RACING at Cork looks set to go ahead after surviving an afternoon inspection yesterday. Still, the meeting, which features the reappearance of Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq, is subject to a 7.0 a.m. precautionary inspection today.
The first race is rescheduled for 1.25 p.m., but the European Breeders Fund Nursery has been abandoned and the European Breeders Fund Mallow Handicap over six-furlongs will be run on the round course.
It is perhaps an act of faith to nap Istabraq, in the second race, when he is making his first appearance of the season and facing into ground that obviously is just about raceable.
But Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Swan will appreciate the sentiment attaching to the race which JP sponsors in memory of John James McManus.
Furthermore, Istabraq has been so wonderfully consistent since he first jumped a hurdle, and the only defeats in two seasons came first time out at Punchestown in November 1996, when touched off by Noble Thyne, and then last time out at Aintree in April by Pridwell.
In both cases the margin of defeat was a head only, and in between those two photo finishes he had won 10 consecutive races.
These statistics show just how different an individual he is to his three-parts brother Secreto. He may have won an Epsom Derby, but made only four racecourse appearances in his career.
Keeping jumpers at any level sound can be a nightmare for trainers. It was therefore an excellent achievement for all connected with the former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Call to produce him fit enough and well enough to win the Murphys Irish Stout Munster National at Limerick last month.
On an afternoon when the minds of Dermot Weld and Michael Kinane will be 12,000 miles away, reliving the Melbourne Cup glory day of Vintage Crop, the combination could post a double with Social Harmony and Profit Alert.
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