UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

BUCKY LARSON has been a good servant to connections winning six times including twice over C&D. He's biding to end a long losing run but has been more competitive recently in handicaps as his mark has dropped and comes here off the back of a decent third to Ransom last Friday. Majestic Colt won nine times in Germany including at Group 3 level over six furlongs. His initial Irish rating of 108 has tumbled down since joining Denis Hogan this year although he did finish well when fourth to Mr Wagyu in the valuable Scurry Handicap at the Curragh in July. He's been soundly beaten recently on soft ground and, while successful over a mile in a German maiden four years ago, the trip is a concern. James McAuley has a great record here in claimers and is represented by Prioritise and Sweeping Statement, while Ten Coins also has place claims.
Prediction : 1st Bucky Larson 2nd Majestic Colt 3rd Prioritise

James McAuley mounts a strong challenge here with INSTRUMENTAL getting the nod over Cedar Rapids. The selection was formerly trained at Ballydoyle and has appreciated stepping up to this trip winning over C&D and again ran well from a wide draw at Gowran last time. He previously had The Bog Bank close behind when just denied by Tawaazon here over seven. Cedar Rapids was claimed by current connections after winning at Leopardstown this summer and has gone close here a few times since. Skontonovski has won six times in just over a year since joining Ado McGuinness and took advantage of a lower turf mark when successful at Killarney on his penultimate start. Trueba, Scarlet Angel and The Mpex Kid are others to consider in a typically competitive handicap at this venue.
Prediction : 1st Instrumental 2nd Cedar Rapids 3rd The Bog Bank

QUEEN MAEDBH won a barrier trial here in July just before a promising debut at Leopardstown for Gavin Cromwell over seven furlongs. The Gleneagles filly, whose dam won over this trip, beat all bar Montesilvano and has subsequently joined the winner's trainer Joseph O'Brien. The form received a boost when the third (Wave Machine) won next time at the Curragh, although it's obviously of some concern she hasn't run in nearly four months. Catherine Of Siena is probably the chief threat. She was third over a similar trip in a Navan maiden that has thrown up a few winners and may have found an extra furlong too far when again plaed at Naas last time. Riesling weakened inside the final furlong here on debut and is another that should be suited by the drop in trip.
Prediction : 1st Queen Maedbh 2nd Catherine Of Siena 3rd Riesling

SHADOWED returns from a bit of a break here but has eyecatching form and should be the one to beat. He was last seen at Naas in early July chasing home Auguste Rodin. That form obviously looks very strong, with the winner going on to prove himself one of the leading juveniles of the season. Joseph O'Brien also saddles the filly Sibyl Charm and she is interesting on her first start for the yard. The daughter of Charm Spirit was just held by a head by new stablemate Madly Truly on her sole start at Naas in August, in a decent maiden, and is entitled to step forward from that. Aidan O'Brien also runs two in the race and Carracci looks the main hope. The Quality Road colt shaped with promise when fifth on his debut at the Curragh and, like a lot of the yard's runners, he can be expected to take a significant step forward.
Prediction : 1st Shadowed 2nd Sibyl Charm 3rd Carracci

JAAFEL may be worth a shot here, with the in-form Daniel King taking a valuable 7lb off his back. The Dark Angel gelding drops into this grade having been eased 5lb since his last outing at Laytown in September. He has been a bit frustrating, but has some solid placed form and this is his first attempt now at this level. Beleaguerment won here over 6f 12 days ago and is also effective over this trip, having won over course and distance in the past. He should play a big part again off just a 4lb higher mark. Chica Power also won last time out and has to be on the shortlist. She got home by a short head over course and distance and is now 5lb higher.
Prediction : 1st Jaafel 2nd Beleaguerment 3rd Chica Power

COMPANY KEEPING gained his sole win over 7f and looked like he wanted to step back up to this trip when second over 6f here. He stayed on to get within a neck of Beleaguerment and, off a 2lb higher mark, looks capable of striking. This distance is a question mark for Inishmot Prince, who tries to defy a 7lb penalty for his victory here five days ago. That came over 5f and the Elzaam gelding has gained his three career victories at the minimum trip. Finke River didn't get home over the extended 10 furlongs here last month and he could be a contender now dropping back in trip. He had been knocking on the door over a mile previously.
Prediction : 1st Company Keeping 2nd Inishmot Prince 3rd Finke River

RICCARDI MEDICI looks worth a crack at this trip. He has kept on for third in a slightly higher grade over 1m1f at Leopardstown and over an extended 1m2f at this track when last seen in October. Trainer Mick Halford and Jockey Ronan Whelan are finishing the season well. The veteran Universal Focus is well able to have a say off a mark of 48. He was placed in Killarney on his last start. He has a couple of C&D wins in the book and the last one came off a rating of 56 in September 2021. First-reserve Well Funded would be making her Dundalk debut if getting a run. She has been in very good form over hurdles with two victories on decent ground in her last four races. Ragtime Red is another to consider with a 10lb claimer putting him on his last winning mark. Maura's Gift finished second for Robert Whearty in Killarney and has a shot.
Prediction : 1st Riccardi Medici 2nd Universal Focus 3rd Ragtime Red

DRAGON ROLL is the one horse arriving in winning form. She kept on well off a lowly mark to score by a length and a quarter over an extended 1m2f at this track last month. She got an 8lb rise for that, but this isn't a deep race. Previous efforts over this trip have been inconclusive, but she is in better form now. Contrapposto is a long-standing maiden on the Flat in Ireland and has never raced on this surface, however, his fourth in a Punchestown handicap hurdle has been well franked and he catches the eye off a mark of 59. Baby Bubbles came in a never nearer fourth over C&D in February. She has since changed stables and hasn't shown the same form, but get first-time cheekpieces and could get involved. Boom Boom Boom, who won in Navan on his penultimate start, is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Dragon Roll 2nd Contrapposto 3rd Baby Bubbles