Distance will suit Mazurka

There is yet another eight-race card this afternoon at Cork, where John Oxx's Mazurka looks the one to speed the punters pulses…

There is yet another eight-race card this afternoon at Cork, where John Oxx's Mazurka looks the one to speed the punters pulses with victory in the Blackwater Maiden. This nine-furlong contest should be ideal for the Polish Precedent filly judged on her effort at Gowran Park last time when just run out of it close home by Queen Of Silk over a mile.

Mazurka was always prominent in that race and showed stamina aplenty to fight back after being briefly headed going into the last furlong. Queen Of Silk had just too much acceleration in the closing stages, but with today's extra furlong bound to put the accent on stamina, Mazurka should be in her element.

Opera Hat is usually in her element when racing around Naas, but it will still be something of a surprise if she cannot win the Henry Ford Classika Chase, judged on her fine effort when third to Doran's Pride in the Kerry National at Listowel.

Opera Hat was always prominent in that Listowel race and it was only in the straight that she started to weaken as the top-class Dorans Pride went on. Still, Opera Hat failed only by half a length to beat Lord Singapore for second and, with Conor O'Dwyer on board, she should be able to cope with the Galway Plate winner Stroll Home.

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Aidan O'Brien saddles four of the seven runners in the opening ESB Juvenile Hurdle and Charlie Swan's decision to ride Ministe- rial Model, rated at 90 on the flat, is hard to ignore when looking for the winner. Act Of Defiance is another interesting O'Brien newcomer in this.

Paul Carberry has made a rapid recovery from injury and is hoping to be back in action next week.

The jockey had expected to be on the sidelines for between four and six weeks after fracturing two bones in his wrist in a fall at Listowel at the end of last month.

But his agent Terry Norman said today: "Paul will definitely be back next week. It all depends on what the doctor says when Paul sees him later today.

"He could be back at Sedgefield on Tuesday but it is more likely to be Wetherby on Friday."

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column