Winter has well and truly arrived with freezing conditions seeing cards at Carlise, Newcastle and Punchestown abandoned, however, there is still action from Cork and Southwell.
Cork gets Sunday’s reduced programme underway when the first of seven races takes place at 12:15 and the card concludes at 15:20, while Betfred is paying out an Extra Place in the 14:50 and closer.
Corbetts Cross can be backed at 11/4 to come out on top in the 12:45 over 2m 185 yds when 27 are set to battle it out on Yielding to Soft ground.
The five-year-old recorded a one-and-three-quarter-length win when last seen at Cork in October and he came home second at Clonmel last time out.
Mercurey is the 10/11 favourite, but the jury is still out on the Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old, who hasn’t featured since March when he sealed third at Limerick.
In the 13:15, which goes over 3m, Hiddenvalley Lake, priced at 3/1, offers interest with jockey Rachael Blackmore looking to land for trainer Henry De Bromhead.
Hiddenvalley Lake came home at the top of a 23-strong field last time out at Naas in November and looks the strongest challenger to 2/1 favourite Monbeg Park.
Gendarme, who is 16/1 to prevail in the 14:50 over 2m 4f, is one to consider in a contest when Betfred is paying out an Extra Place.
The seven-year-old has won two of his last three outings and could be a lively contender for the likes of 5/2 favourite Hardy Bloke and 5/1 Gorgeous Suspect.
Southwell also hosts seven races to bring an end to the week with the action running between 12:23 and 15:28.
Just six are set to go to post in the opener where Paseo is the 4/5 favourite, but 5/1 Catlin could be one to keep an eye on.
The Nick Kent-trained seven-year-old won by two-and-three-quarter-lengths last time out at Newcastle and could benefit from the small field.
There’s plenty to like about 2/1 favourite Samazul in the 13:23, despite coming home seventh on his maiden appearance last time out.
Samazul travelled well for long periods in a hotly contested Ascot bumper and that could set him up nicely for a challenge this time around.
Spring Note is the Evens favourite to win the 13:53 over 1m 7f 182 yds with Nico de Boinville on board for trainer Nicky Henderson.
The four-year-old was a comfortable winner on debut at Warwick last time out and is looking to build further momentum.
