Another Friday night under the lights at Dundalk.
DUNDALK TIPS
- 17:00 Autocrat
- 17:30 Firewalker
- 18:00 Lake Lugano
- 18:30 Liamo
- 19:00 Polanco
- 19:30 Ocean’s Breath
- 20:00 Eastern Peace
- 20:00 Hygge
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17:00 1m2½f (1m2f150y) Irishinjuredjockeys.com Apprentice Optional Claiming Race (3yo+)
With an all-weather rating of 70, Autocrat can bounce back to form in the hands of jockey Nicola Burns in a competitive opening contest. He failed to get competitive in a handicap at Roscommon last Monday. He broke slowly from the stalls, and the writing was on the wall from there on.
Before that, he ran out a comfortable winner of a 0-60 handicap over 1m 4f at Bellewstown. As well as being slow to break, Autocrat can take a little bit of stoking along during his races. Nicola Burns knows him well; she rode him to victory over course and distance last year.
Autocrat is on a rating which should see him competitive and is the sole runner on the card for Donegal trainer Paul Sweeney.
Selection: Autocrat
17:30 6f Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Maiden (3yo+)
A chance is taken that Firewalker can open up his account at the sixth attempt in for trainer Robson De Aguiar and jockey Donagh O’Connor.
Formerly trained in England by Kevin Philippart De Foy, the son of Kingman made a pleasing racecourse debut, finishing second to Baker Blue in a Novice Stakes event over 6f at Southwell last December.
Firewalker has arguably failed to build on that debut run in three further starts in the UK, but it was an encouraging Irish and stable debut when he chased home the in-form Caffu Zafeen over course and distance last time out.
If breaking sharper from the stalls, a reproduction of that run last time out will see Firewalker difficult to beat.
Selection: Firewalker
18:00 7f James Crowe 1 Year Memorial Nursery Handicap (2yo)
Lake Lugano showed enough in a maiden over 1 mile at Killarney last time out.
Leading for most of the contest before tiring to finish third, inside the final furlong. The drop down to 7 furlongs here should suit, and Lake Lugano is ideally drawn in stall 1 to go forward and should take some passing.
Selection: Lake Lugano
18:30 7f Celebrate Your Special Occasion At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (Div I) (3yo+ 0-60)
Liamo put in a solid effort to finish second behind Hero Of The Hour at Gowran Park in July.
He has since finished down the field in a decent handicap at Cork, but a chance is taken that a return to the all-weather, along with a good draw and, I think, his best trip of 7 furlongs, will see Liamo in a better light here.
Selection: Liamo
19:00 7f Celebrate Your Special Occasion At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (Div II) (3yo+ 0-60)
Polanco took a step forward from previous efforts to finish a close third in a race won by Starflow, over 1 mile at Dundalk last time out. Having raced a little keenly in the early stages, he showed a good attitude, finding plenty for pressure up the Dundalk home straight.
The drop to 7 furlongs should suit, and Polanco could be the answer under the in-form Julian Pietropaolo.
Selection: Polanco
19:30 7f BAR 1 Betting ‘Supporting Irish Racing’ Handicap (3yo+)
Ocean’s Breath created a favourable impression when winning his maiden at Dundalk over 6 furlongs back in April.
He went on to win a decent race at Fairyhouse in July and put in another solid effort to finish second behind L L Koulsty at Naas last time out.
Another bold run is on the cards, and he is partnered by jockey Colin Keane.
Selection: Ocean’s Breath
20:00 1m2½f (1m2f150y) View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (3yo+)
Eastern Peace shaped as though a return to the winners’ enclosure could be on the cards soon.
Her sole success came over course and distance last November; the daughter of Mohaather stayed on to finish third in a fillies’ handicap over 1m 1f when last seen. She was beginning to stay on but had her momentum checked inside the final 2 furlongs. Her sole success came over course and distance last November; the daughter of Mohaather stayed on to finish third in a fillies’ handicap over 1m 1f when last seen. She was beginning to stay on but had her momentum checked inside the final 2 furlongs.
Eastern Peace can hit a flat spot in her races, but despite this, I think she can have a big say at the finish.
Selection: Eastern Peace
20:30 1m2½f (1m2f150y) Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Book Now Handicap (3yo+)
Hygge found life tough in a Classified Stakes event at Ascot when last seen. Before that, he ran out a comfortable winner of a qualified riders’ event on the beach at Laytown.
Making his debut at Dundalk, Hygge can bounce back to form and take the beating in the lucky last.
Selection: Hygge
Friday’s Dundalk Tips
- 17:00 Autocrat
- 17:30 Firewalker
- 18:00 Lake Lugano
- 18:30 Liamo
- 19:00 Polanco
- 19:30 Ocean’s Breath
- 20:00 Eastern Peace
- 20:30 Hygge
