FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

18:35 Dundalk The opening selection this evening comes in the second race on the card over in Ireland at Dundalk. There may only be the nine that are set to go to post but it doesn’t make this race any less trickier to unfurl. The market principle looks set to be the maiden Reddot Roman who put in an improved effort to finish third here last time out. A repeat of that effort will see him go close but off the same handicap mark and in what looks a more classier race I wouldn’t be convinced he’s a nailed on certainty. To Choose claimed victory over course and distance last time out and has to be respected however a five pound hike in weights should be too much to overcome. Political Policy is a horse that seems to have been on the Irish all-weather scene for ages however is only five years old. A return to form when finishing fourth at The Curragh shows he’s likely to go close and looks to be the biggest danger to the selection. I’m opting for a course and distance winner in the form of six year old Jan Van Eyck. He’s ultra-consistent and finished second and third in both of his last two visits to Dundalk. He may have finished third last time out however that was a very close third and one he is more than capable of improving upon especially with a better draw and less opponents. 9/1 looks a silly price and one I hope we can take advantage of. Jan Van Eyck (E/W)

20:35 Dundalk We have a long wait until the second tip arrives as we remain in Ireland for a one mile race. Number two on the race card is Our Manekineko who’s only ever tasted victory here at Dundalk with five previous course and distance wins to his name. A some what puzzling performance in its last run left a lot of punters scratching their heads however with his rating now dropping further it’s interesting to see the booking of promising amateur Conor McNamara. With McNamara’s seven pound claim taking the horse below his last winning mark he has to have a chance, especially coming out of stall two. The likes of Six Silver Lane, Reddot Express and Lily’s Prince all have to come in to the reckoning, especially with decent course form to their names. Rotter Baron put in an improved effort when finishing second previously however stall ten doesn’t seem to aid his chances tonight. Chatterton was fancied to go close in both of its last two starts but failed to find its head in front, a decent draw and different jockey on top this time around may be an indication that he’s set to go close and today may see him finish in the places. Never the less I’m taking a plump on a 16/1 shot that could come good once again. Our Manekineko (E/W)

21:20 Wolverhampton We wait until the last race of the night before heading to Wolverhampton where a thirteen runner race awaits. This contest looks ridiculously difficult to call and I must confess it’s not a race to go “all in” with however John Mackie’s runner Infexiball might be worth a few pennies. A fourth placed effort in a similar race last time out shows he’s ready to go close and with the booking of the promising Clifford Lee also an eye-catching manoeuvre from connections making the four year old worth noting. The horse had too much left to do in his last race but now coming out of stall three his chances look to have improved. The very consistent Cool Music seems the proverbial bridesmaid with four consecutive second or third placed finishes in his last four all-weather starts. Likely to be on the scene once again but equally likely to find one or two too good again. As the only course and distance winner Cahar Fad may do better than his odds could allow us to believe but I imagine minor money is the best connections can hope for. Gold Return is the current race favourite but as a maiden I couldn’t be backing him at such a short price. The big danger and if truth be told the horse I was torn between tipping is Richard Fahey’s Wootton Vale. At the age of three improvement is likely and despite finishing fourth previously that was a lot closer to the winner than the bare form figures may suggest. My slight doubt is with the draw but if that can be overcome is sure to push the selection all the way. Inflexiball (E/W)

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