It's a fascinating meeting at Dundalk this afternoon and Fran Berry previews the action.
Recommended bets, Monday November 16
0.5pts e.w. Dreamful in 4.20 Dundalk at 11/1 (1/5 1,2,3)
1pt e.w. St George's Head in 4.50 Dundalk at 11/2 (1/5 1,2,3,4)
1pt win Praying Mantis in 5.20 Dundalk at 3/1
1pt e.w. Illusory in 5.50 Dundalk at 11/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4)
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There's no doubt who the star of the show is at Dundalk this afternoon with 2018 Irish Guineas winner Romanised running in the Test Your Tipping Talents At punters.hollywoodbets.com Every Dundalk Meeting Race.
I'd say it'll be his final start in Ireland before he heads to Hong Kong and then onto retirement and, although slightly odds-on, I thought he'd be even shorter in truth. He ran flat when last seen at Longchamp but had started the year with a Group 2 win at the Curragh in July and clearly got bogged down in heavy ground in Deauville after that.
On pedigree you wouldn't think he'll have any trouble with the Polytrack and if he runs close to his mark he'll win. Saltonstall is another having his first run here but he's at least in peak form and looks the obvious one to capitalise if the favourite is off his game.
There's no value to be found then but there's one I'm slightly interested in in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Median Auction Maiden.
It's a 'Plus 10 race' and looks to have been targeted by Joseph O'Brien with hotly-fancied newcomer Isle Of Sark, who changed hands after a taking win in a trial here. He's entered in the Irish Derby and looks the part on paper so he's not easy to oppose given the weight of support this morning but over seven furlongs I'm tempted by a small each-way bet on DREAMFUL for Johnny Murtagh.
Like the favourite, he's also by Kitten's Joy but she does have some racing experience after a debut sixth over this course and distance late last month. I thought she shaped well under a hands-and-heels ride at 40/1 that day and wouldn't be surprised if she can leave the form well behind.
Whether she can beat Isle Of Sark is another matter but at the prices I'll play each-way to find out.
In division one of the Find Us On Facebook @dundalkstadium Handicap I like St GEORGE'S HEAD in first-time cheekpieces with Declan McDonogh taking over in the saddle.
He's relatively lightly raced and ran extremely well when a close third here 10 days ago. He had a good position but just got tapped for toe off the slow pace before staying on. There's a lot of pace in this race and that, coupled with the cheekpieces, should really suit St George's Head.
He's actually come down 3lb for that recent one-length third with the Irish assessor having done his annual 'realignment' and rates a bet for a stable going really well at the moment.
Division two looks potentially a little weaker and PRAYING MANTIS ran well when put up here last week. She's another down 2lb after running extremely well on her first try on the Polytrack. She's down in trip which will suit and has a good draw so should go very well again. She's worth backing win-only.
The fourth and final bet on the card comes in the last, a competitive dundalkstadium.com Handicap. Drakensberg drops in class after finishing seventh in a much higher grade just the other night. However, with the quick turnaround I'm opposing him.
Lariat is quite interesting after running his best race for Ado McGuinness last time, but the one I'm putting up is ILLUSORY for Mick Halford.
Her first two runs were good and you can forgive her the run around Tramore when the winner bolted up. But her comeback last month was quite taking. In a big field at Leopardstown, she only had a couple of horses behind at the top of the straight but she ran on well to be seventh.
It was quite taking how she lengthened there, in a race that has worked out well, and I suspect she'll appreciate the course at Dundalk. The handicapper has only dropped her a pound and I'd say she could be one they're wary of. She doesn't have the best of the draw but I expect her to be held up and some of the market rivals are drawn wide with her too.
The trainer's horses always do well here and I reckon she's got potential to improve past a mark of 69.
Posted at 1135 GMT on 16/11/20
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