A look at the five day entries for Dundalk Races on Monday
left me feeling cold. Conditions outside don’t help the situation. Friday’s
card does not warm the heart and nor does it look an easy set of puzzles to
solve. We plough on though in the hope of finding a winner or two, even though
some of the races left me thinking, can anything win it?
Studying entries can be a futile exercise. Possible runners
are released five days in advance and it’s hard to gauge what may be a bet on
the day or if they will even be declared to run. At the time of writing their
draw, jockey, whether fitted with headgear and what price they will be is all a
conundrum. It is of course no harm
looking at the entries 5 days out but I’m just getting the excuses in early!
The best race on the card is the 7f handicap but has only
attracted 8 entries. Last week’s
impressive winner Nini OK is in there though takes a rise in class and carries
7lbs extra. Marble Statuette blotted the copybook behind Captain Joy here last
time, before that won twice readily. It is no disgrace running behind Captain
Joy as we found out Saturday; the Tracey Collins runner a smooth winner of a
conditions race in Lingfield, as a result qualifying for AW Championships
Finals Day on Good Friday. Sassaway could be interesting at a big price after a
fine run behind Grey Danube after 3 months of the track. The 8yo mare is just
overlooked however as she may prefer 6f and has yet to win on the surface. Have
a Nice Day is a stalwart here while I hope Elusive in Paris, who is doubly
entered lines up in the lower grade mile race later on. Wishyouwerehere hung
badly for Eddie Lynam last Friday, looks tricky and Artistic Integrity hasn’t
showed much form recently. That leaves me with the selection Fastidious.
The Michael O’Callaghan trained 6yo ran a cracker here over 7f two starts ago
behind the aforementioned Captain Joy, only beaten a length after 4 months off
the track. I believe the gelding ‘bounced’ the next week as he ran flat. The 6f
trip probably didn’t suit either but when a horse has a big effort after a long
layoff, if returning to the track quickly often they don’t run their race.
Fastidious is a straight forward type who often leads, loves the intermediary
trip of 7f and looks well weighted to win this.
Your Pal Tal is a sprinter bang in form. I find when one is in
such good heart as this you don’t get off the express till it stops. Up 7lb for
a fine win over the minimum distance over Strategic Heights and Majestic
Timeline, I think the Johnny Levins 5yo can manage the extra burden as he could
be better over 6f and won with a degree of authority last week. Levins has had
2 winners from last three runners and in general his small string are in good
form. His 2nd behind Grey Danube was in a very fast time and may prove
to be excellent form. Draw is important over 6f so an inside berth would give
more confidence. Annie Irish is worth consideration in her first handicap off a
lowly rating of 58, the Elizabeth Doyle filly has shown promise in maidens.
Tony Carroll from England has only one entry and if Dusty
Blue makes the trip across for the 3yo 6f handicap, he’s bound to be well
supported with people latching onto the significance of coming over.
Arif was very unlucky to be poorly positioned on debut in what
turned out to be a sprint after the pace being farcically slow early. The Nayef
colt was the moral winner and was flying at the death finishing nearest at the
finish. His Highness the Aga Khan should enjoy a winner Friday night as the
step up to a mile is sure to suit and with Halford runners, improvement can be
expected from first to second run. It does however look to be a decent maiden
and you never know what the unraced horses will be capable of. Niall’s Rory may be a huge price and could be
worth backing to place as he missed the break by 10l on debut and showed some
ability behind Arif.
Elsewhere Settle for Red back to Ireland off a mark he won
before, Glasson Lad who had a wide trip in the 2m race here last week and Saga
Diamond in an awful 10f concluding maiden would be horses to keep an eye on.
