Fran Berry’s Dundalk Tips
16:50 – Powerful Nation
17:25 – Annie Lavinia
18:00 – Princess Aurea
18:30 – Thompson Gunner (each-way)
19:00 – Miss Paloma
19:30 – Elsa’s Pride
20:00 – Imperial Miss
20:30 – Bard of Avon (NAP)
Fran’s each-way acca: Annie Lavinia, Thompson Gunner, Elsas Pride & Imperial Miss
*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.
Winter’s on the way baby and top TV pundit and all-round good guy Fran Berry previews an earlier start than usual start to the Irish all-weather track’s action over the next few months. Expect late season winners in the maidens from Aidan and Joseph O’Brien with late maturing types and watch out for the also rans from the Turf season, who have slipped down the ratings and can take advantage on the better ground at the polytrack venue. And as always, watch the draw!
16:50 – Powerful Nation
A 5f juvenile race with a few interesting entries. Saratoga Special and Shamrock Breeze have clashed a few times already while Powerful Nation brings in the highest rating to contest on 100. Andrew Slattery’s runner is definitely the one to be with so I’ll plump for Powerful Nation who has yet to be out of the first two in three starts and recorded a win at Cork.
17:25 – Annie Lavinia
A two-year-old maiden race where Agouti Bear should be capable of upholding the form when second at Navan over 6f last time when fancied. A lot of these may be better suited by the minimum trip rather than the 6f distance and one who could be the value against the likely favourite is Annie Lavinia. She showed signs of inexperience in both starts to date and can come out on top as she looks a work in progress. If she doesn’t score then I’ll be looking out for her in handicaps in the weeks ahead.
18:00 – Princess Aurea
James Henry has been incredibly consistent and got outpaced last time at the Curragh having missed some time during the season. He’ll be played late over this 7f trip but Scott McCullough rides his well and is value for his 3lb claim. Dandy’s Derriere can go well but it’s two handicap debutants I’m interested in. Altimara off a mark of 67 is worth a second look in the market but Princess Aurea looks a player dropping back to 7f having finished third here when a big drifter back in July. She’s a decent draw in stall two also.
18:30 – Thompson Gunner (each-way)
Marble Angel deserves to be favourite but could be tight enough in the market. Billy Lee rides for Andy Oliver. Comfort Line shoulders joint top weight with Adam Caffrey taking 3lb off and he’s a previous winner here over this 1m trip. Sayfa Fad could be a big player with Colin Keane booked to ride. However, Thompson Gunner drops in class to this 47-65 handicap and looks a little unexposed. He ran in a 0-80 handicap at the Curragh last month when down the field. He’s bombed out on soft ground a couple of time but the switch to the polytrack could pay off, especially as he’s been dropped 3lbs for his Curragh run. An each-way chance.
19:00 – Miss Paloma
Napper Tandy heads the weights off a rating of 80 and there’s some solid multiple winners in this 1m 4f contest for apprentices. A few are better suited by 2m but Poleman should appreciate it. Miss Paloma is a dual winner at this track and has a good record fresh. She won well here in July in a race that is working out very well and could still be well handicapped. Robin Donaghue-Leahy, who is claiming 7lbs, knows her very well.
19:30 – Elsa’s Pride
The first division of two handicaps where Hurricane Helen tops the weights but the 10f trip mightn’t suit. Step to Somewhere is being persisted with by the Dermot Weld team and runs off a mark of 65 under Chris Hayes and deserves maximum respect. Explorers Way is consistent, while Redemptive Power should be competitive now dropping in grade and is definitely one to keep on side in the week’s ahead. For me though, the pedigree of Elsa’s Pride screams all-weather surface. She drops in grade and her first try on the polytrack surface can be a winning one.
20:00 – Imperial Miss
The second division of the 1m 2f event where Epaulawn is a good yardstick in this grade. Gardone saw him off last time though but may be vulnerable over this trip rather than at 1m 4f. I’ve been waiting for Imperial Miss since September 2, who kept on really well at Roscommon last time. She has the profile of an Autumn campaigner and looks a player down toward the bottom of the weights. A stall eight draw is no harm either.
20:30 – Bard of Avon (NAP)
We end the first night of the new campaign over 1m 2f where Aidan O’Brien saddles Psalm who has yet to win in six starts, despite bringing in the top rating of 82 now. He has the ability to win a maiden at some time but is a little regressive. Raydamann has been hit and miss too as has Ozark Daze. The one I like is Bard of Avon who looked decent of debut but was off the track a long time before reappearing at the Curragh when fourth to Fighter over 10f. He looks to be more progressive than the others. He’s my nap of the night.
Fran Berry’s Friday Dundalk Tips
16:50 – Powerful Nation
17:25 – Annie Lavinia
18:00 – Princess Aurea
18:30 – Thompson Gunner (each-way)
19:00 – Miss Paloma
19:30 – Elsa’s Pride
20:00 – Imperial Miss
20:30 – Bard of Avon (NAP)
Fran’s each-way acca: Annie Lavinia, Thompson Gunner, Elsas Pride & Imperial Miss
*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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