Cork racecourse has a 7.00am precautionary inspection this morning too see how the track has held up to the poor weather in the last 24 hours, but should it go ahead, the best bet on the six-race card could be in the last.
Three runner-up placings next to Edward Street's name in the bumper may cause rumbles of worry but it seems best to quell them as Francis Flood's representative looks to have his best chance yet of getting her head in front.
Twice foiled at Fairyhouse, Edward Street again found one too good for her at Clonmel earlier in the month when finishing three lengths off the favourite Glens Music.
It is a concern that Edward Street seems to have had a case of second-itis up to now, but against that, the Flood team have had a number of bumper winners recently and the best of Edward Street's opposition, with form, today looks to be Kid Vid whose only run came last August.
In the circumstances, it seems appropriate to place the nap in the last race of 1997 and Edward Street looks capable of heralding the new year on a successful note.
In the opener, The Singing Lord is likely to attract his share of followers after finishing a reasonable third to The Illegal Alien on heavy ground at Limerick on Sunday. On a quick reappearance he has his chance but it could pay to look elsewhere for the winner and specifically at Lafontd'or.
The Willie Austin-trained six-year-old is a half-brother to Danoli and while he may not have the talent of his illustrious relative, Lafontd'or was chasing the eventual winner Dynamic Venture to good effect when falling at the second last at Navan earlier in the month. With a clear round today, Lafontd'or will go close.
The most valuable race on the card is the £10,000 O'Callaghan Hotels Handicap Hurdle where Windgap Hill, trained by the bang in form Arthur Moore, will be fancied to follow up his success over Dons Delight and Taoibhin here in a maiden three weeks ago.
Dons Delight didn't particularly frank the form at Leopardstown however and it may be worth giving another chance to Runabout who fluffed his chance at Limerick on Sunday with a bad jump at the last when upsides the winner Rose Of Stradbally.
Runabout is reunited with the talented young jockey Paul Hourigan, who timed his effort to great effect on this horse at Tipperary some weeks earlier, and the partnership look to be a value prospect.
Although the two miles of the Beginners' Chase looks on the short side for Slaney Fayre, Donie Hassett's horse has run well in his last two races and on the predicted heavy ground, may have enough of a test of stamina on his hands to beat another Moore trained runner Owenduff.
Generosa had some decent flat form last season including a decent effort in the November Handicap and is worth checking out in the mares' maiden hurdle while Shuil Na Mhuire, who was found to have a mild colic when pulled up at Leopardstown on Monday, is worth another chance in the handicap chase if reappearing.
Spring Gale had backers fuming when beaten at odds of 1 to 3 at Doncaster earlier in the month but atoned for his sins by winning the Tote Novices' Chase (Qualifier) at Stratford yesterday. "We held him up last time as he is a bit of an old thinker so we thought we would change tactics today and he was a different horse today," explained successful trainer Oliver Sherwood.
