James Griffin brings you all of his tips and picks for today’s racing coming your way from Dundalk Stadium.
19:00 – Race 1
The Orange colours of James Gough & James McAuley were to the fore in these types of races in 2020 and they’re out in force tonight with 3 representatives. It’s a race of two halves on paper with chances being given to 3 or 4 horses and there’s 4 or 5 easily overlooked. The draw has been unkind to the fancied horses but ability should over come that drawback. ZAHEE is second highest rated off a mark of 73 and he drops in trip here after been placed in a maiden last time out. His second to Sindhia over 7f reads well in the context of this race as the winner is now rated in the 80’s.
SELECTION: ZAHEE DANGER: KENDRED SOUL
Race 2 – 19:30
Form figures of 222 would usually make you question resolution or trip or something but DEVILS OUTLAW has just been unlucky to bump into three proper sorts on those occasions and has done very little wrong in defeat. He’s back to 6f here and has blinkers applied. He’s in no excuse territory tonight as he has 14lb in hand over his nearest rival. Keep an eye on the market for any confidence in PRINCESS PLUMERIA trained by Ger Lyons who had a winner here last week who was first time out. Gers usually need a run but this is a maiden lacking strength in depth.
SELECTION: DEVILS OUTLAW
DANGER: PRINCESS PLUMERIA
Race 3 – 20:00
Two runs ago I tipped MELLIFEROUS who was cruelly denied on the line! He looked on that occasion like he wanted a trip and he gets it here running over two miles. He’s a three time maiden runner which leaves her unexposed and a mark of 70 may not do her justice. She should be well able to travel and I’d imagine she’ll find this a lot easier then her last run when looking like she was flat out. She was only beaten 2L the last day and if this trip brings about any improvement she’s the one to beat. TOP LINE TOMMY won here two runs ago but it’s last run when 6th wasn’t actually too bad. He was trapped along way back in a slowly run race but kept on nicely. If there’s any chink in the selection he may pick up the pieces.
SELECTION: MELLIFEROUS
DANGER:TOP LINE TOMMY
Race 4 – 20:30
Last week we saw young Sean Cleary junior make his track debut onboard his grandads NIGHTLY WAILING. He did nothing wrong in finishing a close third behind track specialist Everyhouronthehour but his uncle Rory now takes over and the stronger handy may be the difference on this occasion. If Top Line Tommy runs well in the 3rd race that bodes well for the danger, CONOR HOGAN. A previous CD winner in the autumn he ran well when 3rd three weeks ago over this trip.
SELECTION: NIGHTLY WAILING
DANGER: CONOR HOGAN
Race 5 – 21:00
STALINGRAD has had 5 previous attempts and has knocked on the door on all of those tries. Off the track since early December this Colt steps up in trip to the mile and if not needing the run can provide in form jockey Chris Hayes another winner. He’s rated 78 and comes into this fresh. DEDILLON has tried 18 times and is yet to hit the net but continues to run well in defeat. She’s rated 9lb lower then the selection but is exposed at this rate but is one that will be placed.
SELECTION: STALINGRAD
DANGER: DEDILLON
Race 6 – 21:30
Eight face the starter and hopefully all eight turn up for each way (first 3) purposes. Plenty of O’Briens in it but Josephs MESSIDOR is a progressive sort and looks like he could make it 3 in a row here. She holds an entry in the 1000 Guineas in Newmarket which bodes for how well she’s regarded. Yet to run over this 1m trip but her style lends you to think she should stay. Her last race has worked out and she should see off her stable companion MY GENERATION. This once raced filly ran on like a steam engine when the penny dropped on debut and will progress again. No doubt she’ll be ridden to gain black type but if she progresses as much as she looked like she could do she may worry the selection.
SELECTION: MESSIDOR
DANGER: MY GENERATION
Race 7 – 22:00
Can he do it AGAIN? TOGOVILLE is bidding for his 4th win of 2021 and his 15th AW win of his career at the age of 11. He has won off a mark of 90 in the part and races off 86 here. There’s not too much that can be said about him at this stage but it would be brilliant if he could, just once more, come home in front. PRISONERS DILEMMA is 2 from 6 and is in the juvenile stage of his career in comparison to TOGOVILLE. Hasn’t been seen since he won over CD before Christmas but he was purposely put away. He could turn out to be a summer Premier Handicapper for connections so a big run is likely.
SELECTION: TOGOVILLE
DANGER: PRISONERS DILEMMA
Race 8 – 22:30
4th off a short break when last seen, ABLAH is taken to make it a double for his trainer (hopefully) on the card. The step up to 7f should really help her so too the booking of Shane Foley. If I was to nominate one bet for the day it’d be this ABLAH to make it 2 wins from 11 starts and double her All-Weather tally. When she won here over 6f she was only pushed out hands n heels and that was off a mark of 60 and she races off 63 here tonight and that win was only three runs ago.
SELECTION: ABLAH
JAMES GRIFFIN PUNTERS CHALLENGE SELECTIONS:
Race 1 – ZAHEE
Race 2 – DEVILS OUTLAW
Race 3 – MELLIFEROUS
Race 4 – NIGHTLY WAILING
Race 5 – STALINGRAD
Race 6 -MESSIDOR
Race 7 – TOGOVILLE
Race 8 – ABLAH
