Alan Marron is back to preview Wednesday’s card at Dundalk Stadium.
Following a stint over obstacles at Fairyhouse on Sunday, we are back on the all-weather at Dundalk Stadium on Wednesday with an excellent card.
We finished Friday on a high with Dalvey (20/1) coming home in front for the team of James Mc Auley and Shane Foley. As normal this is a very competitive card but I will be hoping to get a winner or two for ye.
Thomas Mullins looks to have a smart recruit in the third race while the rest of the card could be dominated by Colin Keane and Shane Foley.
Bar One Racing prices for Dundalk’s card on Wed 1 Dec can be found via this link
1.40 5f View Restaurant At Dundalk Maiden (2yo)
While this race looks like it will take very little winning, JARVIS will be a very short price to break his maiden at the eleventh attempt.
His form is very consistent around here and his two second-place finishes behind the likes of HMS Endeavour and Orinoco River should be more than enough. It was a bit of a battle royal between himself and Orinoco River last time out and he just got done by a bit of tactical speed close home.
I would think Colin Keane will make this as uncomplicated as possible and pop out and make all.
2.10 7f Irishinjuredjockeys.com Claiming Race (3yo+)
ROCKY DREAMS looks one of the main protagonists for the team of Denis Hogan and Daniel King and should be tough to keep out of the frame.
This horse has been a model of consistency in recent weeks, having finished second to Timourid last time out over a mile. There is no doubt that the return to seven furlongs will be in his favour having finished a close second behind Monzoon over this trip on the 8th October.
He got his head in front over six furlongs when staying on strongly to see off No Speed Limit and that form has received numerous boosts.
Daniel will take a valuable seven pounds off his back and he should go close.
2.40 7f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race (IRE Incentive Race) (2yo)
Thomas Mullins looks to have a very smart horse here with MORNING SOLDIER and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if this horse can make it two-from-two on the all-weather at Dundalk.
He kept on well on his second start to get the better of Trent, who will be in opposition again, but I think we can expect a similar result. There is no doubt that Morning Soldier will improve off the back of that victory and, with the track and trip to suit, he will surely be in contention.
He was 33/1 last time when he got his head in front but the trainer wasn’t overly surprised. They think quite a bit of this horse and I think he will take plenty of beating.
He will be my NAP on the afternoon.
3.10 7f DundalkStadium.com Nursery Handicap (2yo 45-70)
Shane Foley and Jessica Harrington team up here with PRINCESS RAJJ and she could prove hard to keep out of the frame here having finished second to Marsa last time out.
She will have cheekpieces applied for the first time and, if they help her to concentrate and Shane can get her settled, then she can finish her race out strongly.
Marsa has followed up again since so that has franked the form and that horse has proved a very good yardstick around Dundalk.
This filly may have improved for the better surface and, if she can come on again, she will be tough to keep out of the frame with luck in running.
3.40 6f Handicap (3yo+ 45-65)
This is one of the most competitive races on the card but I think the fact that Colin Keane is back aboard ROSIE ROCK could sway it in her favour.
She has proved quite disappointing in recent starts and she effectively needs a strong pace to come home with a late rattle. Her last four runs around Dundalk have yielded three third-place finishes and then she flattened out to finish seventh behind Joupe last Wednesday.
Her handicap mark has either been 60, 61 or 62 since she joined this stable so the handicapper looks to have her measure.
If the race is run to suit she looks a solid each-way proposition and should go close here.
4.10 1m Join Us On Instagram @dundalk_stadium Handicap (3yo+ 45-75)
James Mc Auley and Shane Foleyhave been in flying form around Dundalk in recent weeks, most notably when they landed a double with Sister Lola and Dalvey on Friday last.
They look to have a very strong contender here with ANJAH, who came back to form last time out when finishing fourth behind Summit Star trained by Sheila Lavery.
The drop back in trip from a mile and a quarter to a mile is sure to suit and, with Shane keeping the mount, I think that could make this gelding very competitive. He has a decent draw in stall eight and he might just track the pace and produce him inside the furlong pole.
The handicapper has taken a little chance by dropping him a pound for his last run so I think he is a solid each-way selection in this race.
4.40 1m2½f (1m2f150y) Crowne Plaza Hotel Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap (3yo+)
The final race on the afternoon could be a replica of last Friday with James Mc Auley landing the final two races on the card, this time with Colin Keane in the saddle.
The Naul trainer will saddle up TIMOURID here and this horse will be having his third start for his new connections after he was claimed on the 27th October.
He has ran two very solid races since he left Denis Hogan, having finished fourth behind Spilt Passion and then seeing off Rocky Dreams, who could frank the form earlier on the card, last time out. I think there is plenty of room for manoeuvre with the handicap mark of this horse and he has only had five runs on the all-weather and won two of them.
He has a mark of 75 and, when he won last time out, he went clear inside the final furlong suggesting that the step back up in trip won’t be an issue.
Will take plenty of beating here with luck in running.