continue in the 2m1f novice hurdle at Cork as Spinola Bay bids to land the hat-trick after an impressive victory at Leopardstown eight days ago. The six-year-old gelding came to life after being sent handicapping, defying an opening mark of 98 when winning a 2m Navan handicap hurdle in style last month, and he battled well to defy an 8lb rise in a competitive contest in Dublin during Christmas. There's more to come. 14:15 Cork - Cousin Kate Another horse victorious over the Christmas period was Cousin Kate, who won a Limerick handicap hurdle in style on the same day Spinola Bay landed his brace. She should take all the beating in the 2m4f mares' handicap hurdle. Denis Hogan's mare won a 2m Tramore maiden hurdle in October before finding only a Willie Mullins-trained favourite too strong at Gowran on handicap debut where the pair pulled well clear of the rest over 2m4f on heavy ground. A narrow third at Tramore over 2m5f next time, she made short work of her rivals at Limerick and Eoin Staples’ claim offsets most of the 8lb rise in the weights. 14:47 Cork - Mount Shenshan Hurdles winner Mount Shenshan is yet to taste success over larger obstacles from six attempts, but the pick of her form gives her every chance of getting off the mark in the 2m4f beginners' chase for trainer Thomas Mullins. Danny Mullins will take the ride on the eight-year-old mare, who was last seen finishing a respectable sixth of 20 in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse. The front-running type found only A class too strong in a beginners' at Tramore on her penultimate outing and if she's allowed to dictate things on the front end, she should be dangerous. 15:22 Cork - Bal Kauto The Queallys are usually good for a winner in the south around the New Year between Tramore and Cork and there's no reason why Bal Kauto can't fight out the finish in the 2m4f handicap chase. The nine-year-old rattled off a hat-trick of handicap hurdle/chase wins in the summer at Kilbeggan (twice) and Galway, before finishing third in a strong handicap chase at Galway in October when prominent in the betting. Bal Kauto was sent off favourite for a Listed handicap chase here over 3m4f when last seen in the Cork National, but he didn't see out the trip. This should be much more his cup of tea.
