Free racing tips: Fran Berry previews the action from Dundalk

Recommended bets, Friday September 25

1pt e.w Sheer Chance in 5.15 Dundalk at 10/1

2pts e.w. Crossfirehurricane in 6.45 Dundalk at 4/1

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I'm really looking forward to Dundalk tonight and the 5.15 is a cracking fillies' maiden. It looks a fair opportunity for Sister Rosetta, who should be suited by the surface and didn't run badly in Listed company last time.

She has had four relatively quick runs for a filly who I think will be better next year and to some extent the same applies to Friendly, who looks quite big and raw and one who will improve over time. She may lack a bit of strength.

For that reason I'm willing to take them on and the one that's a bit of value is SHEER CHANCE for Joseph O'Brien.

It's worth noting number 10 and number 13, Stardayz and Woodstown, fought out the finish in a recent trial at Dundalk and they're worth keeping an eye on, but Sheer Chance has had a tough task on both starts to date. She ran at Sligo which is a tough place to start over that five and a half furlong trip.

It was pleasing the way she hit the line after being green and wide on the track throughout, and then she went to Galway where the ground was only just raceable. From the limited viewing on the replay, what with the visibility so poor, she was the last off the bridle and lost nothing in defeat for my money.

That was only a median maiden so she'll have to step up but I think this polytrack surface will suit her after two runs around tracks where she'll have learnt a lot. Stall six and the prices of 10/1 make her appealing when you have question marks about the front two in the betting.

I've got to mention the auction maiden at 5.45 as it's a deep race for one of its type. We put Feeling Tip Top up in this column recently at Down Royal and the draw, as well as the ground, perhaps beat him that day.

But the horse to watch is Inca Prince. He was a very impressive winner here on September 7 (Batch 05) in a barrier trial - which can all be accessed here through the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing site.

You see from the video below you was professional throughout and won really well. He's drawn out wide here and has been backed from an opening 10/1 to 11/2 so with that in mind I'll give him a miss but he has to be respected whatever you're backing. As does Black Cat Bobby, who also ran well in a trial here on the same day.

The feature race is the Group Three Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Diamond Stakes and it contains the bet of the night for me in CROSSFIREHURRICANE, also trained by Joseph O'Brien.

It's a cracking race with a full field and Vatican City is obviously interesting stepping up to what could be his best trip of 10 and a half furlongs. He ran great in the Irish Guineas and he ran well over the mile last time. You can probably ignore the Derby but being a son of Galileo maybe this trip will suit and the Polytrack is fine as he won here at two.

But he's opposable and Crossfirehurricane could be very, very good on this surface. He won his two starts on the Polytrack and was a snug enough winner at Listed level in February.

On his return to grass he won the Gallinule from Gold Maze and then he just didn't fire in the Irish Derby when the conditions were horrible. They called it good ground but it was anything but really and you can put a line through the run.

It was also just 15 days after the Gallinule and for me he's best when fresh. He won first time out at Limerick last June and he won when fresh in February, and again at the Curragh after a break.

So I expect him to be spot on for this and at 4/1 he's a solid each-way bet. He's actually in the Arc and the Champion Stakes at Ascot next month but he'd want decent ground wherever he went so maybe they'll be looking to the Far East or somewhere if all goes to plan here. I think he's one of the best three-year-old Irish colts around this trip.

Posted at 1115 BST on 25/09/20

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