Dundalk’s all-weather card may well play host to some exciting types on Friday evening. With Lottoland, you can back your selections in every race, and Joe Napier has provided his picks for you to follow throughout.
4.55 Dundalk
One who is very interesting in here considering he has a string of 0s next to his name of late is SENOR CARROTS. It is a bit of an unknown whether he will be fully fit and firing after a 299-day layoff, but the last time he ran on the all-weather, he rousted his field by 3½ lengths or more over 5f at this venue. That was this time last year in first-time cheekpieces, which return here and all of his disappointments since have been on turf off much higher marks, He comes back here off a rating just 2lb higher than his winning one from a year ago and any early prices of an each-way nature could get snatched up if he is a gamble.
5.30 Dundalk
The lightest-raced horse in the field may well deliver in the second race as ROYALCORRESPONDENT could be a much better horse than this level of handicap. He is yet to race on the artificial surface here, but was fourth in a pair of decent maidens last time out. Though all of his half siblings have ended up excelling beyond a mile, all of them were by more stamina positive sires, while he is a son of the speedy Blue Point. This 6f trip should therefore suit and he could be on the verge of a big step up if he has matured from two to three.
6.00 Dundalk
This should end up being an informative maiden. Both Apricot Ice and School Of Law have shown decent levels of form so far, but the suspicion is that AIR COMMANDER can improve as a three-year-old. He is the only one of his four half-siblings not to win as a juvenile, but he was second on debut, and possibly hated the ground when disappointing on his second start. Two of his half-sisters were runner-up at Group 1 level and though he will eventually want further than 7f, he has Ryan Moore coming over to take up the ride.
6.30 Dundalk
A wide-open betting heat. Last-time-out winners Bungle Inthedesert and Feature This will likely give decent accounts to back up those successes, but ADARE BEAUTY, who has been running over hurdles, gave a very good account at this venue at the end of March wearing the retained cheekpieces. Her mark of 51 is surmountable on that evidence and she also gets Jack Cleary’s 4lb claim to help her here.
7.00 Dundalk
Given how much he improved from his prior form on handicap debut, it can be expected that DAONETHATGOTAWAY is still fairly enough treated off a 3lb higher mark than when second at this track ten days ago. His maiden efforts read 9000 before a last of 16 on his turf handicap debut at Gowran Park, but having been eased 10lb for that first handicap run, he was supported into 9/2 when beaten only half-a-length latest and he may take some stopping if in similar form.
7.30 Dundalk
Mother Nature is impeccably-bred, but though she may become a champion, it is far from certain she will show her true colours first time out given her dam, a full sister to Oaks winners Minding and Tuesday, was last of 14 on debut, while even those Classic-winning relatives were beaten on their first starts. HIGHER LEAVES is therefore preferred having gained crucial racecourse experience. The step up in trip should suit, and she has already made the frame at Leopardstown, finishing only narrowly behind a filly rated 87.
8.00 Dundalk
Moondharrig came well clear with one other last time, but being given a 7lb rise in defeat is harsh, regardless of the situation and EMERIC, who avoids any punishment for finishing runner-up over course and distance on Gold Cup Friday, is the selection instead. That second-placed effort made it three places in a row over track and trip, though he is still yet to rise in the weights and is almost certain to give punters a serious run for their money once again.
8.30 Dundalk
Tyson Fury and Vischio are two seven-year-olds with plenty of decent racing in them but the younger brigade of Hans Andersen and SHAMWARI are preferred, with the latter just about the pick. He has previous all-weather form, albeit in maiden company, but has also been a runner-up at Listed level at this trip, which makes him a narrowly more proven quantity than Aidan O’Brien’s charge, who is nevertheless feared given his best would surely be enough to win this.
Joe Napier’s Dundalk tips for Friday, 5th April
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