LAURELS CHAMPION MAGICAL ON FIRE CHASING CORK OAKS SUCCESS

Barry Drake

Curraheen Park plays host to a top-class 11-race card tonight. The feature races are the opening round of the €7,000 to the winner SSO Personnel Cork Oaks, and it has attracted an outstanding line-up.

Top of the list is the 2025 Laurels Champion, Magical On Fire, for the kennel of Patrick Guilfoyle. She went on to win the Christmas Oaks at Shelbourne Park, and her recent 27.93 spin around Curraheen Park tells us she should take the world of stopping in the second heat.

A recent third in the final of the Gold Cup at Shelbourne Park, Liam Dowling's Ballymac Siun will be all the rage in the fourth and final heat. The classy performer has some fancy runs in the book, and she clocked a fantastic 28.30 a couple of starts ago. From the rails pitch, she should be in front early, and she should make all the running.

Heat three is a real puzzle. The Michael O'Donovan-trained Lone Calling should make a bold bid from the front. She clocked 28.44 around Clonmel recently, and the quick starter should go very well from the rails pitch. The Jennifer O'Donnell-trained The Other Mel posted 28.28 in a recent spin around Cork, and the talented lady has obvious claims on that running. Lemon Orla makes her return to racing action, and the Tom O'Neill-trained runner is expected to be powering home. She clocked a top-class 28.19 in a recent spin. Liam Dowling's Ballymac Kamala has some eye-catching form, and John Linehan's Droopys Crioa are others that have the pace to be in the mix.

In the opening heat, a narrow vote goes to Aghadown Flight. Trained by Graham Holland for Niall Collins, she comes here in good form, winning in 28.79 around course and distance last time. Capable of going much quicker, a big run is likely.

In the opening Unraced Final, Drive On Flint can make it a hat trick of straight wins for Chris O'Donovan. The September puppy is an improving sort and going on his 28.65 winning performance last week, he should prove a class apart from the rails pitch.

Princess Rosie, trained by Kieran Lynch for Vincent O'Keeffe, looks well graded at A3 level, and from the inside of the track, she should be in control throughout. A 17.54 winner around the 330-yard trip last week, the selection stands out in the third.

A couple of high-profile names line up in the fifth, it looks like a wide-open affair with the nod going to the Adam Dunford-trained Jacktavern Alf. He's interesting dropping down in trip and he looks capable of a huge run. Tiermana Dream, for trainer Colm Fitzgerald, clocked 17.54 last week, and he's a huge runner on that form. Seven Beach, for trainer Jennifer O'Donnell, has plenty of top-class winning form, and he's a player from the outside of the track.

In the closing race, Liam Dowling's Ballymac Iroko has leading claims. Such a strong and powerful running tracker, if he comes away on terms, he will take plenty of beating in this. The Kieran Lynch trained Shanahee Boomer makes his return to racing action, and he's always a tough nut to crack around the Cork circuit. Both look set to battle it out up front. It's a fantastic card from top to tail.