Fran Berry best bets for Dundalk and Tramore

Recommended bets:

1pt ew Belle Image in 12.55 Dundalk at 5/1

1pt ew Winner Takes Itall in 4.15 Dundalk at 6/1

2pts win Pearl Warrior in 6.15 Tramore at 9/4

1pt win Those Days Are Gone in 6.45 Tramore at 4/1

Dense Star is a very warm favourite for the opening Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Fillies Maiden at Dundalk – and clearly will be hard to beat.

However, I think she’s a real five furlongs filly and she goes up to six here on a surface that has been relaid and in one meeting and barrier trials, looked to be slower than normal.

It can make for quite tiring conditions and BELLE IMAGE looks an each-way play against her. I really liked Sheila Lavery charge’s barrier trial on Galway Plate day where she moved very well and showed plenty.

She has a good draw in five and looks a very solid each-way proposition.

So is WINNER TAKES ITALL in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Red God' Handicap. Joseph O’Brien’s charge was fortunate to be left on a mark of 88 after finishing fourth at the Curragh last time. Held up off a very slow pace, he didn’t get a run at a vital stage and still came home well. He’d have finished much closer with a clear passage.

Rain is forecast for this evening and I hope Tramore don’t get too much before the Brennan's Pharmacy Tramore Handicap at 6.15 as I really like PEARL WARRIOR.

This is a unique, sharp track with no starting stalls and the selection is a front-runner who has already won around here. He’s only five pounds higher than when winning at Fairyhouse in June and ran a good race to finish fourth from this mark at Galway last time.

This is a drop in class for him and he’ll be hard to peg back.

Penny Out and Eight And Bob come into the Clonea Strand, Dungarvan Handicap off the back of wins last time but THOSE DAYS ARE GONE is a fascinating runner for Charles Byrnes.

He makes his handicap from a mark of 76 and is a horse who finished third in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

He’s back up to two miles here and it will really suit and the form of his maiden runs is very strong. He was four lengths in front of Penny Out at Limerick two starts ago and is now six pounds better off with the favourite. He should go well.

• Preview posted 1130 BST on 15/08/2020

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