Connections to follow this weekend: 'Cork has been a happy hunting ground for Robcour' Irish racing fans have been treated to a feast of top-class action over Christmas and there’s more Grade 1 action to look forward to at Naas on Sunday. Saturday’s Cork fixture is first on the agenda however and it should be a good one. There are seven races on the schedule and the ground is currently described as yielding to soft, soft in places. All the big guns are represented and you won’t want to miss the action! We’ve selected an owner, trainer and jockey to follow across the card and they include one of Ireland’s top trainers, who is heading in the right direction after a lean spell. Owner - Robcour One of the most prominent owners in Ireland, Brian Acheson’s familiar pink, white and black silks were carried to victory at Fairyhouse and Tramore on Thursday, with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Heart Wood winning the Grade 3 New Years’ Day Chase at Tramore. Cork has been a happy hunting ground for Robcour so far this season, as they are the course’s top owner with three winners from five runners. Speculateur is Robcour’s sole representative at Cork and the five-year-old won a point-to-point at Ballyknock in good style before joining Gordon Elliott and he was a respectable fourth in a bumper at Punchestown on his first start under rules. Trainer - Henry de Bromhead It’s been a rough couple of months for the Henry de Bromhead yard, as winners were scarce and lots of their horses failed to fire. The Christmas period was much more promising for them however and the winners are starting to come. Connections looked after Raglan Road’s handicap mark last season and it almost paid off, as he ran a cracker to finish third behind Wodhooh in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He made the switch to fences this season and looked in need of the run when seventh behind the useful Irish Panther at Naas in November. The son of Soldier Of Fortune wasn’t given too hard a time at Fairyhouse last time and handicaps will bring out the best in him. Mary O’G is set to make her debut in the concluding bumper and there will be plenty of interested parties, as she’s a half-sister to the excellent Gerri Colombe. Jockey - Jack Kennedy Injuries haven’t been kind to Jack Kennedy in recent years, but he has had a relatively clear run for much of this season. The aforementioned Speculateur is likely to be in the mix and the hat-trick-seeking Spinola Bay appears to have a massive chance. Juke Hill was second behind an impressive winner in a Down Royal maiden hurdle in October but looked a little one-paced when fifth at Fairyhouse next time. Getaway Beo won a maiden hurdle at Tipperary on debut and 110 looks like a nice mark on handicap debut. He also rides Beggars Rock in the 2m4f handicap chase and he won a beginners’ chase at Kilbeggan for Declan Queally in May. Having joined Elliott since, it’ll be interesting to see how he fares on his stable debut.
