Cork

Placed in 2 of last 3 races and trained by Miss Natalia Lupini, whose record with jockey Ben Coen is a standout 3 wins from 16 races (19%). But he's never conquered soft ground effectively, and his best-suited surface (heavy) differs from today's slightly soft conditions.

Just won at Tramore 14 days ago and carries the same rating as Glittering Gem, but that victory came on good-to-yielding ground, not soft. Today's conditions are a step into the unknown, and this is a first pairing between jockey and trainer with no established patterns to lean on.

Won at Tramore just 15 days ago and holds the best recent record on slightly soft ground in the entire field (1 from 3), making him the standout value play for today's conditions. With a 15% career win rate and form that reads freshly positive, he represents genuine value.

Still searching for a maiden win after five races, but the D K Weld jockey-trainer combination is the strongest in the field at 103 wins from 883 races. Recent runs show promise—a close second at Sligo suggests a breakthrough may be coming, though slightly soft ground is untested territory.

Has never faced slightly soft ground in his career, which is either opportunity or disaster given he's won just once in 17 races. An 80-day absence is a significant layoff, and his poor record on soft ground (0 from 7) suggests today could expose him badly.

Unfancied at 65–1 despite carrying the same rating as Arch Enemy, yet his recent form reads like a horse in freefall with just one winner in his last six. Soft ground has beaten him in every attempt (0 from 6), and this surface looks tailor-made to expose him further.

Winless from nine races with just three places to her name, and she's never encountered slightly soft ground before. Her recent second at Dundalk came on a different surface entirely, leaving today as an uncomfortable unknown for a horse that hasn't yet shown she belongs at this level.

Has never raced on slightly soft ground and owns a 0% record on soft going across four attempts, making her name seem prophetic. A 20% win rate on good ground counts for nothing here, and her 54-day absence compounds the concern.

Has never raced on slightly soft ground and entered three consecutive top-3 finishes (5-5-3) before flopping to 11th at Leopardstown just 24 days ago. Zero wins from ten races suggests the recent placings were lucky rather than a true leap in class.

A battle-hardened 10-year-old with 6 wins from 57 races, but soft ground is his enemy—0 wins from 10 attempts—and today's conditions neutralize whatever experience he brings. His strength lies on good ground (26% win rate), so this is a race he'll struggle to influence.

The market favourite at 3.25 with the best career win rate in the field at 40% (2 from 5), and he's proven himself with a recent win at Punchestown. But he's never faced slightly soft ground, and his recent 5th at Galway on standard ground suggests form may be reversing at the worst possible time.

Absent for 682 days—by far the longest layoff in the field—and has never won from four races. This is effectively a maiden returning from nearly two years off; the rustiness factor alone makes him a non-runner despite whatever potential his the yard may see.

The editorial selection and only course winner in the field (1 from 2 at Cork), with an impressive 50% win rate on soft ground (2 from 4) that directly suits today's conditions. Recent form is patchy with two 12th-place finishes, but he's a jockey–trainer pairing making their debut together, adding uncertainty to what looks on paper like the clear answer.

The editorial verdict rates her as one of three main dangers, yet her recent form tells a different story—10th, 8th, 7th in her last three. She does own a 33% win rate on soft ground (1 from 3), but that slender advantage sits uncomfortably against a 5% overall win rate.

Carries the lowest weight in the field and just landed his maiden at Killarney nine days ago, but that breakthrough came after 18 failed attempts. His 33% win rate on soft ground (1 from 3) is intriguing, though a 5% overall win rate warns this may be a one-off.

Won at Navan just three days ago but is returning again immediately on slightly soft ground—a surface she's never encountered before, and one where her record on soft specifically reads 0 from 4. The quick turnaround combined with untested conditions makes her gamble rather than a logical choice.