UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

Joseph O'Brien enjoyed a treble at Dundalk's first meeting of the year last Friday and he holds a strong hand with GRAN CABALLO and Moab. The former showed marked improvement on second start over C&D to finish runner-up behind a winner who could be a progressive sort. Gran Caballo is a half-brother to two former Dundalk winners. Moab moves up in trip after an opening fourth at this track last month. A stablemate of his finished a couple of places in front of him in that race and came out and won on Friday which bodes well for Moab's prospects. Firebrand showed up well in a couple of races in France, but faded out of contention on his Irish debut over an extended 1m2f at this venue. The step up in trip may eke out improvement in him. Impero, who switches from turf to Polytrack, and newcomer Hangry, who has several winners in his pedigree, are others with claims.
Prediction : 1st Gran Caballo 2nd Firebrand 3rd Moab

With John McConnell's stable hitting form, an each-way chance is taken on TOGETHER ACLAIM. This five-year-old gelding is a long-standing maiden, but was beaten less than four lengths when unplaced on his last start here. He competes off a very lowly mark with Keithen Kennedy's 7lb claim factored in. Cursory Exam is down to his lowest mark of 59 and Scott McCullagh takes 3lb off his back, so the Due Diligence gelding has better claims than most of his rivals. Grey Fable's sixth over C&D in December can be seen in a better light as the winner followed up last Friday. Action Motion, Gemini Man and McConnell's Dinamine cannot be ruled out.
Prediction : 1st Together Aclaim 2nd Cursory Exam 3rd Grey Fable

LUCKY QUESTION was the subject of plenty of support before his best effort to date when beaten just over a length into fourth over C&D in November. That form received a substantial boost when the runner-up came out and scored twice in Dundalk. Lucky Question races off 1lb lower and ticks plenty of boxes. Moondharrig is capable of a big run in first-time blinkers. He showed that he has ability when beaten a neck into second over C&D on his penultimate start in November. Don't Look Now showed significant improvement when trying this trip for the first time in November. She finished fourth after being collared in the closing stages and the cheekpieces that were fitted that day are retained for this assignment.
Prediction : 1st Lucky Question 2nd Moondharrig 3rd Dont Look Now

COMFORT LINE exploited a sliding handicap mark to deliver over C&D last month and followed up a week later. He doesn't look badly handicapped off 4lb higher, so he has every chance of bringing up the hat-trick off a mark of 67. It is worth noting that he contested the Irish Lincolnshire off a rating of 85 at the Curragh last March. Old Peculier is another hat-trick seeker and runs under the 7lb penalty after winning over 1m4f at this track last Friday. That penalty is offset by the booking of 7lb claimer Keithen Kennedy. This is a drop in trip for him, though, and 1m hasn't seen him at his best before, but he arrives in rude health this time. Doctor Grace is another dropping back in trip, but she is versatile having won over 7f and over an extended 1m2f here.
Prediction : 1st Comfort Line 2nd Old Peculier 3rd Doctor Grace

MARY BAGOT was a little over two lengths behind Gregorina here last month, but might turn the form around and win this ordinary handicap. Three of her siblings are smart black-type winners and another was Listed-placed, and while her three maiden runs were ordinary, she finished her race nicely here recently, hinting that a step up to a mile should suit. Eight-race maiden Gregorina was initially trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam and while her UK form is mostly over this distance, she ran well in that 7f race. A reproduction would give her every chance, but she is vulnerable if the selection improves. Amerigo Vespucci was reported to have pulled too hard when disappointing over C&D last month, but had previously run well in November.
Prediction : 1st Mary Bagot 2nd Gregorina 3rd Amerigo Vespucci

Eight-year-old mare THERIVERRUNSDEEP is a four-time course winner who comes here in excellent form. Ideally suited by this distance, her recent runs are encouraging and while she finished just a head ahead of Poet's Pride in mid-December, she is now 4lb better off. Poet's Pride is himself well suited by this C&D and, interestingly, the pair meet on identical terms to when Poet's Pride defeated the selection to win here last February. Irish Rumour has useful recent form but tries this distance for the first time, while Below Deck has recent form over five furlongs and is now tried in first-time cheekpieces. In-form Havana Notion would prefer five furlongs. Empress Of Bough was hampered early on over C&D in November, but previously gained a belated win in October.
Prediction : 1st Theriverrunsdeep 2nd Poets Pride 3rd Irish Rumour

JAZZY DANCER is 10lb worse off with Zig Zag Zyggy having beaten him by two and a half lengths last month, but might defy his rise. Rated 71 at his peak, he won off 61 in 2022 and is ideally suited by this C&D. Zig Zag Zyggy has beaten the selection once, from five previous meetings, but has claims. Himself once rated 85, he ended a two-year wait for a win last July and should run well from his low weight. Six-time winner No Speed Limit has been running well and, also suited by conditions, should again compete. James Henry ended a 17-race losing spell here last month and while he drops in distance for just the second time, had run well over C&D in early December.
Prediction : 1st Jazzy Dancer 2nd Zig Zag Zyggy 3rd No Speed Limit

TARSUS showed big improvement in two runs last month and now steps up in distance. Rated just 63 when winning his course maiden, he then chased home the promising Francis Meynell and while stepping up a furlong is a small concern, he is a quite capable. Mint Man was the beaten favourite in the aforementioned maiden, but was reported to be slightly lame post-race. His prior run, behind a subsequent winner, was a fine effort over this distance and being 8lb better off with the selection today, has solid claims if reproducing his November form. Manhattan Dreamer ran well having been slowly away on debut but while clearly open to plenty of progression, faces a tough task. Stablemate Go Girl Go drops down in distance having run well from a light weight in a December maiden. Perfect Judgement ran well here in September, but lacks a recent run and returns having been gelded. Ohailbhic ran well here on debut last month, but steps up in grade.
Prediction : 1st Tarsus 2nd Mint Man 3rd Manhattan Dreamer