19:00 Dundalk

Friday 22 December 2017

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Maiden

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 2m 34.29s

(8)

Bobeska^h,t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ross Coakley⁽³⁾| T: K F O'Donnell| OR: 67

10/1

Best of three runs at this track saw him finish second of 14 to an odds-on shot over this distance. A reproduction of that effort would see him firmly in the mix.

Form: 0028

(1)

Dasmyhoss⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Colin Keane| T: R P McNamara| OR: 65

7/2

Bumper winner who was behind Bobeska over C&D two starts ago. Has a 5lb pull for a beating of over 8L which does not look enough.

Form: 857

(11)

Duke Of Waspington³⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: K K Hennessy⁽⁵⁾| T: J A Stack

25/1

Duke Of Marmalade gelding who fetched €25,000 as a yearling. Well beaten on only outing in a bumper and has plenty to prove on return from almost a year off.

Form:

(2)

Golden Poet²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Lee| T: A McNamara

11/1

Bumper winner who is 0-9 over hurdles. Worth a try on the level and the betting market will probably be the best guide to his chances.

Form:

(13)

Phil The Flyer^t¹³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-9| J: Rachael Blackmore⁽³⁾| T: R Hackett

20/1

Winner of four hurdles whose last jumps outing was at Galway in August. This is presumably a warm-up for a return to the National Hunt scene.

Form:

(14)

Timmone¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: S M Crosse⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Slattery

40/1

Winning hurdler whose only outing on the Flat saw him finish well behind Bobeska and Duke Of Waspington over C&D. Needs to take a big step forward to turn the tables.

Form: 8

(10)

Voluptueux⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: C P Hoban| T: Kevin McDonagh

66/1

Normally seen over hurdles, but had a spin on the Flat when in rear in a claimer at this track when last seen. Hard to make a case for on that evidence and will be back over hurdles sooner rather than later.

Form: 9/0

(9)

Zaofu^h1⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: S Corby⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien

7/1

Little show on debut in a bumper, but much better when fifth of 14 in a 1m2½f maiden at this venue. Normal improvement could see him in the shake-up in a first-time hood.

Form: 5

(3)

Saga Altais¹⁰⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: A Mullins| OR: 68

9/2

Has hit the frame only once in six starts, but ran a creditable race to finish sixth of 16 in a 1m1½f Gowran Park maiden following a fourth-month lay-off. Step up in trip should suit and has positive jockey booking.

Form: 43-9456

(5)

The Thruster^b1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: A Oliver

13/2

Gelded son of Fastnet Rock who was purchased for 16,000 gns as a yearling. Finished behind Bobeska, but ahead of three of these rivals, when fourth on debut over C&D. Blinkered for the first time, he is an interesting contender.

Form: 4

(12)

Elusive Baroness⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D P Linehan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Keatley

40/1

Elusive Pimpernel filly out of a Linamix mare. Finished 11th of 14 in a 7f maiden at this track on debut and hopes of improvement are pinned on a marked step up in trip.

Form: 0

(6)

Allora Yeats^p1,t1⁹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Leigh Roche| T: Miss S J Harty

50/1

By Yeats out of a Shernazar mare, she is related to multiple winners Montaly and Question Of Faith. No show on debut at Galway and is fitted with cheekpieces and a tongue tie.

Form: 7

(7)

Arctic Sofia¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: G J Power

66/1

Well beaten on both starts, including when beaten a long way behind Bobeska over C&D. Plenty to find and is best watched.

Form: 00

(4)

Kirk's Dancer^p⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Smullen| T: M Halford| OR: 70

3/1

Has shown signs of ability on all four starts. Wore cheekpieces for the first time when 9th of 14 in her first handicap over 1m2½f and reverts to maiden company over the longest trip she has attempted.

Form: 3-489

Forecasts

Kirk's Dancer (3/1), Dasmyhoss (7/2), Saga Altais (9/2), The Thruster (13/2), Zaofu (7/1), Bobeska (10/1), Golden Poet (11/1), Phil The Flyer (20/1), Duke Of Waspington (25/1), Timmone (40/1), Elusive Baroness (40/1), Allora Yeats (50/1), Arctic Sofia (66/1), Voluptueux (66/1)

Bobeska is the obvious starting point given he finished in front of several of these rivals last time, but he is not bombproof by any means and a chance is taken with ZAOFU, who shaped well in a maiden last time and is open to improvement in a hood. Saga Altais is an obvious danger, while The Thruster has each-way prospects after a pleasing debut.