Cork Racecourse preview: Singleton's SuperValu Stayers Novice Hurdle will be a cracker
Stephen Hill, father of snooker player Aaron, Tomás Singleton and Jimmy Barry Murphy at the official opening of the re-vamped Singleton's SuperValu in Hollyhill. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
The 2024 season at Cork Racecourse in Mallow concludes with the featured €100K Grade 2 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase as its highlight on Sunday.
There is a top-class support card featuring The Grade 2 Coolmore N.H. Sires Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase.
Tomás Singleton, a great supporter and sponsor of sport in Cork underwrites the Grade 3 Singleton's SuperValu Stayers Novice Hurdle.
It's undoubtedly the best National Hunt card of the entire year at the Mallow venue.
There will be live music after racing with Handipak.
The racecourse provides a complimentary shuttle bus from Mallow town and the Railway Station to and from the track.
For details on tickets and hospitality, it's worth checking www.corkracecourse.ie
The Dundalk-based bookmaking firm Bar One Racing have provided tremendous support to racing in recent years, with Cork Racecourse figuring prominently in its portfolio.
That link was strengthened by becoming title sponsor for the entire card on Sunday when they sponsor four races.
Barney O’Hare, Company Director of Bar One told me: "We are thrilled to partner with Cork for a superb day's National Hunt racing, it’s great to attach our brand to a graded race, at one of Ireland’s finest racecourses.”
They also sponsor the Easter Sunday Card at Cork and Cork's premier Greyhound Race the Irish Greyhound Laurels.
Barney explained to me that he was approached by Jimmy Barry Murphy regarding the Curraheen Park feature and they are committed to the event up to and including 2026.
Bar One Racing was founded by CEO Barney O’Hare in Dundalk in 1995.
Over the past 29 years the family business has expanded to sixty shops.
They employ over 350 staff with outlets here in Parnell Place, Turner's Cross, Gurranabraher and Glanmire.
Willie Mullins has won the Hilly Way Chase on 15 occasions, while Paul Townend has eight victories to his name in the race.
Mullins has six of the 12 entries including previous dual winner Energumene and the classy but fragile Ferny Hollow.
Mullins seeks a sixth consecutive victory in the race on Sunday and few will bet against him.
KINGSTON NARCISSUS ran into a Willie Mullins hotpot here ten days ago but meets nothing of that ilk today.
He's finished runners-up in three consecutive contests at Sedgefield but appears to be genuine and you sense his turn has arrived and he will be hard to peg back under Ross Chapman who is likely to ride him prominently.
TAKT DE TORQUES This dual bumper winner has a golden opportunity to build on a promising hurdles debut at Aintree where he dead-heated for second behind a smart Dan Skelton winner.
Broughshane-based trainer Gerald Quinn will be hoping for his first winner since June.
His only danger is Ridin Solo who might make the running and is a solid yardstick.
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