GAVIN CROMWELL: This weekend Gavin previews each of his runners including a pair in the Cork National, a race he won five years ago.
Saturday Down Royal
Yafordadoe gets us underway for the weekend in the 2m1f handicap hurdle (2.15pm). He’s been running very well on the flat and is in here off a nice weight and in good form. Hopefully he has a good chance and with him winning in testing ground two starts ago the conditions are likely to suit.
Clonguile Way takes his chance in the 3m handicap chase (4.00pm). He’s a very in and out sort of character and certainly has his own mind. He has the potential to win the race there’s no doubt about that, it all just depends on which Clonguile Way shows up on the day. We’re always hopeful that the right version of himself will turn up you just have to be cautious that he might not decide to show it.
Sunday Cork
We have two runners in the Cork National on Sunday over 3m 4f (3.00pm), a race that I won in 2016 with Raz De Maree, and they are Spades Are Trumps and Arverne. They are both two good staying horses that are very similar in profile. Although they are both not the most fluent jumpers, if they were to get into a good rhythm, they could certainly both have an each way chance. It’s difficult to split them and say who would run the better race so I’m just hoping they can find a nice tempo and be there at the end.
Sunday Naas
Jukebox Jive has got in to the 2m November handicap (3.45pm) at the very bottom of the weights, and my apprentice Robbie Whearty will be claiming his 7lbs as well. He won this race a couple of years ago when he loved the heavy ground, and the going conditions will very much be in his favour again so hopefully he can give us a nice chance.
