Horse Racing Tips: Fran Berry’s 8 Friday Fancies at Dundalk

Sporting Life's top columnist is here to help you get the weekend off to a flyer.

Dundalk-Races

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

16:45 Sangria

Punters will be looking at Lechro, trained by Fozzy Stack, however he’s got the top weight. I’m looking at the No.12 Sangria and the No.13 Marsa, the latter had a very good run here at this track most recently. Went off at 40/1 but stayed really well to pick up the minor places.

However, I’m very keen on Sangria who could kick off the weekend in style for everybody. He’s only got 8st 11lb. Michael Sheehy claims 5lbs off and as a very good draw in stall 3. If ridden with a little more restraint tomorrow on the Flat at that track at Dundalk, Sangria will take a bit of beating.

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17:15 Navagio (NAP)

Joseph O’Brien targets this one with lots of horses. Eddie Lynam has an interesting horse in Jack Rose who went very well at the Curragh on his last start. However, the one to beat, for me, is Navagio.

Trained by Johnny Murtagh, it trialled very well at the track in August before going to Cork and running extremely well on debut and very well when last seen in a very good maiden at the Curragh when he finished 3rd. He’s trialled well on the polytrack, has a good draw in 6, back to 7f and Navagio should take quite a bit of beating. He’s the standout bet on the card.

17:45 Alex D

Very competitive race. War Hero is a stalwart up here for Adrian McGuinness who’s having such a good time of things. However, Alex D trained by Ger Lyons, I think he should take a fair bit of beating.

He’s very interesting on the polytrack and down to 7f, and particularly into this lower grade. He was dropped 3lb for going too fast in Bellewstown over a mile. He was still in front going to the furlong pole but just got tired from then on. We haven’t see the best of him yet.

18:15 Dream Today

It’s a race that’s going to be highly competitive. In regards to pace I think it will be very strong. Pulse Of Shanghai is a stalwart in Dundalk, Major Power also – two front runners. I’m hoping that they get taken on too soon in the straight and it’s set up for a couple of closers.

Windsor Pass will be bidding to finish off late and fast, however, the one I like is Dream Today. On the back of his run here at August and at the Curragh when last seen, he’s most interesting. If they go too fast in front he’s the one who can capitalise.

18:45 Ozymandis

Wide open handicap that will be highly competitive. I’m looking at Ger Lyons’ Ozymandis for this. This horse shaped really well on debut at this track last year, he won his next start at Leopardstown in a maiden that’s worked out well.

We didn’t see him for five or six months before he made his comeback run at the Curragh recently. He was a big eye-catcher having had no luck in running. For me Ozymandis can give Ger Lyons and Colin Keane another winner on the night.

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19:15 Clew Bay

It’s a really competitive handicap. Keep an eye on Shamiyan who is very interesting back on the polytrack. Maricruz can be a slow starter but if she gets going she can definitely be in the mix. However, the one to beat is Clew Bay trained by Jessie Harrington.

This filly beat us a couple of weeks ago and beat us very well. She’s only got 6lb for winning that race and is still in the lower bracket for a handicap. More importantly she’s got Scott McCullagh booked. The Harrington team could not be going better and I think she’ll win again on Friday night.

19:45 Quiet Desire

The only one that I’d like to be on is Quiet Desire trained by Pat Martin. Top apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle is booked to ride, this filly won here in May and will enjoy the return to the polytrack surface.

I think out of stall 3 she should take quite a bit of beating, given her course record. Keep and eye on Bell Manannan, we haven’t seen that one on track for a year. If Bell Manannan pulls up fit it could go very well for trainer John McConnell. However, given the recent fitness levels of Quiet Desire, that’s the one to beat.

20:15 Rock Chant

I’m going to stick with the two 3yos in this race. Jessica Harrington trained Only Sky when last seen at Ballinrobe and the form has got a big boost since. Only Sky is interesting on this surface, however, I can’t get away from Rock Chant down the bottom.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien, he was a really good winner when last seen. He’ll enjoy stepping up in trip here on the polytrack and I think an opening mark of 74, with Dylan Browne McMonagle taking off 3lbs, he’s the one to beat.

Fran’s Friday flutters

16:45 Sangria
17:15 Navagio (NAP)
17:45 Alex D
18:15 Dream Today
18:45 Ozymandis
19:15 Clew Bay
19:45 Quiet Desire
20:15 Rock Chant

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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