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18:00 Dundalk The opening contest of the evening sees us take in a sprint race where there’s a tonne of cases to be made for the majority of todays runners. Current market leader’s sees a three way split between four year olds Kasbah and Split The Atom as well as course and distance winner Strategic Heights. Of the trio I’d look towards the Johnny Murtagh trained Kasbah who looks a likely improver after his all-weather victory at Wolverhampton in October. This being said however my selections side elsewhere. Although there’s twelve runners there’s two I just can’t neglect either. A major factor when it comes to sprints here at Dundalk is the need for a low draw and although it’s a general rule to side with low draw runners with races over the minimum it’s not completely impossible for those in a higher draw can claim victory. I’m negating the low draw rule here as both of my selections line up in stalls ten and eleven. Three year old Go Kart has a great course and distance record and at such a young age has the potential to improve above this level. The horse sits at three pounds lower than its last winning mark and with the amateur jockey who’s in the saddle tonight having such a great record on the horse I have to go with it. The other selection sees us go from the youngest horse in the race to the oldest. Nine year old Sassaway has a course and distance win to its name and in two efforts around this course and distance it’s finished first and third. A promising third placed effort here last time after a five month lay off was encouraging and it could strip fitter and improve for that run. Go Kart (E/W if 9/2+) Sassaway (E/W)
18:30 Dundalk A field of thirteen currently line up for our second preview of the night a one mile handicap. Rose Angel finally got her nose in front two weeks ago over course and distance after a long time of knocking on the door; she’s upped six pounds for this but she may not have stopped yet and still looks dangerous off her current mark. Tribal Path was just edged out of a hat-trick around here three weeks ago and looks more suited to seven furlongs so this extra furlong today throws a few question marks against his name, though he did beat Rose Angel by over four and a half lengths back in January. Rotter Baron Makes his seasonal debut here tonight after 180 days away from the track; he tends to need at least one run before getting his head in front but he looks at a winning mark for his return and its worth taking note to see how he runs here today. Poetic Choice and Mcguigan both produced great runs when finishing behind Hat Alnasar three weeks ago and both earn the right to be on the short list, the former had been knocking on the door for a while now but failed to keep with the pace two out. The latter probably has his best chance to date to finally break his duck and if he can reproduce his last run he’ll surely go close. McGuigan (E/W if 9/2+)
19:00 Dundalk The third race of the night sees the youngsters (three year olds) do battle over seven furlongs where, despite the chance of improvement from its rivals I can’t see past the favourite. Trainer Mark Halford has his yard in top form and Crazy Tornado looks to win here again after an impressive win over six furlongs last time out. The horse is likely to improve for the step up to seven furlongs and should have enough in the locker to finish ahead of its rivals tonight. The most likely dangers look set to come from Ballydoyle’s No Biggie and Johnny Murtagh’s Stanley Daley with little to no form to go off however it’s hard to know which to trust so the favourite seems the right, if obvious, choice. Crazy Tornado (WIN) – NAP
19:30 Dundalk A small field of four line up for our next preview a seven furlong sprint. Clear Cut currently has an entry in the Irish 2000 Guineas so it’s no surprise that he’s the current market leader and i’m sure you’ll find it hard anywhere to find better then evens all day; he’s finished second twice from his three runs and was only caught late last time out when taking on this distance. Bear Faced probably looks a stronger prospect here in my opinion; he’s won on this surface already this year and with the two runs he’s had this year should be a huge benifit here and looks the one to beat. Helvic was not embarrassed for his debut run over course and distance last month and it be no surprise seeing him winning in the future but this may just be beyond him today. Modh Coinniolach could be anything but his pedigree isn’t anything special so maybe best watched. Bear Faced (WIN)
20:00 Dundalk Five are declared for this interesting encounter and the likely favourite here should be Jim Bolger’s Mandatario who got the better of Shalaman on their last visit here at Dundalk two weeks ago. It was a tactful affair with both mentioned being held off the pace, with Shalaman getting first run he eased into the straight going well and pinched a couple of lengths lead on Mandatario, but the favourite made use of the two mile trip to get up close to home by one and a quarter lengths. Shalaman is expected to reverse the form this time around now dropping back to 10.5f and even both meeting off the same weights I would expect Shalaman to take full of advantage. The selection come’s from Mark Johnston’s Watersmeet who was seen three weeks ago running four and a half lengths behind Grendisar at Lingfield in the Winter Derby trial, with that form boosted even more after Grendisar went on to land the Winter Derby it does read fairly good form. Mark Johnston has sent over fourteen runners to Dundalk in previous years recording three winners in the process. Watersmeet has won on the all weather last season when claiming a hat trick of wins and with a possible front running tactic as most Johnston’s runner claim, he should have the run of the race from the front and go close under Joe Fanning. Watersmeet (WIN)
20:30 Dundalk A ten furlong handicap awaits us for our penultimate race of the night. Lusis Naturea looks to have set a huge benchmark after winning over course and distance by over ten lengths last week; he takes to handicap company for the first time and may of been let of lightly by the handicapper and is surely the one to beat. Locus Standi finally showed some real potential when competing over this trip back in January and should give another good account here running off the same mark. Sea Of Blue finally got her neck in front last time out after being let into the race due to others pulling out, she has been heavily penalized for that win and may not get the chance to follow that up here tonight. Alnahar couldn’t quite cope from here current mark last time out so the return back to this shorter trip may help but he is still seven pounds higher from his last win and this looks slightly tougher. Dove Mountain has been getting closer recently from his current mark but is another that probably needs to drop a few more pounds before getting his head in front once again. Lusis Naturea (WIN)
21:00 Dundalk A very trappy affair here with Adrian McGuinness’s Mr Boss Man likely to be at the head of the market after some encouraging runs away from Ireland on the all weather. He has had two runs around Dundalk over shorter trips which has seen him not being beaten by far over 12f. Stepped up in trip on UK debut he was seen landing a 0-60 handicap at Wolverhampton over 13.5f, that day he looked to have plenty in the tank when drawing clear to record a two and quarter length victory. He then went on to win again off a 6lb penalty when fending off Pass the Time of Neil Mulholland’s who franked that form three weeks ago. His last defeat came when dropped6 back in trip to 13.5f again at Wolverhampton when beaten in a 0-75 handicap by one and and a half lengths to 75 rated Spiritoftomintoul, that form is looking solid with the third Zakatal just beaten recently and the fourth Heart Locket franking the form to days ago when winning at Lingfield. His main two rivals look in the shape of Santo Price and the selection Jack Blue. Santo Prince has run well around both codes recording wins on the level at Gowran Park and ran Asian Wings close over course and distance last March, but Jack Blue was staying on well three weeks ago over 12f under today’s pilot for Jessica Harrington’s yard when coming off the pace, going behind by half a length back in third. He has been beaten over today”s trip here at Dundalk, but still looks well handicapped off 63 to be involved here. Jack Blue (E/W)
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