Fran Berry looks ahead to tonight's Dundalk action and identifies three horses he's keen to side with.
It's the final Dundalk evening meeting of the year but it's good to hear the announcement of four further meetings early in 2021. The level of entries in recent weeks have been huge and we just need more meetings on to accommodate these horses, with loads being balloted out of races lately.
The extra cards are on January 11 and 20, plus February 1 and 17 - so here's to a happy New Year on the Polytrack!
Three tips for this evening's action, including BLACKPOINT in the 10 furlong handicap at 7.00.
He was a good winner of a weak-ish maiden a Limerick before looking to hate the bad ground at Naas in October.
On Polytrack debut two weeks ago he ran very well given he was drawn out wide in stall 16. He got into a fair position initially but then had to switch once or twice to get a run. He did run on late without being knocked about.
There's more to come from this horse and I'm sure he's capable of a bit more from this mark. He seemed to handle the surface well and has a good draw in stall six here, with plenty of pace on through the likes of Bluebeard's Castle.
Earlier on the one mile maiden is a wide open race and lots of them have had plenty of chances. I was very interested in TURBO COMMAND stepping up in trip.
He has some very good juvenile form including a course second to Believe In Beauty.
He's only had two runs to date for his new stable and shaped well when fifth in a decent handicap over seven furlongs here last month.
He kept on well late in the day and will appreciate the step up to a mile on this surface. He should be primed dropping back into maiden company and his market rivals are drawn wider.
It's wide open and he's not a massive price but I'm happy to go each-way at 9/2 and just take a small fine if he's placed.
His trainer Mick Halford - who has been in good form - could also be among the winners with KATIYMANN in division two of the seven furlong handicap. Most firms are offering four places in this and he's worth taking a chance on having been dropped 5lb for the last run.
He was rated 87 in June and is running off 69 now in a much lower grade.
He didn't run too badly here last time when shaping okay down the field. He's got the plum draw in stall one and now goes with blinkers for the first time so perhaps it's last chance saloon but at the prices I'll roll the dice.
Published at 0955 GMT on 18/12/20
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