*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
17:00 – My Joker
A 5f sprint to start and it looks competitive for the grade. There’s 14 set to go to post but watch to see if any of the three reserves get in. I’d be happy enough to see how Mehman runs on this surface as he may want an ease on the turf to show his best form after a good run at Navan last time.
We said last week about having certain jockeys on side and Colin Keane has been booked for Troy Top who has a good draw in stall five but MY JOKER makes his debut for the Adrian McGuinness yard and has had multiple runs in the UK without winning. He’s been placed plenty of times and is an unknown quantity stepping into an Irish handicap for the first time.
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17:30 – Instrumental
This isn’t a great race and could throw up a surprise. INSTRUMENTAL used to be trained by Aidan O’Brien and is now with James McAuley’s stable that has a very good strike rate in these claiming races. Shane Foley is booked to ride, he stayed on well over 5f last time and the extra furlong should help as should the addition of cheekpieces.
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18:00 – Anatoli
An apprentice race with 14 declared to race. Dandyville should give it a good go from the front with the more experienced apprentice Mikey Sheehy booked to ride. However, ANATOLI is dropping right down in grade and apprentice-of-the-moment Jamie Powell retains the ride. A nice draw in stall five should see him go close given his decent record at this venue and could be one to keep onside for the winter. She could be a blot on the handicap.
18:30 – Perseids
A change of pace with a 7f Fillies Maiden and while there is not much form on offer – a couple have been placed and a few competed in barrier trials. PERSEIDS trialled very well here earlier in the season and then was runner-up at Naas when running a little green. She should be hard to beat and unless one of Aidan O’Brien’s two runners are out of the ordinary, Perseids looks the bet of the night.
19:00 – State Occasion
The feature race of the night is the Listed €40k Dubai Diamond Stakes over 1m 2f. Mick Halford’s Bear Story returns after winning it last year while UK raider STATE OCCASION runs from Ralph Beckett. Her most recent win at York was very good and is a big, scopey filly who has a very good all-weather record to back up her turf achievements.
She comes here on an upward curve and while there’s plenty of strong form in among the others, they’ve all had busy seasons. The higher rated Aikhal and Hannibal Barca from the Aidan O’Brien and Joseph O’Brien stables respectively, could give her most to do.
19:30 – The Lute Player
A 1m 2f handicap this time where 10 of the 14 runners declared (and one reserve) are three-year-olds that nearly makes it all but a three-year-old handicap in name. Alaroos was a good winner at Tramore last time but the two Aidan O’Brien runners are the ones to note.
Fleet Commandeer drops into handicaps while THE LUTE PLAYER stayed on really strongly at Gowran Park last week to score and should be suited by this extra furlong with Seamie Heffernan aboard. He looks the one to beat. Brasil Power and Eighty Eight are two others worth considering.
20:00 – Chally Chute
We race over 1m 4f in the penultimate race on the card and this looks the lesser of the two divisions of the three years olds and upwards handicap. Intend was a very good winner at Navan recently and has all weather form also.
CHALLY CHUTE hadn’t shown much early on in his career but stayed on strongly after a break to finish fifth over 10f in August, staying on really strongly in the last furlong. The step up in trip should help now and although stall 17 isn’t an ideal draw, I’m happy to overlook it as there seems to be plenty of upside to Michael Halford’s runner who could be hard to beat.
20:30 – Lamprog
The finale sees Colin Keane ride the top-weight Cursory Exam for Ger O’Leary and the reigning champ is in a battle with Billy Lee to retain his Champion Jockey’s crown. The previous course winner has to be respected but I’m not sure 1m 4f is his ideal trip. The same applies to Draco Pulchrac who got an 11lb rise for winning last week.
One that has the trip and surface to suit is LAMPROG who stayed on really well at Gowran Park last week. She’s only had two runs over 1m 4f and ran on a previous visit to Dundalk. There could be more upside to her chances than a few of the others and could be a bit of value under Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Friday’s Racing Tips
17:00 – My Joker
17:30 – Instrumental
18:00 – Anatoli
18:30 – Perseids
19:00 – State Occasion
19:30 – The Lute Player
20:00 – Chally Chute
20:30 – Lamprog
*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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