Cork – Saturday
The weekend action gets underway at Cork on Saturday with a seven-race card beginning at 12.27. There will be high hopes of a County Wexford success for trainer Sean Doyle and jockey Rob James with the seven-year-old Lucky Max which will be suited by the step back up in distance for the feature Racing Again March 23rd Handicap Hurdle.
Flying the flag for Ireland in the Grade 1 Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday is the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Arctic Bresil. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the six-year-old faces seven rivals and is no forlorn hope after impressing when winning a maiden hurdle at Cork a month ago.
Naas – Sunday
Nine runners, representing seven different trainers, are set to line up for the first Grade 1 event of 2023 in Ireland, the Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle, at Naas on Sunday. Heading the field are the Willie Mullins-trained Grangeclare West and Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point while Inothewayurthinkin caries the hopes of trainer Gavin Cromwell. Cheltenham Festival winner Appreciate It is a most notable runner in the earlier Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase and the day’s action begins at 12.50.
