*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
Just one winner separates Billy Lee (89) and Colin Keane (88) in the Irish Flat Jockeys Championship and Billy Lee faces the prospect of missing the final two days due to a whip ban, which he is currently appealing. Colin has seven rides whereas Billy has five rides on Friday night.
16:55 – Smullen’s Pride
We start with a two-year-old 5f maiden with Billy Lee on Smullen’s Pride while Colin Keane rides Ger Lyons’ newcomer Las Cuatro who hasn’t been done any favours with a stall 10 draw. Smullen’s Pride looks to have a good draw, track experience and is dropping down in grade a touch. I fancy him to draw first blood for Lee on the night.
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17:30 – Adam’s Angel
A 5f handicap this time and we’ll need all of Paddy’s extra places on Dundalk’s packed card. Inishmont Prince is consistent but is hard to win with so I’ll look towards Colin Keane’s mount Adam’s Angel for trainer Francis Casey. He showed a lot of early speed over 6f and 7f and with a strong gallop on, he can come late and fast over this shorter trip. The first-time blinkers should help and I fancy him to deliver.
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18:00 – Rough Diamond
A good quality race with San Adreas topping the weights on 10-8. He needs to get away on terms from the gate with the others though. It took Mickey the Steel 20 runs to win a race and now he’s on a hat-trick and can’t be discounted, but it won’t be easy from stall 13. Stablemates Laugh a Minute and Dream Today will need luck in running so it could set up nicely for Eddie Lynam’s Rough Diamond. He won at Naas two runs ago and is racing for just the second time on the all-weather. He’s unexposed on the surface and there could be more to come.
18:30 – Zaniyka
A one mile maiden and Ger Lyons saddles Nel under Colin Keane. She shaped well at Bellewstown on her debut when finishing fourth. She should improve from a good draw in stall three. Joseph O’Brien’s Rossa Cora has course experience but Zaniyka sets the standard on a mark of 80 and she looks the one to beat. She’s my nap of the night.
19:00 – Elzaam Blue
Another competitive handicap over a mile but Elzaam Blue has two wins from five runs on the polytrack. He’s a nice draw in stall seven and should relax and settle into the race better. Barbapappa should come on for the run and Tyrconnell has his chance too.
19:30 – Heer at Dawn
The two protagonists in the jockeys title race sit this one out as it’s restricted to riders who have not won more than 10 races this season. Tawaazon has been in great form compared to a lot of these and should go close while The Dazzer has been inching his way back to his old form. I’ll take a chance on Heer at Dawn who has been placed on the turf and makes his polytrack debut for Gavin Cromwell. He could be the each-way value.
20:00 – Zonik
The penultimate race on the card where Leabaland could make a bold bid from the front. Circles drops in grade while Swiss Army Officer has dropped down the weights and was placed off a rating of 70 here before and is now running off 50. However, John McConnell has been having a fine season and Zonik could be flying under the radar in first-time blinkers.
20:30 – Amortentia
We end with a 1m 4f contest where Amortentia tries to go one better after finishing second last time. The likely strong pace in this bigger field should play to her strengths. Top weight Golden Twilight could give her most to do and one to watch with an eye to the future is Cask Mate.
Fran Berry’s Dundalk tips:
16:55 – Smullen’s Pride
17:30 – Adam’s Angel
18:00 – Rough Diamond
18:30 – Zaniyka
19:00 – Elzaam Blue
19:30 – Heer at Dawn
20:00 – Zonik
20:30 – Amortentia
*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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