Wolverhampton 17.45 – Aljunood
Has been a major disappointment for this team since leaving Dermot Weld’s yard in Ireland with a rating in the mid 80s, sliding all the way down to a mark of 43. He is 2lb wrong in the long handicap – has had a wind operation and has gone close at this track before.
If he is going to grace the winners’ enclosure, everything is in place for it to happen on Friday night.
The track, trip, draw and jockey booking are all positives.
Dundalk 18:30 – Bucky Larson
Comes from a fantastic trainer / jockey combination of Ger Lyons and Colin Keane and the team have a 40 per cent strike rate at present. Interestingly they’ve not had many runners recently suggesting that this shrewd handler thought his runners needed a little bit more time to ripen.
Bucky Larson has yet to win on the all-weather, but hasn’t had many tries. The run when third here just over a month ago would’ve put him spot-on for Friday’s assignment.
Dundalk 19:30 – Tyrconnell
Has become a bit of a ‘cliff’ horse for me, but there’s no doubting he has the ability to strike for the fifth time at Fundalk. He’s had a few variations of headgear and they reach for the blinkers now for added focus. He is not particularly well handicapped, but his form is rock solid over different trips.
The 7f long sprint is absolutely ideal on Friday.
Wolverhampton 19:45 – Harry George
Brian Elison’s charge was a never-nearer sixth last time over 7 furlongs when drawn out in the car park. That was a nice, confidence-boosting run having his first try since the wind operation and steps back up in trip.
This outfit know the time of day and any market support for him must be taken seriously.
Wolverhampton – 20:15 Knockacurra
He was very unlucky not to get a trip to the winners’ enclosure last time after being slowly away and getting going all too late. However, because there’s not much mileage on the clock, we can expect a good chunk of improvement. The handicapper certainly thinks so having raised him 7lb for his troubled passage last time. If he gets just a pinch of good fortune – he can break his duck at the seventh time of asking.
Dundalk 20:30 – Sceptical
Picked up for just £2,500 at the Doncaster horses-in-training sale, His win last time was absolutely effortless and a mark of 90 could underestimate him. He’s out of a very fast Queen Mary winner in Exceed and Excel and he looks to have inherited plenty of gears.
James McAuley looks to have unearthed a jewel.
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