20:00 Dundalk

Friday 8 February 2019

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Fundraise At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (45-65) (Div 1)

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 2m 34.75s

(8)

Important Message¹²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: D W O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 63| D

9/1

Well held in a number starts for a couple of yards since leaving Godolphin. First run since October and others preferred in this contest.

Form: 640880-

(13)

Madame Delavanti^b1⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: A McGuinness| OR: 61

9/1

Fourth of 12 beaten 8L on final start for Willie McCreery in November. Yard have a 34% win and place strike rate here with runners in early February since 2016. Can go well with interesting jockey engagement.

Form: 452544-

(4)

Sleepy Head^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Ben Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Flynn| OR: 59| BF| C

2/1

Dual course winner who has been running well in defeat in a number of starts here since November. Should be among the leading players.

Form: 34252-2

(10)

Magic Sea²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J A Heffernan| T: Mrs S Dawson| OR: 57

25/1

Well held in a number of maiden hurdle starts since December. Poor flat form does not bode well for geldings chances in this contest.

Form: 009000-

(1)

Power Drive²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Declan McDonogh| T: C O'Brien| OR: 56

6/1

Has run respectably on all five starts here without really threatening to win. Liable to find a couple stronger once again.

Form: 63245-8

(5)

Paula's Prayer⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: K J Manning| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 55

40/1

Nothing of note in four career starts including three dismal efforts on the Flat. Has yet to start at odds less than 50/1. Others preferred.

Form: 086-

(12)

Caronda²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Emma Louise Doyle⁽¹⁰⁾| T: T Doyle| OR: 54

8/1

Led briefly before headed inside the final furlong over C&D last month finishing behind Spinning Pearl. Strong place claims in this company.

Form: 087-3

(9)

Groovy Jazz⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: R Coakley⁽³⁾| T: L Comer| OR: 52

20/1

Not disgraced in a couple of starts here since the turn of the year but takes a significant step up in trip here. Has plenty to prove at present.

Form: 0080-69

(6)

Drakensberg^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A J Martin| OR: 49| D

5/1

Ninth of 14 beaten 10L on sole start here last month over 1m2½f. Not to be taken lightly and any market move would be worth noting.

Form: 10/850-9

(2)

New Vocation⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: W T Byrne⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Bolger| OR: 48

8/1

Yet to hit the frame in 11 career starts but most recent starts here have shown plenty of promise. Place claims if step up in trip suits.

Form: 030064-

(11)

Spinning Pearl²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Rory Cleary| T: A McCann| OR: 46| D

12/1

Without a win in six starts over C&D but has hit the frame on a couple of occasions including when second of 14 beaten 1½L last month. Needs to show more consistency but not completely ruled out.

Form: 85800-2

(7)

Markus Twain^t¹⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Nathan Crosse⁽⁷⁾| T: Michael G Cleary| OR: 45

66/1

Well held and no impression in two starts for current connections when sent off at 50/1 on each occasion. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 967/00-

(3)

The Perch^b1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-6| J: A C Persse⁽⁷⁾| T: P J McKenna| OR: 45

66/1

Eight-race maiden well held on stable debut last month following a move from the John O'Connell yard. First time blinkers unlikely to bring about the required amount of improvement needed to play a role here.

Form: 85080-0

Forecasts

Sleepy Head (2/1), Drakensberg (5/1), Power Drive (6/1), New Vocation (8/1), Caronda (8/1), Madame Delavanti (9/1), Important Message (9/1), Spinning Pearl (12/1), Groovy Jazz (20/1), Magic Sea (25/1), Paula's Prayer (40/1), The Perch (66/1), Markus Twain (66/1)

The manner of SLEEPY HEAD's second of 12 over C&D in November and her runner-up position last month puts the daughter of Rip Van Winkle firmly in the mix here to add to her two course victory's. In a competitive contest, Madame Delavanti on debut for the Adrian McGuinness yard and potential improver, Caronda appear more than capable of hitting the frame, while any market move for Drakensberg should be monitored.