Sprint star Maarek returns at Cork Group One winner Maarek makes his first start for Evanna McCutcheon in the Listed Cork Stakes over six furlongs on Sunday. McCutcheon has taken over training of the seven-year-old but was involved with his preparation last term when acting as assistant to former trainer Barry Lalor. Declan McDonogh is again on the durable Pivotal gelding after their huge success in the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp last October. Maarek has failed to strike gold in two previous visits to Cork and faces some fair rivals headed by Smoothtalkinrascal. The English have a good record when raiding Irish sprints but the David O'Meara team will be hoping for better than Switcher's fourth place here 12 months ago, with the 2013 winner Bold Thady Quill also back to try his luck again. The www.corkracecourse.ie Fillies Race has only three runners but it could be informative nonetheless. Dance With Another is tried in cheek-pieces but she'll need to do much better than at the Curragh on the opening day of the turf season. Assessed as a 94-rated filly, Tahaany really should take the beating considering that she emanates from the in-form Dermot Weld yard. It has to be taken on trust that she'll get through the heavy ground. Weld could also be on the mark courtesy of Flic Flac in the Mallow Handicap and Elegant Peace in the Follow Us On Twitter Handicap. There is another small field on the day with five set to take their chance in the Cork Racecourse Handicap. Sons and daughters of Danehill Dancer don't usually have an issue with testing underfoot conditions so top-weight Danehill Brook looks the one. Elsewhere Jamie Spencer is in Ireland again to partner the Qatar Racing-owned, Johnny Murtagh-trained Jocular and hopes will be high that he can go a place better than at Dundalk 16 days ago.
