UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

ZENTOPIA was an eye-catcher on debut at the Curragh and should appreciate this step up in trip to a mile. Out the back in the early stages, the Gavin Cromwell-trained bay was doing all his best work towards the finish, coming home a never nearer sixth. He was just half a length behind Starspangledwaves and that one since gave the form a significant boost by scoring impressively on his next start. Cromwell is also represented by the twice-raced Quick Blessing who has definite claims. Timely Boost is given second preference with Colin Keane aboard. He stepped forward nicely from his debut, finishing fourth over 7f here earlier in the month and the Zoffany chestnut looks sure to go close. It'll be interesting to see how newcomers Sea Of Cortez and Whispering Royal fare in the market. The latter represents the shrewd Barry Fitzgerald and he is out of a full-sister to Bullish Luck, a five-time winner at the highest level in Asia.
Prediction : 1st Zentopia 2nd Timely Boost 3rd Whispering Royal

Some interesting newcomers in the line-up here, with none more so than Gulf Pearl. A half-sister to Bolshoi Ballet, she was bought for 925,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2021. Trained by Ger Lyons, it's far from encouraging that Colin Keane has opted to partner stable companion Sweetest Rose. She was firmly put in her place by Beginnings earlier this month but did pull two lengths clear of the third and it'll come as no surprise if she manages to get her head in front now. Dancethenightaway, a half-sister to the ill-fated Sherpa, and Frankel-bay Tide Pool are other newcomers worthy of the utmost respect. For a selection it might pay to side with EMOTIVO. A fine sixth on debut over the course and distance last month, she is likely to come on a ton for that experience. As Fast As The Wind and Moonlit Mist are another pair for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Emotivo 2nd Sweetest Rose 3rd Dancethenightaway

Yudish Geerdharry is a rider to follow over the coming months and he teams up here with SCIPIO'S DEFENSE. The young apprentice looked pretty polished in the saddle when partnering his first winner at Naas earlier this month and it's only a matter of time before he strikes again. A 55-rated three-year-old, the selection has been ultimately disappointing since finishing third at Gowran in July. She wasn't beaten far on her last start though and is still relatively unexposed. Ellabella is a more obvious contender and the four-time course winner is given second preference. She too will be partnered by a promising young pilot in the shape of Jack Kearney. The pair were successful over the course and distance earlier this month and it'll come as no surprise if they manage to follow up now. Nyla Rua has plenty of ability and is capable of making her presence felt, while others for the shortlist in this competitive heat are Jaafel, Stardayz and Double Martini.
Prediction : 1st Scipios Defense 2nd Ellabella 3rd Nyla Rua

With recently crowned champion apprentice, Dylan Browne McMonagle aboard, MISS ABBY JOOLS might be able to defy top weight. The Kodi Bear filly comes from the in-form yard of Mick Halford, who has registered no less than 14 winners in little over two months. The selection clearly acts well at Dundalk and was successful over the course and distance on her penultimate start. Formerly trained by Halford, Leabaland is given second preference. Now in the care of Martin Lynch, he filled the runner-up spot on his latest visit to the venue and it'll come as no surprise if he manages to go a place better now. Recent course winner Cousin Shay (first-time hood) can be expected to go close with Siobhan Rutledge aboard, while Circles and Bellick are other leading hopes.
Prediction : 1st Miss Abby Jools 2nd Leabaland 3rd Cousin Shay

MARSA is unbeaten in three course handicaps and is ideally suited to seven furlongs. Her two defeats here were in maidens and having progressed well, defeated a subsequent winner last month and is just 4lb higher. Hotrocket could be well handicapped on first run for new connections, having beaten a subsequent winner easily in July. However, he lacks a run and makes his all-weather debut. Toriangel won on all-weather debut recently and runs in her first handicap/rated race. She seemed to excel on this surface, travelling strongly, but drops back in distance in a more competitive race. Might And Mercy was second in a lesser handicap last week, on her all-weather debut, and should be competitive. Orandi won a Longchamp claimer in June and while two of his five wins have been on the all-weather, his best form is at a mile. French all-weather winner Transcendental was bought for E11,000 last July but has a break to overcome.
Prediction : 1st Marsa 2nd Hotrocket 3rd Toriangel

TEDDY BOY is an in-form, course-and-distance winner who competes from a favourable rating in an ordinary handicap. He has run 71 times and has met 12 of today's opponents in the past, some multiple times, and is holding his form. Kuwait Direction has never raced against the selection but is a course winner with winning form at this distance and competes from a low rating. Royal Tribute won a Leopardstown handicap in June and while lacking a recent run, was balloted out three times in recent months so should be ready and has all-weather form. Qaabil would prefer further while Tammany Hall has been running well on grass but was unplaced in eight previous course runs. Florence Thompson, King's View and Manhattan Dandy have form but, cumulatively, have run in 122 races between them without winning. First reserve Company Keeping has form while second sub Bronze River debuts for new connections and runs over this distance for the first time.
Prediction : 1st Teddy Boy 2nd Kuwait Direction 3rd Royal Tribute

JE T'AI PORTE ran well on her first attempt at this distance last week, when staying well and might reverse placings with St Cianans Fire. The selection is well suited to the all-weather and while beaten by 1.25 lengths by St Cianans Fire on Friday, is now 4lb better off and their stall draws are reversed today, with St Cianans Fire posted wide in 17. Darkdeserthighway successfully stepped up to a mile in recent times, winning here in September and while she continues in good form, it is an unknown how she will fare stepping up to 1m2f for the first time. Mad Black Eights is suited by this distance but was well beaten over 1m4f on her most recent start. Newgirlintown and Chilean are both course winners who despite being ground-versatile on the turf, were both well beaten on testing ground at the Curragh last month. Magnetic North prefers further nowadays.
Prediction : 1st Je Tai Porte 2nd St Cianans Fire 3rd Darkdeserthighway

TULLYPOLE ANNIE has been running well over hurdles in recent times and contests a weak handicap. Unplaced at Cheltenham last month, she had previously finished second over hurdles at the Galway festival in July and while well held on her previous Flat runs, now steps up markedly from sprint distances in this sphere, which could suit. Golden Sandbanks' rating has fallen to career low level but has been running well over jumps. He is a nine-race Flat maiden but showed Flat form in the UK in 2020. Well Funded is a capable five-time winner who wasn't beaten far over course and distance last Friday and also competes from a career-low mark, under her 10lb claimer. 10-race maiden Two Two Time's rating has also fallen to a manageable level and has course and distance form, while Mephisto has been running at this level recently and is tried in a first-time visor.
Prediction : 1st Tullypole Annie 2nd Golden Sandbanks 3rd Well Funded