15:55 Dundalk

Friday 8 January 2021

All15:5516:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Happy New Year From Dundalk Stadium Handicap

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 59.07s

(4)

Primo Uomo^t¹⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: D N Curran⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G O'Leary| OR: 88| CD

9/1

C&D winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2018. Hooded for 1st time, too free when eighth of 9 in handicap at the Curragh (5f, good to soft, 14/1), weakening over 1f out. Off 166 days.

Form: 6/82698-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(9)

Dandy Spirit³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: A J Farragher⁽⁷⁾| T: K P Cotter| OR: 83| CD

11/8

Two wins from 5 runs last year. 6/5, career best when winning 13-runner handicap at this C&D 35 days ago, keeping on well. Looks competitive on form and is respected in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 3/00911-

(2)

Ecclesiastical⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: T G McCourt| OR: 76| D

14/1

Winner at Navan in September. Tongue strap on for 1st time, took a step back in the right direction when ninth of 14 in handicap (9/1) at Fairyhouse (6f, soft). Off 99 days.

Form: 220109-

(3)

Upstate New York¹⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Robbie Colgan| T: D English| OR: 75

66/1

Ran poorly when eighth of 11 in maiden (12/1) at Wolverhampton (6.1f). Off 166 days. Makes polytrack debut. First run for yard after leaving Richard Fahey. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 43520/8-

(11)

Musharrif^t⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: D W O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: J McAuley| OR: 73| D

12/1

Creditable second of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f, 10/1) 47 days ago. Makes polytrack debut. First run for yard after leaving Declan Carroll. Heading back in the right direction recently.

Form: 641682-

(1)

Socratic²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Gary Halpin| T: T Gibney| OR: 70

50/1

Shaped as if amiss on first run since leaving A. Fabre when eleventh of 12 in maiden (25/1) at this course (8f) on IRE debut 21 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 3346/0-

(6)

Musical Rue^v³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: J Cleary⁽¹⁰⁾| T: W McCreery| OR: 67| D

33/1

Followed a below-par effort with an even worse one when 11¼ lengths twelfth of 13 to Dandy Spirit in handicap at this C&D (33/1) 35 days ago.

Form: 939000-

(7)

Red Cymbal^b,t⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: D E Sheehy⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 66| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2020. Run best excused when eleventh of 14 in handicap (11/2) at this C&D 53 days ago, missing break. Should bounce back quickly and has good chance on form.

Form: 442220-

(5)

That's Not Me^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Siobhan Rutledge⁽⁷⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 65| C

11/1

Course winner. Latest win at Fairyhouse in September. Creditable sixth of 14 in handicap (28/1) at this course (7f) 21 days ago. Back down in trip. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 559166-

(10)

Maggie Thunder^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Andrew Slattery⁽³⁾| T: P J F Hassett| OR: 63| CD

9/2

C&D winner here in October. 7/1, wasn't disgraced forcing a sound pace when fifth of 14 in handicap at this course (6f) 28 days ago, doing too much too soon.

Form: 412275-

(8)

Nightflight⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: Jamie Powell⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D Wall| OR: 45

40/1

Remains a maiden after 20 Flat runs. Got back on track after 11 months off when 4 lengths fifth of 12 to Dandy Spirit in handicap at this C&D (80/1) 42 days ago, never nearer.

Form: 005/005-

Forecasts

Dandy Spirit (11/8), Maggie Thunder (9/2), Red Cymbal (5/1), Primo Uomo (9/1), That's Not Me (11/1), Musharrif (12/1), Ecclesiastical (14/1), Musical Rue (33/1), Nightflight (40/1), Socratic (50/1), Upstate New York (66/1)

RED CYMBAL is the type to bounce back quickly, and with his last run easily excused, is taken to build on his 3 recent runner-up efforts and get back to winning ways for the first time since landing this contest last year. Dandy Spirit is feared most as he bids for a quick-fire C&D hat-trick, with Maggie Thunder and Ecclesiastical both holding solid each-way claims.