'It looks like a winnable contest' - what the trainers have to say ahead of a competitive sprint at Cork

Last year's winner Collective Power is back to try to repeat the feat and he is something of a Cork specialist given two of his three best performances on grass, according to Racing Post Ratings, have come at the venue. 

He won the race last year off a mark of 76, coming from off the pace under a confident Billy Lee ride to score decisively by two and a quarter lengths. He is 0-8 on turf this year, but he has an all-weather win at Dundalk to his name and it wouldn't come as a huge surprise were he to defy a 1lb higher mark than in 2023, especially with champion jockey Colin Keane booked. 

The unknown quantity is unquestionably Heart Of Darkness. In a sprint full of seasoned campaigners, she is the one we know least about. She won her maiden at Dundalk over this trip and was thrown into a Listed race at this venue last time where she wasn't disgraced behind the speedy Cherry Blossom in finishing in mid-division. 

We haven't seen Heart Of Darkness since that outing in May, so she has a 124-day absence to overcome. 

Few could begrudge Moltophino a change of luck. He's been second on four of his last five starts, but remains a maiden after eight outings. He gets in here off the same mark as when chasing home Transcendental at Navan last month. 

Keithen Kennedy is a 7lb claimer who has quickly made a name for himself. John O'Donoghue has snapped him up here for Goal Exceeded, whose Naas maiden win from last autumn has worked out seriously well given Take Me To Church, now rated 100 after finishing fifth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, was second. 

Goal Exceeded has been a shade disappointing since then, but he's been gelded since his last run at Newmarket and is down to a career-low mark of 81. When you add in Kennedy's claim, it makes him very interesting indeed. He might just be the one to beat.

Going update 

The going is described as good to firm, good in places on the round course and good to firm on the straight track. Watering has taken place and the forecast is mainly dry.

What they say 

Paddy Twomey, trainer of Heart Of Darkness
She's a nice filly who's coming back from a break. She seems in good form and hopefully this will kickstart a good autumn campaign for her.

Pat Flynn, trainer of Imperial Dream
He's a lovely horse who has been consistent since arriving here. It was great to see him get his head in front at the Curragh and he'll do his best again here.

John O'Donoghue, trainer of Goal Exceeded
We were delighted with his Curragh run in June but then disappointed with the way he ran at Newmarket after it, so we decided to geld him. The signs at home are that he's improved for it, so hopefully there's a bounce-back performance here.

Jack Davison, trainer of Never Shout Never
He's been a bit frustrating, but hopefully he can put it all together and get a winning bracket next to his name in what looks like a winnable contest.

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