James Griffin brings you all of his tips and picks for today’s racing coming your way from Dundalk Stadium.
Race 1 – 16:40
As you all know, I have a soft spot for TOREEN ANGEL and she proved worth following the each way advice the last day when (unlucky) 2nd in a maiden. This is a weaker race on paper but as much as it pains me, I’m going to go against TOREEN ANGEL in the shape of MELLIFEROUS. This daughter of Fastnet Rock has only raced once and that was a fortnight ago when 3.5L 4th behind Illusory. She missed the break slightly and ran green at various stages but kept on nicely up the straight. She wasn’t knocked about and is bred to win races so a maiden such as this should be within range. She is dropping in trip but she should have sharpened up for that previous experience. TOOREEN ANGEL has knocked on the door the last 4 times and was so unlucky the last day when wiped out at the first bend and having to make up plenty of lost ground. The form of that maiden is better than MELLIFEROUS’ maiden but TOOREEN ANGEL has run 7 times against the selections once. It’s a toss of the coin but I’m always one to side with the one open to more improvement and that’s MELLIFEROUS.
SELECTION: MELLIFEROUS
DANGER: TOOREEN ANGEL
Race 2 – 17:10
Pat Flynn recorded a win with his stable stalwart Whatharm here on Friday night and his SLEEPY HEAD could double his tally within a week. She won here twice over 8f and 10f but they were in 2017 however. She’s been second over as far as 1m 5f so the trip is fine. Her run here on the 11th in a very strongly run 2miles wasn’t devoid of some potential. She drops 4f here but she gets first time blinkers too. What also stands out is that she is 7lb below her last winning mark. If the headgear has the necessary effect her (roughly) 7/1 is an each way bet to nothing. Last time out winner STAY WITH ME gets first time cheek pieces which I thought a bit odd. She looked genuine and tough the last day but perhaps the trainer feels they’ll negate the handicappers rise. She was on the front end that day and I don’t think she’ll get as easy a lead as she got then this afternoon. She is consistent at this level and stays well. She deserved her win last time out.
SELECTION:SLEEPY HEAD
DANGER:STAY WITH ME
Race 3 – 17:40
Both Andrew Slattery the trainer and his namesake jockey may be looking for a double in this race but hopefully not! PINEAPPLE EXPRESS has run just the once for them having been moved from Gareth Power. She showed improved form on that sole run when only beaten half a length behind STORM ELZA. She came from the clouds that day and went into many notebooks having made up 9 places in the last 300m. One would presume she’ll improve for what was her first run since last September and her first run for her new trainer. MALBAS was one place behind the selection on that occasion and he just looked like he wanted this 12f trip rather then the 10f that day. He doesn’t need to improve on paper he just needs do run to the same mark and he’s been consistent on both starts this year.
SELECTION: PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
DANGER: MALBAS
Race 4 – 18:15
BENKOGAMBIT had uninspiring form figures before his 3yo debut and he was only beaten 1.5L on that occasion behind the danger. CATHERINE CHROI. He ended up coming nearly widest of all and the winner had gotten first run. Pat Martin is putting cheek pieces on and his mark is 8lb below his opening mark (60) when he wasn’t beaten far in a Curragh nursery when 6th of 16. He’s better value and even more importantly he’s better drawn (9 v 11) than CATHERINE CHROI. First time blinkers did the trick and he won like the best horse in the race. He got 4lb for winning so he’s 4lb worse off for a 1.5L beating. That plus the draw should reverse form.
SELECTION: BENKOGAMBIT
DANGER: CATHERINE CHROI
Race 5 – 18:50
You won’t be too surprised with the name, MASALAI! I tipped him 10 days ago but this drop to7f should suit better than the 8f of last time. He ended up having to come quite wide and wasn’t beaten too far (just shy of 2L). He needs them to go hard and the pace to drop and his draw of 4 is ideal as long as they do just that. This is (nearly!!) his last chance on this blog!! RANGER BOB is the mount of champion jockey Colin Keane who takes the mount for his dad Ger. He’s donning first time blinkers and of the 4 that finished I front of him 2 have won since so the race has worked out. He stayed on very well and even his run over 8f when 3rd is a cracking effort. He will give the selection most to think about. .
SELECTION: MASALAI.
DANGER: RANGER BOB
Race 6 – 19:25
A weak divide. Chris Hayes has had a fantastic January and no doubt would love to ride a winner for his brother. He may do so on GATSBY GAP. the application of a tongue strap brought about an improvement when 4th to Red Heel. Only 3/4L behind the winner he was 10th a furlong down and he galloped on strongly to be a closing 4th at the line. He’s the same draw (8) again today and he’s had a good break between runs (3 weeks). He also has cheek pieces added (worn previously). There’ll be no excuses after today. It’s very hard to put up a confident danger as many of these have had excuses or need to show a level of form that would be a valid reason to fancy. BUACHAILL OR and JM Barrie wouldn’t be far away on old form
SELECTION: GATSBY GAP
Race 7 – 19:55
This race revolves around the 79 rated SHACKLETON HERO. Only nabbed late on when a beaten favourite when last seen but he’s been off the track for 70 days so something may have been amiss and there’s nothing in this that has run that has shown the level of form that he has. The horses for the forecast are MO CELITA and at a big price, BROTHER IN LAW.
SELECTION: SHACKLETON HERO
Race 8 – 20:25
SABRINA FAIRCHILD bolted in on Friday and carries a 6lb penalty for that, 6lb wouldn’t have beaten her on Friday. As long as that race hasn’t taken too much out of her then she should follow up. Recent winner (tipped here) SLADE RUNNER won over CD and is lightly raced. It did take 16 attempts however for him to win. He’s still 10lb below his highest mark and having had that confidence booster he should trouble the selection the most.
SELECTION: SABRINA FAIRCHILD
DANGER: SLADE RUNNER
JAMES GRIFFIN PUNTERS CHALLENGE SELECTIONS:
Race 1: MELLIFEROUS.
Race 2: SLEEPY HEAD.
Race 3: PINEAPPLE EXPRESS.
Race 4: BENKOGAMBIT.
Race 5: MASALAI.
Race 6: GATSBY GAP.
Race 7: SHACKLETON HERO
Race 8: SABRINA FAIRCHILD.
