Fran Berry looks ahead to today's action from Cork and Fairyhouse with selections at both meeting in Ireland.
Recommended bets, Sunday July 5
1pt win Shalaalaa in 3.05 Cork at 7/2
1pt e.w. The Truant in 3.55 Fairyhouse at 6/1
1pt win Snow in 5.15 Cork at 4/1
1pt win Pistoletto in 5.30 Fairyhouse at 15/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
I'm on duty for Racing TV today from Cork where I'm really looking forward to some informative races but the first tip is for The Truant at Fairyhouse in the 10-furlong handicap for three-year-olds at 3.55.
Jessica Harrington trains and he showed some decent form in Dundalk over the winter. He made a good return to action in a competitive handicap at Leopardstown, which was only his fifth run on grass.
He stuck to his task well and the form has worked out extremely well since. With normal improvement and cheekpices back on (has won with them in the past), he rates a solid each-way proposition from a good draw with decent claimer on board in Scott McCullagh.
I was fully intending on putting up Landing Zone in division one of the handicap for older horses but he's been the subject of a complete price crash and doesn't really appeal now around 9/4.
He was interesting at 5/1 after tipping him last time out when he ran well in fourth (well backed there too) but perhaps he's a horse who will continue to get himself into trouble. But he'll pop up soon.
One I am quite sweet on is Aidan O'Brien's Pistoletto in the Group Three Ballycorus Stakes over seven furlongs.
He's an each-way price but I don't have him down as the most reliable so gets a small win bet. He ran very well at Naas, is drawn well in two here and will love the step up in trip, certainly on pedigree anyway.
The Commonwealth Cup was a bit too hot for him but he stuck on well enough and will enjoy today's conditions. As for the trip, all his family are milers and he's by War Front so the trip should be a major plus.
Speak in Colours is the danger but I'm less convinced about the trip suiting him.
Onto Cork and the first fancy goes in the four-runner Group Three Marble Hill Stakes. Military Style is a very short priced favourite after showing a good attitude to get up and score on debut.
However, Shalaalaa may have appeared to be the Ger Lyons second-string on paper when winning first time out at Fairyhouse but he left a deep impression with the way he made up ground off a slow pace.
He could possibly just have too much speed for the favourite and at the prices he makes a lot of sense to me.
In the feature Munster Oaks, Search For A Song is of interest given the addition of a hood but she's a watching brief for me at the moment.
I see the Lyons-trained Yaxeni is now shorter in the betting than Snow but I felt she ran a huge race at Leopardstown when two and a half lengths in front of Yaxeni.
She looks to be crying out for the step up to a mile and a half as she's a full sister to Kew Gardens. She's a lot of quality about her and whatever she's been doing over shorter she's surely going to improve at a trip.
Posted at 1100 BST on 05/07/20
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