5:30 Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden
Guns and Flowers ran well enough on debut when 5th at the Curragh last weekend and as the only runner with experience, she is likely to be popular in the market. She doesn’t set an insurmountable standard however and so it could pay to take a chance on a newcomer like DUNDRUM.
Jessica Harrington’s Colt is by Profitable out of an Exceed and Excel mare who won on the All-Weather, so this €31,000 purchase certainly looks the part for a 2-year-old sprint.
6:00 Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Apprentice Claiming Race
James McAuley farms this type of race at Dundalk and of his 3 runners, ROCKY DREAMS makes the most appeal at the weights. He has won 6 times on the All-Weather, including this race last year when he was rated 4lbs higher.
After a string of solid efforts in handicaps, he returns to Claiming company and should prove hard to beat under Joey Sheridan.
6:30 Easter Weeks Racing 11th & 14th April at Dundalk Handicap
Several of these met in a 2-mile handicap here in February but despite a swing at the weights, it is very hard to get away from VEE DANCER. He was a well backed favourite last time and seemed to relish the switch to the All-Weather for the first time as he made all the running and battled on gamely to record a length success.
Although he has 10-0 to carry, he remains lightly raced on the Flat and could be up to defying his new mark with further improvement.
7:00 Book Online @ Dundalkstadium.com Maiden
This isn’t the deepest maiden we have ever seen and with the field restricted to 4-year-olds and upwards, it is hard to get overly excited about it. Both Rick Dalton and Relevant Range have had plenty of goes without winning so this could be a good opportunity for EXPOUND.
He made a pleasing debut when 3rd on debut over this course and distance in February and probably found the 7-furlong trip too sharp last time when he travelled strongly before being outpaced in the final furlong. He returns to the 1-mile trip and could get his head in front at the 3rd time of asking.
7:30 12th July Ladies Day at Dundalk Handicap
The most progressive horse in the lineup is surely FEATURE THIS. Paul Flynn’s filly has made a very promising start to 2023 and has built on an impressive win here in January with 2 solid placed efforts since. She remains on a workable mark of 60 and her 2nd placed finish behind the course specialist Ellabella reads very well in the context of this race.
She probably used too much energy to get into a prominent position from a wide draw last week and with a more favourable position in stall 4 this time around, she should be very competitive.
8:00 View Restaurant at Dundalk Stadium Maiden
This looks to be the best race of the night with a lot of nice pedigrees on show. The pair of Aiden O’Brien runners obviously need to be respected, but with both San Andreas and Cape Bridgewater both drawn wide, this race could setup perfectly for JUST AN HOUR. He finished 2nd here in December in a maiden that has worked out quite well.
The 3rd won on his next start, whilst the 4th, 5th and 7th all hit the frame next time up. He is by Justify and comes from the family of Shamardal and Street Cry, so there is some substance to his page, and he could put both his experience of the track and a decent draw to good use.
8:30 Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap
A difficult handicap to end the card but MISS UPBEAT produced a very eye-catching effort when 4th here last time and she could be the answer. After just 4 starts she remains unexposed and produced a career best on handicap debut last time despite being slowly away and not getting a clear run when it mattered.
If she can break on terms, she may not need to find too much improvement to get her head in front.
