UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

PHIL'S DREAM won over C&D in January and has been placed twice since over an extra furlong. The selection finished a half-length behind Hezahunk when the pair filled the placings behind Jazzy Dancer here last Friday, but the minimum trip tips the balance in favour of the John McConnell-trained gelding. Havana Notion dropped away in the final furlong in that race last Friday but has won over five furlongs and was also successful here earlier this year. My Girl Sioux is still a maiden after 22 starts but has filled the runner-up spot here on her two most recent starts, including when just denied by Winemaker over C&D a fortnight ago.
Prediction : 1st Phils Dream 2nd My Girl Sioux 3rd Hezahunk

This looks a highly competitive handicap and it's difficult to put a line through many of the 12 runners. PRISONER'S DILEMMA gained the latest of his seven career wins off a mark of 103 over 18 months ago but has shown promise on a number of occasions this year, notably dividing Inishmot Prince and Musical Tribute when third to Dream Today over C&D. Inishmot Prince is now a nine-time winner at this venue following a further four successes this winter, while Apache Outlaw and Collective Power are others for the shortlist after winning here last time. The latter didn't enjoy the clearest of passages when beating Musical Tribute by a neck last month.
Prediction : 1st Prisoners Dilemma 2nd Collective Power 3rd Apache Outlaw

HERO OF THE HOUR won three times over six furlongs here early last year but may now be better served by this trip. The selection didn't enjoy a clear run on his latest try over seven when keeping on behind Prince Of Abington in January and certainly found five furlongs too sharp last time. The Cola Brasil was only headed close home in that race won by Prince Of Abington and is closely matched with River Derwent having finished a close third to that rival in a claimer last month. The booking of James Ryan catches the eye. Maestro Stick showed much improved form when causing a 66/1 shock in a claimer over six earlier this month.
Prediction : 1st Hero Of The Hour 2nd The Cola Brasil 3rd River Derwent

SAKTI showed smart form when filling the runner-up spot on all three starts as a juvenile and should prove difficult to beat. The daughter of Caravaggio was narrowly denied by Brilliant on debut at Leopardstown and was highly tried on both subsequent outings including behind Vespertilio in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes at the Curragh. Paddy Twomey wasted no time getting off the mark for the new turf season at the Curragh on Monday and he introduces Cill Mocheallog, a son of Phoenix Of Spain from a speedy family. Aratayvo is another to consider as he was only beaten a length by hot-pot Bright Stripes over this trip at Naas last autumn.
Prediction : 1st Sakti 2nd Cill Mocheallog 3rd Aratayvo

NATURAL RULER had Hoover Dam three lengths back in third when beating all bar the long odds-on Al Mudhaffar in a maiden over C&D a fortnight ago. The Johnny Murtagh-trained colt showed nice progress compared with his two outings at the Curragh last year and appears reasonably treated on handicap debut. Aisling Oscar twice beat Mary Bagot here earlier this year and the latter franked the form by going one better over a mile earlier this month with Galician Girl about three lengths behind in third, and Blue Soul and Special Angel in fifth and sixth respectively. Fivecromwellplace belied odds of 40/1 when prominent throughout to score on his handicap debut last Friday.
Prediction : 1st Natural Ruler 2nd Mary Bagot 3rd Galician Girl

Ado McGuinness holds a strong hand here and EXQUISITE ACCLAIM may prove the pick of his trio. The top-weight appears equally effective over seven or a mile and recorded a second win here this winter when beating stablemate Hightimeyouwon last month, with Chavajod and Not Forgotten back in fourth and fifth respectively. The selection has continually progressed over the past six months and there may still be some juice in his current rating. Not Forgotten, Rampage, Shoot To Kill and Rockbury Lad were all only separated by about a length when running behind Super Over over C&D a fortnight ago, while Skontonovski recorded a seventh career win here last November and Colin Keane is an interesting booking.
Prediction : 1st Exquisite Acclaim 2nd Not Forgotten 3rd Skontonovski

TRISHULI RIVER appreciated the step up to a mile when successful here last November and the evidence of her two subsequent starts suggest she could be suited by this longer distance. The Shane Crawley-trained filly was denied a clear run early in the straight before staying on into fourth last time and her pedigree also gives cause for optimism at the trip. Dark Street beat Together Aclaim (won since) over C&D in January and recorded a further course win over 1m4f earlier this month when pegging back Picpoul close home, with Darkened over three lengths back in third. Dylan Browne McMonagle is an eye-catching booking on five-time course winner Power Drive.
Prediction : 1st Trishuli River 2nd Picpoul 3rd Power Drive

PALACE ROCK can gain a deserved win after a series of solid efforts here this year. The dual-purpose gelding, who won a maiden over C&D back in 2021, had Celtic Revival, Fascinating Shadow and Banana Three all behind in third, fourth and fifth respectively when headed on the line by Nibiru and again shaped well last time in a higher-class handicap when third to Satono Chevalier. How About No justified strong support when landing a maiden over C&D last month and is not an easy one for the handicapper to assess. Squire Danagher and Unterberg both step up in trip after winning over an extended 1m2f last time.
Prediction : 1st Palace Rock 2nd Celtic Revival 3rd Squire Danagher