Cork betting tips for December 9 on Horsebetting.com say Great Field is the NAP of a seven-race card in the feature Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase over an extended 2m. Dawn Shadow, meanwhile, looks a value bet in the Grade 3 novice chase for mares over the same course and distance. The Big Dog shaped like a stayer in his bumper runs, so is one to consider each-way in the Grade 3 novice hurdle over 3m earlier on the card. Our detailed Cork betting tips for December 9 has more on all these horses.Great Field a strong fancy in Hilly Way at CorkGreat Field is unbeaten over fences and so strongly fancied to make a winning return to action in the Grade 2 feature at Cork on Sunday, the extended 2m Hilly Way Chase (13:45). County Carlow handler Willie Mullins has absolutely dominated this race, landing all but one renewal since 2007.
In Great Field, the Irish champion trainer has an exciting young chaser owned by JP McManus who progressed throughout 2017 and likes to make all. Connections didn’t mess about over hurdles at all, giving this son of Great Pretender just two starts in that sphere before tackling fences.
After beating 2016 Pertemps Network Final winner Mall Dini comfortably on debut at Gowran Park, Great Field then recovered from pecking on landing at the last to follow-up at Leopardstown. He was next ultra-impressive when bolting up by 32 lengths in a Listed contest at Thurles and then overcame the saddle slipping to scoop Grade 1 glory at the 2017 Punchestown Festival.
Lightly-raced and open to lots more improvement
That meant Great Field had the makings of a serious contender in open company on either side of the Irish Sea, but was then off for almost a year. A winning return to action in March saw him make most and land the Webster Cup at Navan by 1 3/4 lengths. He was value for more than the winning margin and is now five from five over fences.
Although Great Field must carry a penalty for that similar grade success here, he still has the most scope for improvement from the eight lining up. While fellow McManus runner Anibale Fly is top-rated, that rival placed fourth in the Grand National and third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so this 2m race looks nothing more than a pipe-opener.
Great Field has nothing to fear from him over this trip, nor veteran pair Doctor Phoenix – who he meets on 1lb better terms from Navan – and Special Tiara. Those elder statesmen have peaked, while there is plenty more to come for the favourite and that’s why he heads our Cork betting tips for December 9.Dawn Shadow a value betJockey Jody McGarvey holds claims of quick-fire double on the card with Dawn Shadow in the Grade 3 novice chase for mares (14:15). This six-year-old daughter of King’s Theatre is trained by Dot Love, eased significantly in grade and back against her own sex here.
Dawn Shadow had placed form behind the very exciting Laurina over hurdles and won a Listed contest at the Punchestown Festival in April. She also showed the benefit of her chase debut when second at Sligo by going one better at Galway in October.
Although still in rear when jumping the last, the turn of foot Dawn Shadow demonstrated was hugely impressive to scythe through the field and win going away by 2 1/2 lengths. It was a very taking display and she should have nothing to fear with the re-opposing Forge Meadow, who was 5 1/2 lengths behind in third, as they meet again on the same terms.
The fourth horse home Mrs Lovett has come out and won her next two starts, so that gives the form a solid look. Forge Meadow also ran well when a 10-length runner-up to Ireland’s leading Arkle contender Mengli Khan last time out, yet there is a big difference in her price in relation to Dawn Shadow.
That may be because she came to grief at the first in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse seven days ago. If proving no worse for that tumble, however, the form of her previous run gives her every chance of being involved in the finish. Dawn Shadow doesn’t have to concede a penalty like Camelia De Cotte either, so looks real value and that’s why she is also among our Cork betting tips for December 9.The Big Dog an each-way bet in stayersThere’s another Grade 3 earlier on the card for novice hurdlers (13:10) and, while course and distance winner Robin De Carlow is a deserved favourite, the most interesting runner in this 3m contest is The Big Dog. Trained by Peter Fahey, this five-year-old makes his debut over the smaller obstacles here and looks each-way value based on his bumper and point performances.
The Big Dog was an eight-length runner-up to subsequent 3m hurdle winner Madison To Monroe on his racecourse bow at Monksgrange. He then came to grief five out when still going well in another Irish point won by the horse that was third behind him on debut.
Connections then pitched The Big Dog into a 2m 4f bumper at Leopardstown and he was a far from disgraced 16-length fourth to Carefully Selected. The winner went on to finish second and third in the Champion Bumper races at Cheltenham and Punchestown, so that form looks strong.
It was advertised by The Big Dog himself last time out when he landed another National Hunt Flat race over an extended 2m 3f at Naas. After settling in-behind the leaders, he was then pushed along and ridden before staying on well to take it up inside the last and land the spoils by 1 3/4 lengths.
The third horse home Voix Des Tiep came out and won his next bumper, so again there’s lots to like about the form. Connections now have Barry Geraghty in the saddle for The Big Dog’s hurdles bow, so clearly mean business. Despite Robin De Carlow and another Mullins mount in Pleasure Dome in opposition, this unexposed sort really looks a potential stayer and is thus the each-way bet in our Cork betting tips for December 9.Your Next Bet
