This season’s Irish Lincoln hero Karawaan can make it two wins from as many starts for Ger Lyons in the featured mile handicap at Cork this afternoon.
A reasonable sort in Britain, Karawaan looked a horse to keep on the right side of when he made a winning Irish debut at Naas last month.
The son of Sea The Stars has been hit with a 10lb hike in the ratings for that Lincoln triumph but this may not be enough to prevent him from following up.
He probably has most to fear from the improving Annie Fior who struck at Leopardstown earlier in the month and then followed up at Gowran several days later.
The most interesting event of the day is the three-year-old conditions race where Paddy Twomey’s Decrypt is a fascinating runner.
He showed a lot of promise in his two outings last season and won a Curragh maiden on his final appearance last June.
On that occasion, Decrypt defeated eight subsequent winners and he looked a horse that could go on to hold his own in stakes company.
He does have a considerable absence to overcome but his trainer is more than capable of having his inmates ready at the first time of asking.
An obvious threat is the Ballydoyle colt Western Frontier who got off the mark on his third and final outing at Navan in October.
This race demands more from the son of Scat Daddy but he looked like one that would progress well from two to three.
In the first of the day’s maidens Killourney is put forward to build on a promising debut in October.
Willie McCreery’s charge finished a good second to Tankerville that day and there should be plenty of improvement to come from him.
Today’s card features a number of runners for Gordon Elliott and his Pensylvania Avenue is the choice in the three-year-old handicap.
This colt was down the field on his debut last year but did much better next time when winning a Dundalk maiden.
On his first start since November, Pensylvania Avenue carries top weight but he doesn’t look too badly treated off a mark of 75 and there are more races to be won with him.
Peter O’Hehir's tips
1.20.Killourney
1.55.Pensylvania Avenue
2.30.Karawaan (Nap)
3.05.Decrypt
3.40.Zarandi
4.10.Globe Theatre
4.45.Dance Alone
5.20.Grandmaster Flash
Next Best
1.20.Tracker Saga
1.55.The Names Jock
2.30.Annie Fior
3.05.Western Frontier
3.40.Wartime Hero
4.10.Dark Endeavour
4.45.Solomons Seal
5.20.California Daddy
Double: Karawaan and Decrypt
O’Hehir’s Longshot: Time Stands Still (4.45)
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