UK Horse Racing Tips: Dundalk

SKONTONOVSKI has plenty going for him on his first start for Ger O'Leary in this optional claimer. A rating of 70 entitles him to plenty of respect and Darragh O'Sullivan claims a handy 7lb off his back. He was last seen finishing a decent second in a C&D claimer in December. This is a drop in trip for Signor Ferrari, but he has winning form over it. Considering he has won two handicaps over further at Dundalk this year, his chance has to be taken seriously. Laura Hourigan has conjured five Dundalk victories from Notforalongtime who is capable of going well.
Prediction : 1st Skontonovski 2nd Signor Ferrari 3rd Notforalongtime

The draw hasn't been kind to CAMACHERO, but Colin Keane is a notable booking for this Camacho gelding. He showed good improvement to finish a running-on third over 1m at this track in January which brings him into contention. Havana Notion was just pipped by a neck and a short head in third in a sprint handicap last week, so has to enter calculations. Manhattan Dandy is well drawn in stall one and acquitted himself well when trying to make all before finishing second over a longer trip in November. If he is ready to go off the break, he ought to get in the mix.
Prediction : 1st Camachero 2nd Havana Notion 3rd Manhattan Dandy

SLOWDOWNBARNEY has been shaping like a step up in trip would suit. John McConnell's charge has been placed in his last three handicaps over 1m4f at this venue and wasn't stopping in the closing stages. Duke Otto has to rate a danger on the back of landing a handicap hurdle at Wexford on St Patrick's Day. On his penultimate outing, he was only beaten two lengths into fifth over C&D. Billie Frechette is a consistent sort who tries a new trip for Noel Meade, while first-time cheekpieces saw Is She Now keep on nicely for fourth place in February. Makaiah has been hurdling, but isn't without a chance back on the level.
Prediction : 1st Slowdownbarney 2nd Duke Otto 3rd Billie Frechette

LADY IMAN made a six-figure price at Goffs and is a half-sister to a Group 2 winner. She is in good hands with Ger Lyons and makes plenty of appeal on paper. Army Leave was a market springer in the first juvenile maiden of the season at the Curragh and performed creditably in third. The winner looked very smart while there was also good word about the runner-up. Dundalk has been a happy hunting ground for Stephen Thorne at the start of his training career and he takes the wraps off Innumerable, who is related to a host of multiple winners. Stop The Nation is another newcomer to note in a race where the market will be informative.
Prediction : 1st Lady Iman 2nd Army Leave 3rd Innumerable

The 85-rated ELANA OSARIO has the form to take this maiden. Last season, she came home third in a fillies' maiden at Clonmel and was runner-up in a pair of fillies' maidens at Killarney and the Curragh. She drops back to 1m and this race looks a good opportunity for her. Mallavelly could be a useful recruit for Ger Lyons. She was placed a couple of times in her three-year-old campaign in Britain for Jane Chapple-Hyam. She also wasn't far out of the places in a couple of valuable races at Newmarket and Goodwood. Colugo is race fit from a runner-up spot over 7f at this track in February, while there could be more to come from Shaool and Winsome.
Prediction : 1st Elana Osario 2nd Mallavelly 3rd Colugo

PROPOSE is likely to reap the benefit of an outing in an end-of-season maiden at the Curragh. This Frankel colt came home seventh in a massive field on yielding ground and is up in trip on Polytrack debut. He is Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore's sole representative on the card. O'Brien has landed the last three renewals of this race. What's Your Game caught a tartar when beaten into second over C&D at the end of February, but that should have him primed for this. Woodshaw Whisper was nearest at the finish in third at Leopardstown in October and has switched to Ger Lyons, while Truth Be Told handled this surface when third in a maiden in November and has to be respected.
Prediction : 1st Propose 2nd Whats Your Game 3rd Woodshaw Whisper

CHOPSTICKS could get his head in front for the first time. His last two runs saw him finish third over C&D and fourth over further, and a reproduction of those efforts would have him heavily involved. Dynamite Defense won on his penultimate start over 1m at this racecourse in September. He hasn't had many runs over this sort of trip, but does look one of the more likely contenders. Wonder Spirit has been out of form, but competes off a very lowly mark. Reserve Higher Kingdom was well punted on his first start for Ado McGuinness last week, but didn't feature. A better display isn't beyond the realms of possibility if getting a run. Second-reserve Lord Talbot also has a squeak.
Prediction : 1st Chopsticks 2nd Dynamite Defense 3rd Wonder Spirit