Alan Marron is back to preview Wednesdays card at Dundalk Stadium.
We struggled on Fridays card but we will be looking to get a winner or two this time around as we edge ever closer to the Winter Festival at Fairyhouse on Sunday sponsored by ourselves at Bar One Racing.
Gavin Cromwell has his horses in top form and he will be looking forward to the weekend but could land the opening race on the card with a gelding in the colours of Mark Dobbin.
My nap on the card was a very impressive winner over hurdles at Navan on Sunday and if he comes here in similar form then he will take plenty of beating.
2.00 7f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden (IRE Incentive Race) (2yo)
Gavin Cromwell will be looking forward to the Bar One racing Winter Festival at Fairyhouse on Sunday with the likes of Gabynako and My Mate Mozzie and looks to have a decent chance of a winner here with TOGETHER ACLAIM (7/4) who will be ridden by Gary Carroll.
This gelding improved off his debut run at Leopardstown when finishing second at Dundalk last time behind Lesson Learned. He had taken a keen hold on debut but settled nicely last time and only got nabbed close home in what looked a stronger race than his time around.
He is dropping down in trip and that shouldn’t be much of an issue. He was weak in the market last time but should have too much class for his rivals here.
A big run would be expected here by connections.
2.30 7f Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap (Div I) (3yo+ 45-65)
Jake Coen is terrific value for his seven pound claim at the minute and he is on board HOT BELL (9/2) here for Andy Slattery.
This filly has been very consistent in her last three starts and even though they were on soft ground she could be a force to be reckoned with on the all-weather over the winter months. She has only had seven career starts and has been in the reckoning on five of them.
She has some solid form including a second place finish behind Cracking Name at Tipperary which would be standout form here if she showed ability on the surface.
This will be her fifth run since she was in season so hopefully there should be plenty more to come from her.
Will be tough to keep out of the frame with luck in running.
3.00 7f Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap (Div II) (3yo+ 45-65)
ROSIE ROCK (4/1) is a filly that I really thought would pick up one of these handicaps sooner rather than later but she is creeping up the handicap without getting her head in front.
She finished third to Designer Cailin last time and that form has been franked since with Sense Of Romance who finished second on that occasion going on to win on her next start. Eleuthera who finished eight on that occasion has run well at Dundalk next time out so the form looks solid.
Rosie Rock is better off at the weights from the last time she met Designer Cailin so she will go close sooner rather than later.
Keep an eye on the market but she looks a solid each way proposition.
3.30 6f Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Nursery Handicap (2yo)
Ger Lyons and Sean Bird will team up here with OBTAIN (5/1) in the Juddmonte colours and the ten pound claim could make all the difference in what looks a tricky nursery.
This filly was one paced over five furlongs in maiden company and this race could be run to suit considering she is drawn in stall one. The form of her maiden behind Orinoco River last time doesn’t look the worst form at all and there is a chance that she will be able to improve off her last run and be able to get into contention here.
The market will tell plenty on what is expected but I think the good draw and the claim from Sean could be the telling factor.
This filly should be very tough to keep out of the frame.
4.00 6f DundalkStadium.com Handicap (3yo+ 45-70)
WINDHAM BELLE (25/1) might be somewhat of a speculative selection but what Kyanna Van Buuren on board taking a valuable ten pounds off this filly she may go close.
She caught the eye in a recent claimer when ridden by Siobhan Rutledge where she disputed the lead early and then stayed on again in the closing stages.
She wasn’t beaten far at Laytown the time before and this course winner oculd be coming back into form at the right time.
She is a double figure price and she would a small each way play as she could get involved if she gets luck in running.
4.30 2m Dundalk Stadium Handicap (3yo+ 45-65)
Navan celebrated their 100 year anniversary on Sunday last with an excellent meeting that included victory for FUTURUM REGEM (2/1) in the 2m 6f handicap hurdle on the card.
This horse could not have been more impressive in cantering away from his toiling rivals and looked very good.
He was raised a stone by the handicapper so it looks very interesting that connections are choosing to see can they make hay off an all-weather mark of 43.
Wesley Joyce will take another seven pounds off his back and if he arrives here in the same form that he was on Sunday then he will take the world of beating. He will be in receipt of nearly a stone from most of his market rivals and I think he rates as the best bet on the card.
He will be my NAP and should take plenty of beating.
5.00 1m4f Maiden (3yo+)
We have an odds on favourite in this race with the Luke Comer trained Seattle Creek heading the market but my selection is going to be a little further down the market with EAGLE TERRACE (20/1) trained by Denis Hogan.
I was at Dundalk Stadium when this horse ran last time out and while it wasn’t something I noticed on the night I watched the race back and seen that he was short of room on a number of occasions up the straight.
This horse was formerly trained by John Gosden and has some very strong form which includes a fourth in a novice race won by Scope where Epsom Derby and Doncaster St Leger second Mojo Star finished in second place.
Eagle Terrace is likely going to be more of a handicapping proposition for this team but it wouldn’t surprise me if he was the one to give the market leader most to do.
I would keep a close eye on the market but much like the bigger priced selection that I selected earlier he will be a small each way play.
5.30 1m2½f (1m2f150y) Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (3yo+ 45-70)
The final race on the night could see Kyanna Van Buuren get a second winner on the card for the John Mc Connell team with CANNOLI (9/1) who caught the eye on Friday last finishing fourth behind Scarlet Seymour.
This filly was only beaten three lengths and if she can improve a little then she could be involved here. This will be her fourth start for her new stable having been formerly trained by Dermot Weld.
She finished second to Starting Monday at Galway back in October and a reproduction of form like that then she could go close here. She has dropped five pounds in the handicap in her last two starts and she showed a little more spark last time.
If Kyanna can get a handy position she could be staying on late and fast.