Canaletto can do

After Galway's marathon bender there isn't even time for a hangover with Cork and Naas providing the Bank Holiday entertainment…

After Galway's marathon bender there isn't even time for a hangover with Cork and Naas providing the Bank Holiday entertainment today.

The two black type races at the southern track give it precedence, and the Ballydoyle camp will be looking for some consolation after Heritage Hall picked up an injury in Saturday's Prix de Cabourg at Deauville.

Michael Kinane will be on Aidan O'Brien's High King in the Platinum Stakes, but, significantly, in early jockey lists yesterday he was down to ride Canaletto.

That could be a tip in itself, but perhaps of even more significance is Canaletto's acknowledged preference for very fast ground.

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His two length defeat of McCracken at Leopardstown is enough for only a provisional rating of around 87, miles behind the 111 of the 1,000 Guineas third Dazzling Park.

But the ground may be a problem for her and the Brownstown Stakes third Takariya, which would leave the race much more open for the untapped potential of the colt.

Kinane and O'Brien go with Buffalo Berry in the Cork Stakes over five furlongs, and this one returned to form with a three-quarter length second to Desert Sky at Leopardstown.

Eddie Lynam is one of the few trainers to upset the Ballydoyle juvenile jaunt this season, and his newcomer Poco A Poco is the subject of positive reports. It could be worth taking a chance with her.

Also at Cork, the Jim Bolger string, which was in such good form at Galway, can be on the double.

Sukeena is a stone better off for the two and a half lengths she was beaten by Seasonal Style here over nine furlongs, and on the book has her chance in the Turtle Island handicap, while Dochas Mor could defy a 5lb penalty for winning at Ballybrit in the Among Men Handicap.

At Naas, Canaletto's trainer, Charles O'Brien, can also score in the opener with Jewel In The Crown, particularly with Jamie Spencer in the saddle.

The seven furlong juvenile maiden sees all the big camps involved, including Bashkir from Ballydoyle. Maybe John Oxx's Devil's Bag filly Additive can improve enough from her debut second to Ezra to win.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

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