RACING in the south enters a brave new world today with the opening of the redeveloped Cork racecourse. The critics of the £8.6 million investment in turning the old Mallow into a "Leopardstown of the south" will no doubt substitute foolish for brave but today will not provide any definitive evidence for anyone.
The novelty alone and the undoubtedly impressive facilities should easily attract a crowd of about 10,000 and most of them will be depending on the old Mallow's historic connection with the O'Brien family to keep them ahead in the betting war.
Vincent O'Brien has been one of the new track's most dedicated supporters and his son Charles provides probably the day's most interesting runner in Olympic Majesty.
This Lebanese owned Law Society colt is using the Ducon Concrete Duhallow Park Hotel Race as a prep race for the French Derby in two weeks time and judged on his 11 length annihalation of Sublime Beauty at Navan on his seasonal debut, such ambitions don't look totally unrealistic.
Olympic Majesty will not have things entirely his own way here as Zafarabad is a colt who has clearly improved from two to three and ran a fine second to Casey Tibbs in a Listed race at Leopardstown last month.
Nevertheless if Olympic Majesty cannot beat him today, then classic ambitions for him will ring pretty hollow, as will punters pockets.
Christy Roche has been in irresistible form recently and while a five timer to match the one he scooped at Leopardstown last Sunday isn't on, he should add to Olympic Majesty with another classic hopeful, Mingling Glances, in the Lynch Plant Hire Maiden.
This Woodman filly is reported by Aidan O'Brien to have improved dramatically through the winter and he is already counting on her as being one of a five strong Ballydoyle team for the Irish 1,000 Guineas next Saturday.
Wildflower Ridge should prove a good test for Mingling Glances but one she should prove capable of overcoming.
John Oxx and John Murtagh can win the 10 furlong proceeding handicap with Medal Of Honour as compensation while the mile handicap could stay in the south, courtesy of Pat Flynn's Cooraclare, off whom Jamie Spencer takes a valuable 7lb.
The honour of winning the first race at Cork, however, looks set to go to Charlie Swan. The champion is on Dovaly in the maiden hurdle and while Michael O'Brien's gelding hasn't lived up to his formidable home reputation in his two hurdle starts to date, he does look capable of winning a contest such as today's.
