UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

There was very little to choose between INISHMOT PRINCE, Musical Tribute and Collective Power here last month in the 6f event won by Dream Today and perhaps the former can add to his impressive course record. The Tom McCourt-trained gelding appears equally effective over five or six and bids for a ninth victory at this venue. Musical Tribute outran odds of 66/1 on that occasion and could be suited by this drop down to the minimum trip on just her third Irish start. Havana Notion won over this trip at Tipperary last summer and gained reward for some consistent efforts at this venue when scoring over 6f last month.
Prediction : 1st Inishmot Prince 2nd Musical Tribute 3rd Havana Notion

This looks a great opportunity for HARRY'S BAR to add to his 15 career wins. The selection won seven times for James Fanshawe and has recorded all eight wins for Ado McGuinness at this venue including twice in this race. The nine-year-old has built up a good association with Cian MacRedmond and this represents a significant drop in class after tackling the Group 3 Mercury Stakes last time. Tarsus caused a 66/1 shock in a sprint maiden here in December and showed that was no fluke by shaping well on both outings since. Army Of India won three times on the all-weather in the UK but has plenty to do at the weights, while Old Chicago needs to progress considerably from his debut here last week.
Prediction : 1st Harrys Bar 2nd Tarsus 3rd Army Of India

IMPERO stayed further than this trip on the turf at Killarney last summer and is tempting on his first crack at 2m on Polytrack. He returned from a break with a fine second place over 1m4f at this track last month. Tyson Fury kept on for second behind a classy sort over an extended 10f at this venue last month. He stays 1m4f and is interesting over this extra distance. Longclaw really served it up to a 101-rated horse over C&D last month before going down by a short head. He was able to dictate at a slow pace in that small field, so the form has to be taken with a pinch of salt. He does get the trip, though, and he did battle hard in the closing stages. Given that Raving Royal is trained by Willie Mullins, she has to be given a market check as a lightly-raced sort who is making her Polytrack debut. Satono Chevalier takes a marked step up in trip after being a beaten favourite on his last couple of starts here.
Prediction : 1st Impero 2nd Tyson Fury 3rd Longclaw

Joseph O'Brien's EMERALD ECLIPSE was backed down to favouritism for his debut over C&D in January and did little wrong in finishing well for second, beaten half a length. There should be improvement forthcoming and his stable has been firing in the winners at Dundalk. His stablemate Tranquil Steps certainly catches the eye on paper ahead of her debut. She is a half-sister to a Group 1-winning sprinter so must be checked for market strength. As the sole winner in the field, Take Me To Church has to give 6lb to all of his rivals. He sets a useful standard with a mark of 82 having won an auction maiden over a furlong shorter at this track. Willie Browne and Seamie Heffernan have a good record when teaming up together, so debutant Sir Sagacious shouldn't be disregarded. Sobriety Blue was a couple of places behind Emerald Eclipse over C&D and isn't out of it.
Prediction : 1st Emerald Eclipse 2nd Tranquil Steps 3rd Take Me To Church

There could be another victory in HURRICANE HELEN. She made a great start to life with Christopher Timmons over C&D in December and a 6lb rise shouldn't stop her if she is in the same mood. Eyes were drawn to her a long way out when she won in December. Eighty Eight was gambled on at this track last week (10/1 in to 4/1), but just found one rival half a length too good. The horse that beat him went in again two days later to strengthen the form. He has a shot at defying his big weight as he travelled notably well last week. Ten To Ten showed significant improvement to finish third over C&D before Christmas when only collared in the closing stages. He has a tougher draw this time, but another good run is likely. Prince Of Abington and Cousin Shay are recent winners who could get into contention.
Prediction : 1st Hurricane Helen 2nd Eighty Eight 3rd Ten To Ten

This is competitive for the grade. James Ryan is an apprentice going places and his booking for HALE BOPP looks significant. This six-year-old gelding has put in late work for fourth and second in his last couple of appearances over C&D. Not much more would be needed to grab his sixth career success. Nibras Rainbow has been beaten the same distance (half a length) into second in his two most recent starts over C&D, so he is a major player. Zero Fighter ran a stormer at 40/1 when beaten by a head into second last month. He has to back it up now, but he had winning form for his previous trainer. Rock Basher ran well for a long way off the front before finishing second last month. Oisin McSweeney gets the leg-up again and he has been among the winners in Dundalk recently.
Prediction : 1st Hale Bopp 2nd Nibras Rainbow 3rd Zero Fighter

Chavajod had HIGHTIMEYOUWON and Ransom close behind in the places when recording a second C&D win this winter and the handicapper hasn't been too severe with a combined rise of 10lb for those victories. Hightimeyouwon won three times for Ado McGuinness last year and having been a model of consistency here this winter, is narrowly preferred. Barbapapa recorded a second C&D win on his penultimate start and had six of these rivals behind when subsequently beating all bar Cheers Again just before Christmas. Free Solo had the selection's stablemate Exquisite Acclaim less than a length back in third when scoring over seven here last month but may not be as effective over the mile.
Prediction : 1st Hightimeyouwon 2nd Barbapapa 3rd Chavajod

DREAMS FLED AWAY beat Areana by three lengths over C&D last month with Glyde Ranger keeping on well into third. The Shane Crawley-trained gelding has gone up 7lb for that success but appeared to win with a bit in hand and can follow up with champion jockey Colin Keane a significant booking. John McConnell's team are back in much better form exemplified by the improved run of Arctic Blaze here last month when fourth behind Moondharrig (won again since), while Tom The Plasterer, Hi Sur Multi and Wishes And Dreams are others to consider. The latter wasn't beaten far last time when third to Golden Sandbanks and the addition of cheekpieces and Shane Foley in the saddle could eke out more improvement.
Prediction : 1st Dreams Fled Away 2nd Arctic Blaze 3rd Wishes And Dreams