UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

CRYSTAL LUNA has yet to win in nine starts but has some useful form in maidens and ran well over C&D just last week. She was well held in eighth place behind Hasiyna here in early December but had been held up off the pace then and, having jumped smartly from the stalls last week, showed improved form. She seems ideally suited by 5f, Colin Keane again rides, and she can make use of her favourable inside draw. Hasiyna, who is drawn wide in 15, finished over two lengths behind I'm Spartacus here five days ago, although both horse's best form is over 6f.
Prediction : 1st Crystal Luna 2nd Hasiyna 3rd Im Spartacus

AMBER BLOSSOM showed much improved form to win over C&D last month and can defy a 9lb hike. Out of a well-related winning dam, her initial form was poor but having then missed the break here last month, she finished her race powerfully and can continue to progress. Annie Lavinia finished third in that race and has a slightly more exposed profile so should struggle to turn the form around. Your Call, poorly drawn in 16, has run some inconsistent races but has shown ability and notably ran well on course debut last month, which suggests he will win on this surface soon, although he drops down in distance.
Prediction : 1st Amber Blossom 2nd Annie Lavinia 3rd Your Call

CATCH THE PADDY was a real bargain buy for 3,500gns last October and might follow up a recent course success, being as yet unexposed on all-weather surfaces. Rated 92 on the turf last June prior to losing form, he bounced back when winning well over a mile here recently. Dropping in distance shouldn't inconvenience as he has prior form at this distance and it is notable that he has won and finished second from just three career all-weather tries. Both Clarita's wins have come over C&D and she won last month, but competes from a career-high rating. Apache Outlaw has won once over this C&D and also won here last month, but is slightly better over 6f.
Prediction : 1st Catch The Paddy 2nd Clarita 3rd Apache Outlaw

MULLACASH BUZZ is a four-time C&D winner who should again compete well from his rating. Rated 69 at his peak, he is holding his form and having again run well over a mile here last month, should be better suited by dropping back to his favoured distance, with his same rider again claiming 7lb. It is interesting that Senado Square, who can sometimes be slowly away, is tried at this distance for the first time having won narrowly here five days ago, so has something to prove. Half Nutz hasn't won since 2022 and while he is a six-time winner whose rating has fallen recently, he has yet to score on the all-weather.
Prediction : 1st Mullacash Buzz 2nd Senado Square 3rd Half Nutz

Nicola Burns has been making a good impression at Dundalk and her 7lb claim comes into play on DEVIL'S ANGEL. He should appreciate dropping back into the 47-65 grade where he acquitted himself well in October and November. Rattletheonionbag hasn't been beaten far in her last three handicaps over 6f at this track. On two of those occasions, she stayed on in the final furlong which bodes well for another try at 7f. Pink Oxalis finished fourth on her Polytrack/stable debut over further just under a fortnight ago. First-time cheekpieces are applied and she is a contender. Billy Lee is a notable booking for Reclaim, who is worth a market check.
Prediction : 1st Devils Angel 2nd Rattletheonionbag 3rd Pink Oxalis

EMPRESS ARTEMIS certainly didn't go unbacked when making a winning debut in a fillies' maiden over C&D last month. After a tardy start, she travelled notably well and was strong at the finish. Wizard Of Odds shed his maiden tag for his previous trainer at Down Royal in July. Since then, he has had three outings for Stephen Thorne and ran well off the front when runner-up in a median auction race over 7f at this venue. Bishopton is going the right way and just went down by a neck on his first start over C&D for Natalia Lupini, while Joseph O'Brien runs three horses including Waterford Flow, a son of Ghaiyyath who is related to a couple of multiple winners.
Prediction : 1st Empress Artemis 2nd Wizard Of Odds 3rd Bishopton

INTHESMALLHOURS has shown more than enough to suggest she can land a maiden. There was plenty to like about her debut fifth over a shorter trip last month and she progressed to be beaten half a length into second over C&D. Aird has been mixing in some decent handicaps and could go well on her first go on an all-weather surface. The 80-rated Radar Ahead was placed in all five turf starts for Joseph O'Brien. She has switched to Tom McCourt and makes her Polytrack debut, so is an intriguing runner. Santa Princess showed marked improvement when third in a fillies' maiden over C&D and that form was franked when the runner-up landed a maiden at this track.
Prediction : 1st Inthesmallhours 2nd Aird 3rd Radar Ahead

A very tricky handicap. Trishuli River has been a revelation over this trip and is very much an in-form filly. The handicapper has given her a hike of 11lb rise in her bid for a hat-trick, but she is still respected. JAZZ FOREVER has an each-way chance. The last time he visited Dundalk he won over this trip in April and, with his jockey's claim factored in, he races off 1lb lower than that winning mark. Hurricane Helen just lost out by a neck over C&D last month and looks poised for another big run. Rock Etoile tries a new trip but has been in decent nick over 1m, while Beauparc, Eighty Eight and Dancing Steve will all have their supporters.
Prediction : 1st Jazz Forever 2nd Hurricane Helen 3rd Trishuli River