Cork Tuesday Preview – Fort Knox a safe investment

The feature race at Cork on Tuesday evening is the Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes at 7.05. This looks destined to go the way of Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Oaks runner-up Venus De Milo.

She was having only the third start of her career when just touched off by the wayward but talented Chicquita at the Curragh and will be difficult to beat here. The daughter of Duke of Marmalade was stepping up on her victory in the Oaks Trial at Naas on her previous start.

Jim Bolger’s Bunairgead finished only a length away third on that occasion but has disappointed since when well beaten at Leopardstown. A bigger threat may come from the six-year-old Midnight Soprano who should strip fitter for her outing behind Emirates Queen at Haydock.

The Listed Platinum Stakes at 6.35 has attracted a very strong field with several runners dropping down in class. Johnny Murtagh has been enjoying a purple patch as a jockey since obtaining his training licence but he will be hoping that Fort Knox can put a poor run in the Irish Guineas behind him here.

The former inmate of Richard Hannon’s yard looked a fine prospect when winning the Irish Guineas Trial but failed to sparkle behind Magician at the Curragh. He has been given plenty of time to recover from those exertions and a bold run is anticipated.

Aidan O’Brien’s Indian Chief comes here with a similar profile having run well in the Dante Stakes before flopping at Royal Ascot. He was close up behind Libertarian and Trading Leather at York and that gives him a major chance in this grade.

O’Brien also saddles the disappointing Snow Queen who gave a hint of her previous form when runner-up at Galway last week. Dermot Weld has his string in peak form after dominating that festival and has a live contender here in Secret Recipe.

The meeting gets under way at 5.05 with a maiden race for two-year-olds. Candy Apples sets the standard having twice finished runner-up but there could be more to come from Weld’s once-raced Wateed.

Ed Lynam’s Penny Serenade goes for a hat-trick in the 5.35 and may have most to fear from top weight Harpist. The Danehill Dancer filly landed the odds with the minimum of fuss at Down Royal and looks capable of following up.