UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

POWERFUL NATION debuts on the all-weather but is a fast-ground type so is likely to be suited by this surface and has form claims. A speedy sprinter, he finished second at Listed level at Tipperary in July, where he comfortably beat Lady With The Lamp into sixth. Shamrock Breeze is a similarly fast type and has been placed in three Listed races but, notably, has been beaten by the selection twice and has 2.75 lengths to find with him on Tipperary form. Saratoga Special, in turn, finished 5.25 lengths ahead of Shamrock Breeze last month and is now also 5lb better off. However, she disappointed when narrowly failing to win a Navan maiden 22 days ago, with the runner-up being well defeated subsequently.
Prediction : 1st Powerful Nation 2nd Saratoga Special 3rd Shamrock Breeze

Progressive ISABELLA EXPERT runs in first-time cheekpieces and might turn form with both Agouti Bear and Sharkii and win, under a light weight. The selection was well held by the more experienced Sharkii on her debut at Cork in July but has shown improved form since then and while also recently beaten 0.63 lengths by Agouti Bear at Navan, is now 8lb better off and can reverse placings. Agouti Bear, similarly, runs in first-time cheekpieces but has a poor draw in 17. Flash The Cash and Sharkii are closely matched on Down Royal form although speedy-type Flash The Cash isn't certain to be suited by today's extra furlong. Shelbiana has been running well under similarly low weights.
Prediction : 1st Isabella Expert 2nd Agouti Bear 3rd Sharkii

Dual winner JAMES HENRY has an excellent record over this course and has good recent form. Either a winner or runner-up from seven of ten course starts, he was beaten only a short-head here in February before he returned with a fine effort over five furlongs at the Curragh last month. He has strong claims with his rider again claiming 3lb. Three-year-old Fivecromwellplace is already a course-and-distance winner and was also placed at the Curragh recently. He runs in a first-time visor today from a career high rating. Four of Distillate's five wins have been on turf and despite being lightly-enough raced at this venue, has winning course-and-distance form and should get involved from her rating.
Prediction : 1st James Henry 2nd Fivecromwellplace 3rd Distillate

MARBLE ANGEL has escaped with just a 4lb penalty for winning over today's course-and-distance last month and could well progress further at this distance. All her early form had been over sprint distances but seemed to relish this mile trip in winning well last month, while that form has received notable boosts with the runner-up scoring next time and the third and fourth-placed horses each being subsequently placed. She looks well handicapped and has the inside draw. Comfort Line and Morning Approach have been running well but aren't ahead of the handicapper. Four of Feature This' five career wins (which have all come at this distance) have been achieved at this course and she has place claims.
Prediction : 1st Marble Angel 2nd Comfort Line 3rd Feature This

NAPPER TANDY hasn't run on the Flat since September 2022 but has been running well over hurdles and has a good record on all-weather surfaces. Already a hurdle winner this summer, he finished third at Listed level at the Galway festival and while his lack of a recent Flat outing is a small concern, competes from a career low rating and is suited by this distance. Stariam has been running consistently well in country maidens and while frustrating to follow, is interesting competing in her first handicap today, albeit her ability to handle this surface is as yet unproven. Curious Bride has good recent form but would ideally prefer further.
Prediction : 1st Napper Tandy 2nd Stariam 3rd Curious Bride

STEP TO SOMEWHERE ran well on recent handicap debut and has already shown form on this surface. Out of a Listed winner, she was well beaten in that sole course run last April but that was her career debut, while the first two finishers are now Stakes performers. The selection shaped well at Clonmel and reverting back up a furlong should suit, as she again competes in this 47-65 bracket. Another three-year-old Special Angel has been running well over slightly shorter trips although is 7lb higher than when narrowly winning at Tipperary. Explorers Way doesn't appear ahead of the handicapper but has an excellent record at this distance and four of his five wins have come on the all-weather.
Prediction : 1st Step To Somewhere 2nd Special Angel 3rd Explorers Way

MAKAIAH has largely unexciting form but ran satisfactorily in first-time blinkers in a recent Claimer and should compete over a longer distance today. She was well held by the winner at Gowran but the third-placed filly - whom she met off level-weights, was subsequently placed with a rating of 60, suggesting the selection should herself prove competitive from 57. Gardone was well supported on his first two runs of 2024 and while easy turf ground might not have suited then, he is nonetheless 5lb higher than when winning over course-and-distance last month (when racing from out of the handicap). Picpoul has a good course record although seems better over slightly further.
Prediction : 1st Makaiah 2nd Gardone 3rd Picpoul

BARD OF AVON ran promisingly on Leopardstown debut last October and returned from 308 days off when again running well - in a race which is working out well, at the Curragh last month. By Galileo and out of an Australian Group 3 winner, he presumably met with a setback earlier this year but was nicely supported on Curragh reappearance, when running well. He was well held by winner Fighter, who recently easily won the Petingo Handicap during Champions Festival while the runner-up has also won subsequently. Raydamann disappointed in that Curragh maiden but had previously finished second over this C&D in July with Psalm finishing third.
Prediction : 1st Bard Of Avon 2nd Raydamann 3rd Psalm