Sir Bob bids to continue his love affair with Cork but there are dangers aplenty

Sir Bob will bid to continue his love affair with Cork and land successive Paddy Power Cork Grand Nationals after rallying and getting home by a short head 12 months ago off a 5lb lower mark.

The Robert Tyner-trained 12-year-old put in a game performance on that occasion and beat a well-backed and unexposed favourite in Call The Tune, with the pair pulling clear of the third. He acquitted himself well thereafter and finished runner-up to Falco Blitz in a veterans' handicap at Limerick before returning to Cork to land a handicap hurdle in March off a mark of 111 and bring his course record to three from three.

He has not been seen since pulling up at Punchestown in May and the ground is likely to be on the sharp side, but it would be foolish to dismiss him at this track.

Conditions should favour Hand Over Fist, who beat subsequent winner Ceanndana at Kilbeggan three starts ago and got back on track after a fall when scoring at this track last month. He has been hit with an 8lb rise but is unexposed as a stayer and revels on good ground so looks poised for a big effort.

Outside The Door must have a big chance for the Padraig Roche stable as he arrives here in fine form after landing his last two. He showed plenty of resolution when edging out Favori Logique at Wexford over fences in August and was well backed to take advantage of a lower hurdles mark at Fairyhouse last time which he duly did. He has form on the ground and is guaranteed to stay on account of his runner-up effort over 3m4f at Leopardstown in March on soft going.

The each-way value lies in the Tom Cooper-trained Sainte Dona, who created a big impression when winning her beginners' chase at Fairyhouse in February by 26 lengths. When she gets into a rhythm in front, she can be electric and she has the ability to dominate here if she can settle over this longer trip.

She made a very encouraging reappearance when third behind two useful mares in Pink In The Park and Shecouldbeanything at Listowel and seems on a nice mark. The ground is a concern but she has a few snippets of form on good from her maiden hurdle days.

Ulster National winner Jumping Jet is another who should enjoy the ground and will relish this distance. Of Gordon Elliott's other contenders, So Des Flos is returning off a layoff and may want softer ground, but Stuzzikini is a big player.

He ran a big race last week when third behind Grandero Bello at Galway and was not beaten far when fifth in the Munster National the week before. If those two runs have not taken their toll, he should be bang there.

Going report

The going was good, good to yielding in places on the hurdles track and good on the chase track (watering) on Saturday with a mainly dry forecast.

What they say

Robert Tyner, trainer of Sir Bob and Big Debates
Sir Bob is in good form but hasn't run this season due to the ground and it might not be ideal for him here. He performs well at the track but the going is a concern. Big Debates has had a couple of runs over hurdles as he's probably near his max over fences. This trip and might suit him.

Mouse Morris, trainer of Caesar Rock
He ran very well at Limerick and has been running well all summer. He's been in good form since and it will be interesting to see how he copes with this trip but he has form over three miles.

Tom Cooper trainer of Sainte Dona
She has a chance off her weight and had a lovely run back at Listowel. She is still a novice theoretically and is unexposed. The trip will be no issue but I hope the ground will be okay for her before she takes her chance.

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