Alan Marron is back to preview Wednesdays card at Dundalk Stadium.
We are back with another midweek card, folks, and, as is usually the case, it is extremely competitive.
Many of ye know that I have followed the barrier trials with extreme scrutiny and the form will be put to the test in the 3.20. Joseph O’Brien and his team will be extremely disappointed if they can’t land the maiden with a very short-priced favourite.
A couple of each-way propositions in the final two races on the card will hopefully make for interesting reading.
Bar One Racing prices for Wed’s card at Dundalk are available via this link
Bar One Racing are paying each-way 1/5 the odds on 4 PLACES in the 2:20PM, 3:50PM, 4:20PM, 4:50PM and 5:20PM races at DUNDALK on Wednesday!
2.20 IRISHINJUREDJOCKEYS.COM HANDICAP (3yo+ 45-65) Winner €5,900 14 runners 2m Standard RTV
We open the card this week over two miles and one of the more-interesting runners for me in this race is YAMATO, trained by John Mc Connell and due to be ridden by Rory Cleary.
This gelding impressed last time out when getting the better of April’s Joy and Jeff Kidder in a competitive race at Navan. The trainer commented after that race that the horse would be given a break, so it may suggest that the horse was bouncing when they took up this entry.
He has been raised eleven pounds in the ratings for that win and that will leave his all-weather mark at 56, and while that may look a substantial increase, he was placed off this mark in 2019.
He was also a course winner for Michael Halford in 2017 so there is no doubt a big run is expected with stamina guaranteed.
2.50 7f Crowne Plaza Hotel Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Median Auction Maiden (IRE Incentive Race) (2yo)
This race is simply all about ULTRAMARINE and this colt could be quite a short price to eventually break his maiden tag for the Joseph O’Brien team.
His form should be much too good for his rivals considering that he finished fourth in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Group One) behind Native Trail when he was staying on strongly close home.
He finished behind Sacred Bridge, trained by Ger Lyons, on two separate occasions prior to that in a Group 3 and in the Ballyhane Stakes.
This is a massive drop in class and there is not much you can say other than connections will be very disappointed should be not come home in front and in impressive fashion.
Will take a world of beating here.
3.20 1m Floodlit Fridays At Dundalk Maiden (3yo+)
Those of ye who follow my previews on a regular basis will know that I have a keen interest in the barrier trials that take place at Dundalk Stadium.
DAISY JONES is a filly that I have looked forward to seeing for a while now after she stuck at it well to see off Hobsons Bay and Impulsar.
The form of that has worked out really well with Impulsar breaking his maiden in a race where Hobsons Bay was well fancied but ultimately finished back in fifth.
It will be interesting to see what the market makes of her overnight and early on Wednesday morning.
If she has improved from the barrier trial then she will be tough to keep out of the frame.
3.50 1m Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap (4yo+ 45-70)
Tony Martin and Robbie Colgan team up here with AKHLAAQ and this horse will be expected to go close off the back of a decent run when second to stablemate Firstman last time out.
The form of that race has received numerous boosts with the fourth, ninth and twelfth all winning since, while the fifth and the fourteenth have been placed on their next start.
This horse is only having his fourth outing on the all-weather and is relatively lightly raced for a seven year-old, having run only sixteen times.
He is in here off a mark of 67 but landed a handicap at Leopardstown under Robbie off a mark of 65. He is a horse that likes to travel away and come off a strong pace late and fast.
He has a nice draw in stall nine and, with luck in running, I would expect him to go very close and he will be my NAP on the day.
4.20 1m4f Handicap (Div I) (3yo+ 45-65)
Ciara Flynn and POWER DRIVE provided the Flynn family with a very poignant moment on Wednesday evening last when she got her first winner on the board trained by her dad Paul.
She gave Power Drive an absolute peach on that occasion, setting off in front and they could never reel her back in. He steps back up in trip here, but if they let him have his own way in front and Ciara can set steady fractions then I think he will be very tough to beat.
He has won three times on the all-weather from fourteen starts and has a nice draw here in stall nine so she should have no issue getting to the front.
Dundalk is the type of track where the home straight can be long and lonely if the petrol gauge is getting empty, but I think now the fact that this horse has got in front he might go in again.
Will be tough to keep out of the frame here from a front-running role.
4.50 1m4f Handicap (Div II) (3yo+ 45-65)
Brendan Duke has had plenty of success recently at Dundalk Stadium with Pride Of Pimlico and he has a very interesting runner here with MOVING, who caught the eye last time when sixth behind Rita Levi.
Melanie Horsman was on board on that occasion, but this time around it will be Rory Cleary who will (hopefully, by now) be looking for a double on the afternoon.
This gelding is lightly raced and this will be his fourth start for his new stable since leaving Jim Bolger. He is in here off a mark of 43 and, while he is slightly out of the handicap, it wouldn’t surprise me if he ran a decent race.
He is slowly getting his act together and he will be dropped in from a wide draw and hope for luck in running up the straight.
A small each-way play in a competitive handicap but he could go close.
5.20 1m2½f (1m2f150y) Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Handicap (3yo 45-70)
The final race of the afternoon is another competitive handicap, but the Francis Casey-trained runner, ROCK YA BOY YA, ridden by Siobhan Rutledge, catches the eye.
This horse finished sixth behind Pro Bono on Wednesday last when he raced far too keenly. Siobhan will take five pounds off his back and, if she can get him to settle, he will be staying on strongly considering he finished second over further behind Too Bright at Roscommon on August 30th.
This horse has only had nine starts to date and there is no doubt he is slowly getting his act together as a three year-old. If Siobhan can get him into a handy rhythm and travelling then it wouldn’t surprise me if he was in contention.
Keep a close eye on the market as this horse has been well backed on a couple of occasions.
Will be tough to keep out of the frame.