Derby entrants set to run at Cork Racecourse Mallow on Friday night

The first evening meeting of the season takes place at Cork Racecourse in Mallow on Friday evening. 

It's an attractive flat card that features a number of potentially exciting colts who hold Derby entries.

The “Dine In Our Panoramic Restaurant Race” at the Mallow venue, has attracted a small but select field on Friday night. 

Ballydoyle have opted to run Port Ferdinand, who has entries in the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby at the Curragh. 

The son of Camelot swooped late from a poor draw to win on his debut as a two year old at Naas. 

Wayne Lordan rides and over the next few weeks he’ll partner some likely Derby contenders as he looks to replicate his iconic Epsom success last season on Lambourn. 

Joseph O'Brien saddles two of the four runners including the 98 rated Limestone. 

He dug deep to score at Listowel in a Rated Race at their harvest festival last September. 

He also holds dual Derby entries. Joseph O'Brien also saddles the Roscommon maiden winner Summer Is Tomorrow. 

Joey Sheridan would appear to be on the stable selected Limestone.

The four runner line up is completed by Gowran maiden winner Mr Vettori who is rated 91. 

He represents Jessica Harrington with Shane Foley aboard. If the market speaks in Port Ferdinand’s favour it might be significant. 

At this juncture in the season paddock inspection is sacrosanct with many needing their initial runs.

Johnny Murtagh saddles a leading contender in the opener in the shape of Tashakour who shaped well on his reappearance at Navan recently. 

He finished second to the well regarded Ballydoyle colt Shaftesbury Avenue. 

The son of Night Of Thunder sports the iconic silks of the late Aga Khan.

He travelled best of all in Navan but got tired in the final furlong. Joseph O'Brien has a strong hand in this maiden with the 101 rated Nil Bua Gan Dua sailing in calmer waters. 

He raced in Group 2 and Group 3 company last season, finishing third and fifth.

The question for punters is,does his rating of 101 flatter him ? Joseph also saddles the recent Curragh eye-catcher Chamonix. 

Tashakour’s Navan run is probably the best recent line of form in the race.

Paddy Twomey has a great record at Cork Racecourse. 

He saddles Irish Derby entrant Trojan Fighter in the "Social Packs From Just ???30 Maiden " 

He was an eye-catcher in fourth from a poor draw in Navan on his debut recently. 

He should strip fitter now and he probably has Enceladus to beat. Joseph O'Brien's Sea The Stars colt showed distinct promise as a 2Y0 at Naas behind recent handicap winner Cape Cod. 

He’d also shown promise on his Curragh debut. The race might concern this pair unless the market suggests otherwise.

If you're attending Cork Racecourse on Friday night they have a complimentary shuttle bus service to and from the course from Mallow Railway Station. 

They also have a collection point before and after racing from and to the back of the Hibernian Hotel in Mallow.