James Griffin provides us with detailed race-by-race analysis for today’s meeting taking place at Dundalk Stadium.
17:45 – Race 1
An open contest opens the card. The richest ratings to aim for are 70 & 68. ILLUSORY was fifth over CD a month ago when not getting a clear run and being forced to switch. As the one proved over this distance she’s picked as the one to come out on top. Joseph O’Brien saddles a well-bred FASTNET ROCK. MELLIFEROUS is a half to 3 black type winners but is seeing the track for the first time at the age of 4 which is a negative. I tipped DREAM ROUND on stable debut and she ran satisfactorily when a never nearer 7th over 1m. I didn’t think she was screaming out for a big step up in trip and tackles this 12f trip for the first time. Highest rated in the race, is fit, yard going well but the trip is the question mark.
SELECTION: ILLUSORY
DANGER: DREAM ROUND
18:15 – Race 2
The weaker of the 2 divides and a name that will not be unfamiliar to many with DANCES WITH STARS. He is the only horse in the race that comes into it in good form and with cheekpieces added to the tongue tie he’s put forward to end his sequence of placed efforts and although he may need to make his own running which isn’t ideal, he’s the best horse in the race. SWIFT VERDICT will be ready to pick up the pieces should the favourite flop as long as the blinkers work their magic with Champion Jockey Colin Keane mocked up.
SELECTION: DANCES WITH STARS
DANGER: SWIFT VERDICT
18:45 – Race 3
MERROIR makes her debut for Joseph O’Brien after her move from Ray Cody. Placed on a few occasions she’s been off the track for nearly 4 months but if the market speaks on her favour I’d be following the confidence. She’s shown enough in the past to win races including when 3rd at the Galway Festival when catching the eye running on from the back and even her 4th in cork when hurdle winner Curious Bride won it and she had Leahman behind her and Dundalk winner Pure Nature in front. MS THOMPSON is a previous CD winner only 2 runs ago. Wasn’t much below her best form when mid-division next time out. That was her 3rd run in a short time so allowing for a possible flat run she can be in the mix.
SELECTION: MERROIR
SELECTION: MS THOMPSON
19:15 – Race 4
Henry de Bromhead may be thinking about Cheltenham at the moment but he saddled a winner here last Friday and his flat horses are running very consistent in Dundalk this winter. He teams up with Colin Keane again here with NASHY who over-raced last time out when closer to last than first but he just looked a non-stayer as well as notably having a tongue strap on today so if the combination of being able to breathe and running over shorter he’s given another chance. ALWISAAM was 7th on stable debut but was only beaten under 3L. There was market confidence that day and now John McConnell has a handle on this son of Dark Angel, an improved display is expected. He never stopped galloping that day and I’d be disappointed if he’s not collecting prize money today.
SELECTION: NASHY
DANGER: ALWISAAM
19:45 – Race 5
Not much to split OH SAY and CISNE. The latter has run once when at an unfancied 33/1 shot but was 2nd over 7f. She wasn’t overly knocked about but showed plenty of promise and if this run doesn’t come too soon (9 days) she is open to more progress than OH SAY. Jessie Harrington saddles the 75 rated colt and adds Cheekpieces after 5 previous attempts. He has done very little wrong. If CISNE doesn’t back up within 9 days, OH SAY is more professional and has that valuable experience over this trip.
SELECTION: CISNE
DANGER: OH SAY
12:15 – Race 6
DARK MAGIC did not get the run of the race last week when 2nd on Friday. He lost his pitch leaving the back straight before getting out a furlong down and staying on well. If they go a bit harder and don’t slacken the pace half way he’ll get the tow into the race that he likes. He’s holding his form and Fridays run had valid excuses. KUDBEGOODWAS bidding for a hat trick two weeks ago when going down narrowly. He was only beaten a neck but he lost it at the start when rearing and being awkward away from the stalls. That wasn’t his first time being awkward away and it’s a trait that gets worse the more racing they get and its the difference between winning a getting beaten a neck in a race as KUDBEGOOD showed recently.
SELECTION: DARK MAGIC
DANGER: KUDBEGOOD
12:45 – Race 7
Kieran Cotter has started 2021 the same way he ended 2020, with winners. He is represented by SLADE RUNNER here. This is his second stable start and he was 5th on his first start in a race that’s worked out. The winner HODDS GIRL has won again, the second has won the third was an unlucky 3rd last week and the 4th was a solid 5th last week so it was a solid race. It’s a wide-open race but he’s drawn well in 6. ALL ABOUT IVY has 7lb apprentice Adam Farragher on board and has a tongue strap on for the first time which may reverse her fortunes. She’s fresh and if ready to roll the drop in trip looks a good move, rider in form and the stable is having winners.
SELECTION: SLADE RUNNER
DANGER: ALL ABOUT IVY
21:15 – Race 8
As you know I’m not a fan of unlucky in running horses to follow but BLASTOFMAGIC was drawn wrong and needs cover so a wide draw wasn’t ideal last week. He ran a cracker considering how much daylight he saw up the straight. He’s drawn 6 today so that’s ideal and the step back up to 6f from 5f should see him in better light. TOGOVILLE is a 5 time CD winner and arguably ran below form when a recent 5th in a claimed but Sam Ewing is booked which catches the eye and this veteran is nothing but consistent with prize money picked up on 4 of his last 6 runs. He drops in trip today and if the trip works today he’ll be there battling it out at the end.
SELECTION: BLASTOFMAGIC
DANGER: TOGOVILLE
