Race Preview

4:00 Cork

Sunday 1 November 2026 ·24 runners KTB Selection: Theanniversary Man · 69/100

The 4:00 at Cork is a 24-runner Ballymaloe Foods Handicap Hurdle over 2m on yielding ground. A strong pace is anticipated with multiple front-runners likely to ensure a test that could see the race collapse late. The KTB Fit scores point to a competitive field headed by Theanniversary Man on 69, with several others clustered in the mid-60s to low-50s suggesting a race where class, course form and how the pace unfolds will be decisive.

How the race shapes up

With a strong pace likely and two or more habitual front-runners, the race is set to be run at a searching gallop. Polly Poppins and The Monkey Pole are the most positive go-forward types, while several others including Duce Bigalow, Euro Maker, Champagne Dawn, Maciver, Crypto Crash, Nukie's Artic, Fairy Meadow and Middlethird Marvel like to race prominently or handily. This shape should favour hold-up performers such as Theanniversary Man, and the key question is whether the leaders will pay for their exertions in the closing stages.

The KTB Fit ranking

  1. 1Theanniversary Man KTB Selection69/100

    Form 1-P476 · James M Barcoe · Daniel King

    Theanniversary Man is a fair performer who has won over this trip and at this track. He showed little on yielding ground on his only previous try and now drops back in trip after recent modest efforts. The trainer operates at a 9% strike rate at Cork from 47 runs while the jockey is on 9% from 103 rides here, both figures in line with their records elsewhere. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is well suited by the anticipated strong pace that could collapse. He has course winning form from two starts here and arrives as the KTB selection with a Fit score of 69.

  2. 2Duce Bigalow65/100

    Form 221-32 · Colm Ryan · G B Noonan

    Duce Bigalow is a useful sort who arrives in solid form after two placed efforts this season. He drops back from 3m to a trip where he has been placed once from two starts though he has failed to win or place in three runs on yielding ground. The trainer has a 50% strike rate at Cork from a small sample of two runs while the jockey's 4% strike rate here is in line with his record elsewhere. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he will be right in the thick of the strong pace that is forecast. With a Fit score of 65 he is one of the main dangers.

  3. 3Bridge View Star65/100

    Form 6646-U · W J O'Doherty · Philip Byrnes

    Family: half-brother to Rising Dust (6 wins from 26 runs). The dam has had 1 other runner, a winner.

    Bridge View Star is a useful performer who has been consistent enough in defeat without winning. He drops back to 2m today having failed to land a blow at the trip in three previous attempts. The trainer records a 7% strike rate at Cork from 27 runs while the jockey is on 8% from 77 rides here. Typically settling in midfield, he may benefit if the strong pace collapses late. Half-brother to Rising Dust who won six times from 26 runs, with the dam also producing another winner, he carries a Fit score of 65.

  4. 4Euro Maker64/100

    Form 2-9130 · Adrian Murray · Eoghan Finegan(5)

    Euro Maker is a useful performer who has shown his best form on this sort of yielding ground, placing on both starts. He ran well when second here over this trip on his only previous visit to Cork and arrives in decent order after a win and a third in recent starts. The trainer's 10% strike rate at the track is in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey has an 8% strike rate from 12 rides here. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he will be prominent in a race with a strong pace likely. His Fit score stands at 64.

  5. 5Colin's Friend61/100

    Form 760-43 · Henry de Bromhead · Darragh O'Keeffe

    Family: half-brother to Thunder Queen (2 wins from 11 runs). The dam has had 3 other runners, 2 of them winners.

    Colin's Friend is a useful performer who has shown consistent form of late with a close third and fourth on his last two starts. He drops back in trip to 2m today where he has been placed once in four runs without winning. The yard records a 14% strike rate at Cork from 531 runs while the jockey is on 11% from 207 rides here, both in line with their figures at other tracks. Typically settling in midfield, he could be well placed if the pace collapses. Half-brother to Thunder Queen who won twice from 11 runs, with the dam producing two other winners from three runners, he has a Fit score of 61.

  6. 6Champagne Dawn58/100

    Form 0P-753 · T J O'Mara · Phillip Enright

    Champagne Dawn is a useful performer who has won once from three starts at Cork. He has shown some recent spark with a third on his latest outing but was well held on his only previous run on yielding ground. The trip suits him on balance and he usually races handily.

  7. 7Maxicourt54/100

    Form 7538U0 · Patrick J Duffy · Sean O'Keeffe

    Maxicourt is a fair performer who has shown some consistency at Cork with a placed effort from six runs here. He drops back to 2m having been placed at the trip without winning and has gone well on yielding ground in the past. The trainer's 4% strike rate at the track is in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey's 13% strike rate at Cork is above his overall figure.

  8. 8Maciver53/100

    Form 2P250- · A M O'Grady · John Aherne(7)

    Maciver is a useful performer on his day but has been largely out of form for some time and showed little spark when last seen. He has never won or placed in three runs at Cork and drops back to 2m today having failed to score at the trip in a previous attempt. The trainer's 6% strike rate at the track and the jockey's 0% from seven rides add to the negatives on a horse whose data confidence is high.

  9. 9Duke Otto52/100

    Form P40-P0 · Patrick J Flynn · Conor Smithers(7)

    Duke Otto is a useful performer on his day but arrives in modest form after two poor runs this year. He has never won or placed in four runs at Cork and the trainer's 7% strike rate here is in line with his overall record. He drops back to a trip he has won at before while the jockey's 6% strike rate at the track comes from only 18 rides.

  10. 10Polly Poppins52/100

    Form 876442 · Bernard Martin Crowley · Ethan O'Sullivan(7)

    Polly Poppins is a fair performer who has shown consistency of late with a string of placed efforts including at today's trip. She has placed once from six runs on yielding ground and holds an official rating of 84. The trainer has a 20% strike rate at Cork while the jockey is 0 from 19 rides here and this is her first run at the track. She tends to make the running or race on the pace.

  11. 11The Monkey Pole52/100

    Form 4P3554 · N Dooly · Miss Ella Herbison(7)

    The Monkey Pole is a useful performer who has placed on his only start at Cork. He drops back from 3m to 2m today having failed to win in two previous tries at the shorter distance. Trainer is 0-24 at the track and the horse remains unproven on yielding ground. He tends to make the running or race on the pace.

  12. 12Messire Des Bordes50/100

    Form 8-00 · Gavin Cromwell · Conor Stone-Walsh

    Messire Des Bordes is a useful performer on the back of three runs and an official rating of 94. Recent form of 8-00 offers little encouragement and he was beaten when tried at this trip last time. Trainer and jockey both operate at Cork with figures in line with their overall records. Usually held up, he may be suited by the strong pace.

  13. 13Chesterbaylad49/100

    Form 741807 · Ms Helen P Markham · Josh Williamson(3)

    Chesterbaylad is a fair performer who won on his only previous visit to Cork. He drops back to 2m having been placed at the trip without winning, though he has failed to place in two runs on yielding ground. The trainer holds a 6% strike rate at Cork from 16 runs while the jockey is operating at 19% here from 21 rides.

  14. 14Another Ocana48/100

    Form 453-37 · L J Archdeacon · Alan O'Sullivan(5)

    Another Ocana is a fair handicapper who has run respectably on his last two starts but has never won in 34 career runs. He has been below par both times at Cork and holds a 0-3 record on yielding ground. The trainer's 4% strike rate at the track is in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey's 11% strike rate at Cork is in line with his record at other courses. Typically settles in midfield.

  15. 15Crypto Crash48/100

    Form 9F1R56 · David Kenneth Budds · Danny Mullins

    Crypto Crash is a fair performer who has been a regular on the track but has failed to place in four runs at Cork. The yard's 5% strike rate at the course is in line with their record elsewhere while jockey Danny Mullins matches that pattern with his own 9% at Cork. He drops back to 2m today having failed to win in four previous attempts at the trip and remains unproven on yielding ground.

  16. 16Nukie's Artic48/100

    Form 086-U2 · Eoin Christopher McCarthy · Jack Kennedy

    Nukie's Artic is a fair handicapper whose recent form includes a solid second at this trip last time. He has already shown he handles the trip without winning and the yard's 5% strike rate at Cork is in line with their record elsewhere. The jockey's 15% strike rate at the track is also in line with his overall figure though the horse has been well beaten in his only previous run here on yielding ground.

  17. 17Mister Loolah44/100

    Form 6PB-4F · Alexander Ott · Luke Burke Ott(7)

    Mister Loolah is a useful performer on his day but has failed to win in eight starts and showed little spark when fourth then fell last time. He has been beaten on his only previous run at Cork, is 0-1 on yielding ground and now drops back to a trip where he has twice been unsuccessful. The trainer is 0-21 at Cork in line with his overall record while the jockey is 0-16 at the track. Usually held up.

  18. 18Deeter44/100

    Form P-069 · Eoin Christopher McCarthy · Simon Torrens

    Family: the dam has had 1 other runner, not a winner.

    Deeter is a useful performer who has struggled since a promising start, finishing well beaten on all three starts this year and showing no real spark. Has tried this trip three times without success and the small sample on yielding ground leaves his effectiveness on it unproven. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 5-6% strike rate here which sits in line with their records elsewhere. Typically settles in midfield.

  19. 19Nameyourgame44/100

    Form 3P89-0 · Sean Thomas Doyle · Jordan Gainford

    Nameyourgame is a fair sort who has shown ability in a light career but arrives here on the back of a poor recent effort. He drops back in trip having failed to land a blow over 2m3f last time, with two previous runs at this distance also yielding no success. The yard's 15% strike rate at Cork is in line with their record elsewhere while the jockey's 8% at the track matches his overall figure. Typically settles in midfield.

  20. 20Deep Warrior42/100

    Form 807-0 · Gavin Cromwell · Keith Donoghue

    Family: half-brother to Oneinthewell (2 wins from 15 runs). The dam has had 1 other runner, a winner.

    Deep Warrior is a useful performer who showed little in three hurdle starts last year and was well beaten on return at this track. Drops back to 2m with first-time headgear and has a half-brother to a dual winner on the dam's side. Trainer and jockey both operate at their usual level here with 9% and 11% strike rates respectively. Typically settles in midfield.

  21. 21Fairy Meadow41/100

    Form F/0380 · John Joseph Hanlon · Harry Sexton(7)

    Family: the dam has had 2 other runners, none of them a winner.

    Fairy Meadow is a useful performer on his best days but has been out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He has shown nothing in five runs over the last 12 months and has failed to place in two starts at this trip. The trainer's 3% strike rate at Cork is in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey's 4% strike rate at the track matches his overall figure. Usually races handily.

  22. 22Sunrise Strider41/100

    Form 0060-0 · Michael J McDonagh · Cian Quirke

    Sunrise Strider is a fair performer who has struggled since finishing sixth on debut, with four poor runs to follow and a latest effort that was well below form. He has no win or place from his only previous start at Cork and the yard's 0% strike rate from 109 runs here is below their record elsewhere. Dropping back to 2m poses a fresh question after his last run over further. Usually held up.

  23. 23Vairue40/100

    Form 9/7F94 · Ms Helen P Markham · Aidan Kelly

    Vairue is a fair 10-year-old who has won once over this trip from 12 attempts. He has shown little on his only previous visit to Cork and has failed to place in three runs on yielding ground. The trainer's 6% strike rate at the track and the jockey's 2% record here both sit in line with their figures elsewhere. Typically settles in midfield.

  24. 24Middlethird Marvel36/100

    Form 0-P00P · Darren Collins · Philip Donovan

    Middlethird Marvel is a modest performer with a poor recent record of 0-P00P and no win in eight starts. Drops back to 2m today having failed to place in two previous attempts at the trip and shown no win or place from two runs on yielding ground. Trainer is 0-16 at Cork while the jockey operates at a 4% strike rate here in line with his record elsewhere. Usually races handily.

KTB verdict

Theanniversary Man is the KTB selection. A fair performer with a win over this trip and at Cork to his name, he is ideally suited by the strong pace that should unfold and his hold-up style. Recent form has been modest but the drop back in trip and the track record give him every chance in a race where the pace could collapse late. The main dangers are Duce Bigalow and Euro Maker who both bring solid recent form and prominent run-styles, while Bridge View Star, Colin's Friend and several others with course or ground affinity cannot be ruled out in a competitive 24-runner field.

KTB Selection Theanniversary Man

Early prices

The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:03am, 1 Nov. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.

RunnerEarly priceBookmaker, time
Theanniversary Man14/1Bet365, 12:03am
Duce Bigalow6/1Bet365, 12:03am
Bridge View Star28/1Bet365, 12:03am
Euro Maker18/1BetTom, 12:03am
Colin's Friend7/2BoyleSports, 12:03am
Champagne Dawn14/1Bet365, 12:03am
Maxicourt18/1Bet365, 12:03am
Maciver22/1BetTom, 12:03am
Duke Otto33/1BetTom, 12:03am
Polly Poppins12/1Bet365, 12:03am
The Monkey Pole12/1Bet365, 12:03am
Messire Des Bordes28/1BetTom, 12:03am
Chesterbaylad33/1BoyleSports, 12:03am
Another Ocana25/1BetTom, 12:03am
Crypto Crash14/1Bet365, 12:03am
Nukie's Artic13/2Bet365, 12:03am
Mister Loolah28/1BetTom, 12:03am
Deeter28/1BetTom, 12:03am
Nameyourgame20/1Bet365, 12:03am
Deep Warrior10/1Bet365, 12:03am
Fairy Meadow66/1William Hill, 12:03am
Sunrise Strider66/1Bet365, 12:03am
Vairue33/1Bet365, 12:03am
Middlethird Marvel100/1BoyleSports, 12:03am

Questions about this race

Which horse is best suited by the expected strong pace?

Theanniversary Man, who is usually held up and produces his effort late.

How many principals have winning form at Cork?

Theanniversary Man has won here from two starts; the others have either no course form or placed efforts only.

Which runners are proven on yielding ground among the principals?

Euro Maker has placed on both starts on yielding; Colin's Friend has placed once from two; the others have either no win or place or limited exposure.

Who are the most likely front-runners in the race?

Polly Poppins tends to make the running or race on the pace, while The Monkey Pole also tends to race on the pace.

What does the family line say for Bridge View Star?

Half-brother to Rising Dust (6 wins from 26 runs). The dam has had 1 other runner, a winner.

18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.

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