3.35 Cork: the one race you do not want to miss on Tuesday

Navigation Stakes | Listed | 1m½f | 3yo+ | RTV

Why is it interesting?

Amedeo Modigliani and Verbal Dexterity, who were highly promising juveniles, face off in a race which features a number of improving sorts, namely Up Helly Aa.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Amedeo Modigliani has run just twice since slamming his rivals in a Galway maiden in August 2017. He returns from a 181-day absence and will be fitted with a hood and a tongue-tie for the first time.

Verbal Dexterity achieved a great deal more as a two-year-old. Winner of the Group 1 National Stakes, he signed off his juvenile campaign with a fourth-placed finish in what is now the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

However, he has failed to build on that form and hasn't won a race since that top-flight victory two years ago.

Verbal Dexterity also has an absence to overcome as he hasn't raced since finishing last of five in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May.

With question marks about those two Willie McCreery will be hoping his improving three-year-old Up Helly Aa can capitalise after finishing second in the Group 3 Meld Stakes in July.

Out of Fiesolana, who provided McCreery and Billy Lee with their first Group 1 wins, Up Helly Aa missed an engagement in France last month due to unusual circumstances.

McCreery and his exciting colt were left stalled at Shannon airport after flights were suspended when a plane carrying US military personnel caught fire.

There will be no aeroplanes to worry about at Cork but Up Helly Aa could easily take flight.

What do the stats say?

The race is usually run to script as the last nine winners all returned 5-1 or shorter. The Ger Lyons-trained Brendan Brackan won the race three times between 2015 and 2017 and this time the trainer is represented by Psychedelic Funk.

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Amedeo Modigliani
He's been off for a long time but is ready to start back and seems to be in good form. Hopefully the ground won't be too bad. We're fitting him with the tongue-tie and the hood. He's an easygoing horse but hopefully it'll help him relax.

Gerard Keane, trainer of Laughifuwant
I'm just hoping he's good enough for this sort of level. He's rated 99 now so there's nowhere else to go really. The horses have been running well all year so hopefully he can be involved. If you can get placed in these races you'll earn plenty of prize-money.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Pincheck
The ground won't bother him as he's won on it before and he's been running into form of late.

Pincheck: produced a bold effort when third in the Group 2 Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown on Irish Champions WeekendCredit: Alain Barr

Willie McCreery, trainer of Up Helly Aa
He's in good order. I hope with all this rain coming that it doesn't get too soft but you have to take your chance at this time of year. We think he's a nice horse.

Fozzy Stack, trainer of Wargrave
He ran well at Listowel the other day and hopefully he can go close here as well. He's had a long old year but he seems to be in good order.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Myth Creation and Wisdom Mind
Myth Creation won her maiden last time at Fairyhouse and we're looking to get some black type now. Wisdom Mind already has black type, but we're looking for more. They're two well-bred fillies.

Joe Murphy, trainer of Shekiba
Hopefully she can run a big race. It would be lovely to get some black type but Santa Claus doesn't come every day.

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