UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

MAGGIE MCGRATH seemed to show improved form when making all on her first start for Danny Murphy in a maiden over C&D last month and blinkers are now applied in place of cheek pieces. Murphy and claimer Oisin McSweeney have enjoyed a good spell here this winter and she can defy a 5lb rise in the ratings. Inishmot Prince and Distillate filled the first two places over six furlongs here last Friday and there should be little between the pair again with both equally effective over this trip. Cash Or Crypto added to a debut win at Listowel last year when successful again over six here last month, while it will be interesting to see if there is any support for Imperial Khan on his Irish debut.
Prediction : 1st Maggie McGrath 2nd Inishmot Prince 3rd Distillate

THE OLD NINE showed plenty of promise on both outings over C&D last month and the half-brother to five winners, who cost 360,000 guineas as a yearling, can open his account at the third attempt. The son of No Nay Never showed signs of greenness on debut before beating all bar favourite Taraj last time. Raknah may prove the chief threat. She was placed for Andrew Balding on the all-weather at Kempton and, after being thrown in the deep end on her Irish debut in the Goffs Million, has shaped well at this venue and made most when runner-up to Madame Celeste over a mile a fortnight ago. Blue Soul could find no extra in the closing stages when well-supported on her second start over seven furlongs here last month and the step up to a mile is a concern, although there is some stamina on the dam side of her pedigree.
Prediction : 1st The Old Nine 2nd Raknah 3rd Blue Soul

Brains and FREESCAPE are closely matched on running behind Punk Poet over C&D last month with Migdam, Mulgrave and Ransom all over six lengths behind. Freescape has gained all six victories at this venue over a variety of distances and has dropped down to a competitive rating having raced off a mark of 109 earlier this year. Brains previously made all for a wide margin win here in a claimer but needs to bounce back having missed the break when soundly beaten last time. Hodd's Girl has won here six times over shorter trips but also gave encouragement over this trip when placed on his penultimate start. San Andreas gained a third C&D win earlier this year and should appreciate this drop back in trip, while Big Gossey is a high-class handicapper over sprint trips on soft ground and tries a mile for the first time.
Prediction : 1st Freescape 2nd Hodds Girl 3rd San Andreas

Sioux Princess handles this surface well winning twice over C&D and last time beat MAURA'S GIFT in an apprentice handicap. Paul Flynn's charge may now reverse those places at these revised terms and looks fairly treated having won here off a 4lb higher mark just over a year ago. Riyami relished the step up to two miles when scoring in great style here last week and an 8lb hike in the ratings is greatly alleviated by Calum Hogan's claim. Nawraq showed much improved form at his first attempt on this surface when beating all bar the gambled-on Rhythm And Thyne over an extended 10 furlongs last month. The form of that race has worked out well since although this longer trip is a concern, while the Keith Clarke-trained pair Limited Edition and Tenth Amendment are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Mauras Gift 2nd Riyami 3rd Nawraq

HARRIET EAGLE could be worth chancing in a weak race. Seamie Heffernan, fresh from a double in Dundalk on Wednesday, is a good booking for Pat Flynn's filly. Her fifth in a Curragh maiden back in July wasn't a bad effort and the drop in trip from her last couple of outings in Dundalk looks a positive. The handicapper has eased her by 3lb, so she should be competitive. Albion Princess is coming down the weights and was successful almost a year ago over 1m on the sand in Kempton for her previous trainer. There may be more to come from Nibras Rainbow in Dundalk as he showed form on all-weather surfaces in Britain, including when winning at Newcastle. Bright Dick has been placed twice here, but both of those races were over 7f.
Prediction : 1st Harriet Eagle 2nd Albion Princess 3rd Nibras Rainbow

WHAT ADAAY could post her first victory on Polytrack. She won over an extended 7f on turf at Bellewstown during the summer and has held her form well since then. She wasn't beaten far into third and fourth in her last couple of starts over C&D which bodes well for this assignment. Comfort Line's last success came over this trip at Navan in August 2022. He has been performing creditably over further at this venue and is a big player. Sunset Nova is on a mark he could pop up from, while long-standing maiden Master Garvey is not without hope. Muhalhel is weighted to get in the mix with a very capable 5lb claimer booked.
Prediction : 1st What Adaay 2nd Comfort Line 3rd Sunset Nova

APERCU showed promise in fourth on debut over C&D in a race that is working out well and improved upon that to finish a close third over the same trip last month. She is going the right way and Colin Keane is a notable booking. New Phenomenon is one that could improve for a step up in trip on her first go on Polytrack. This Churchill filly has raced three times on turf and posted a best finish of second in a median auction maiden at Gowran Park in June. Dawn Rider is a well-bred filly who is highly likely to improve from an opening sixth on debut over C&D in October. Firebrand, who finished runner-up in a race in France, and Gentle Breath, who has improved on each of her three runs, are others to consider, while Camelot colt Moab is well worth a market check ahead of his debut.
Prediction : 1st Apercu 2nd New Phenomenon 3rd Dawn Rider

This looks a good opportunity for CEALLACH who is a triple C&D winner including when last seen in October. A 4lb rise for that victory doesn't look excessive. Bottom-weight Duffle Coat is an interesting Polytrack debutant. There aren't many former Grade 2 hurdle winners that race here and the experience could reinvigorate him. He has actually been placed in a couple of Flat maidens before. Jaafel put in a below-par effort last month, but is generally a consistent type who should be in there pitching for prize money. Longclaw disappointed on his last outing in Dundalk, however, he has had more than a month off and is better judged on a C&D victory on his penultimate start, while Tyson Fury should be given a market check ahead of his Irish debut as he kept good company in Britain albeit without troubling the judge in a while.
Prediction : 1st Ceallach 2nd Duffle Coat 3rd Jaafel