A double helping of Dundalk this week with meetings on Wednesday and Friday.
WEDNESDAY’S DUNDALK TIPS
- 14:00 Blooming Rose
- 14:30 Bella Colombia
- 15:00 Little Miss Muffet
- 15:30 Tantardini
- 16:00 Battleforsupremacy
- 16:30 Strikepoint
- 17:00 Normanton
- 17:30 Coolnagrattan
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14:00 1m Dundalk Stadium Optional Claiming Race (3yo+)
Joseph O’Brien and his team have had a fantastic season, and they will look to crown it at the Breeders’ Cup and also in the Melbourne Cup. BLOOMING ROSE will be their runner here in the hands of Joey Sheridan. This filly was a barrier trial winner at Naas on May 26 and has followed that up with two consistent runs since. She missed an engagement at this venue when a non-runner on Friday last due to a temperature. If she has got over that, she could go close here. The barrier trial has worked out well, with the runner-up Mawhibah and the third Star Performer winning since.
Selection: Blooming Rose
14:30 1m Halloween Mid-Term Racing At Dundalk Handicap (3yo+)
Willie Mc Creery and Sam Coen will team with BELLA COLOMBIA, who was unlucky on her last run at Leopardstown. She travelled well towards the back of the field and tried to get a run through rivals but got chopped at a vital stage before staying on strongly close to home. She has course form at Dundalk when winning off 59 back in March, but she has won off 67 on the turf. She will be in here off a mark of 70, but Sam’s claim will bring it down to 65. With luck in running from a wide draw, she should be involved in the finish.
Selection: Bella Colombia
15:00 7f Irishinjuredjockeys.com Fillies Maiden (2yo)
The third race on the card looks like a tricky puzzle to try and solve, but the once-raced LITTLE MISS MUFFET could be the interesting runner for Donnacha O’Brien and Paddy Harnett. This filly ran fifth on her debut behind Celeron at the Curragh 147 days ago, and while she got a little outpaced, she stayed on under hands and heels riding. The winner, Celeron, has since won a Group 2 and finished down the field in Group 1 company. The second, fourth and sixth from that race have also come out and won since to give the form a boost.
Selection: Little Miss Muffet
15:30 7f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (2yo)
TANTARDINI hasn’t been seen for 165 days but comes here of interest for the combination of Aidan O’Brien and Jack Cleary. He made his debut at Navan on May 16 in a race that has since worked out really well. The winner, Barrow Boy, hasn’t been seen since, but the third, Hi Corbett Court, has finished second in the Goffs Million and second to Bengal Tiger in a listed contest at Doncaster last weekend. There is a chance that Tantardini could appreciate the surface here and go close on second start.
Selection: Tantardini
16:00 7f Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (Div I) (3yo+ 0-60)
The return to form for BATTLEFORSUPREMACY last time out caught the eye as he finished fourth behind Send Harry. While being slow away, he travelled well and had every chance over a furlong out and then no extra inside the final 110 yards. He is drawn in stall one here and will effectively be two pounds higher in the ratings. Conor Cusack claimed seven last time, whereas Patrick McGettigan will just take the five off here. His last two runs at Dundalk have been consistent, and you would be hoping for a similar run here.
Selection: Battleforsupremacy
16:30 7f Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (Div II) (3yo+ 0-60)
A chance is taken with STRIKEPOINT for the John Feane team, who was well backed last time at Gowran Park and ultimately disappointed to finish twelfth of sixteen runners. He went off at 11/4f, so he has obviously been showing something at home. He had started at big prices in three maiden runs, and a mark of 47 here could underestimate him if he handles the surface. A market check will be advised to see if the backers return.
Selection: Strikepoint
17:00 6f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden (2yo)
The MRC International silks are familiar colours at Dundalk Stadium, and they could get themselves another winner here with NORMANTON, who ran a promising race on debut. He finished fourth to Raging Bull on debut at the Curragh when slow away and learning his job throughout. He stuck to his task well, and even though he was beaten seven lengths, it was a promising introduction. He could go and break his maiden here and be a nice three-year-old next season.
Selection: Normanton
17:30 1m4f Happy Halloween Handicap (3yo+)
The final race on the card on Wednesday could see Nicola Burns and Ross Crawford in the winners’ enclosure COOLNAGRATTAN. This gelding ran a solid race here on October 9, finishing third to Serenity Blue, beaten three and three-quarter lengths. That was his first handicap, and there is a chance that he could improve off the back of it. He took a keen hold, and if Nicola can just get him to drop the bridle and travel a little sweeter, he might see the race out a little better. The handicapper dropped him a pound from last time, and with luck in running he should be involved.
Selection: Coolnagrattan
WEDNESDAY’S DUNDALK TIPS
- 14:00 Blooming Rose
- 14:30 Bella Colombia
- 15:00 Little Miss Muffet
- 15:30 Tantardini
- 16:00 Battleforsupremacy
- 16:30 Strikepoint
- 17:00 Normanton
- 17:30 Coolnagrattan
