17:00 Dundalk

Wednesday 12 May 2021

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk Handicap

Off time: 17:03 | Winning time: 59.46s

(4)

The Highway Rat²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A Oliver| OR: 72| C

9/2

Thrice-raced winner. Course winner. 1 win from 3 runs this year. 16/1, twelfth of 18 in handicap at Leopardstown (7f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Down in trip.

Form: 140

(6)

Twilight Man⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: A J Slattery⁽³⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 71

4/1

Below form seventeenth of 28 in handicap (25/1) at the Curragh (6f, good to soft) 9 days ago, having hopeless task from position. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 522-040

(11)

Betrayed⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Colin Keane| T: A McGuinness| OR: 68| C

7/2

Improved on AW this year, winning twice over 6f under today's rider Colin Keane. Likely to make a bold bid on hat-trick attempt.

Form: 757-211

(1)

Zen Silence^b,t1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S Foley| T: K P Cotter| OR: 67| CD

15/2

C&D maiden winner in February. Worth ignoring latest run in a big field back on turf and merits respect quickly returned to AW.

Form: 4-25210

(2)

Just Reminiscing²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: W J Lee| T: W McCreery| OR: 66

6/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 6/1, bit below form third of 18 in maiden at Tipperary (5f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Makes polytrack debut. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 559-3

(5)

Fine Distraction^b,t³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L F Roche| T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary| OR: 65

22/1

50/1, tenth of 15 in handicap at Cork (5f, good to soft) 39 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 6845-90

(8)

Olivia Valere¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 62

12/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Ninth of 15 in maiden at Cork (7f, good to firm, 40/1) 19 days ago. Down in trip. Makes handicap debut.

Form: 84-9

(10)

Amazing Emma¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Declan McDonogh| T: L McAteer| OR: 61| CD

10/1

C&D winner. Last of 14 in handicap (12/1) at Navan (6f, good to soft) 17 days ago. May be more at home back on AW.

Form: 2391-60

(9)

Zegos Surprise⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: M Mulvany| OR: 57| D

10/1

Winner at Naas (5f) in March. Below form eighth of 19 in handicap (17/2) at Naas (5f, soft) 4 days ago but claims on his second there prior to that.

Form: 010938

(3)

Woodstown⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Rory Cleary| T: J M Barrett| OR: 51

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Tongue strap on for 1st time, 20¼ lengths tenth of 11 to Zegos Surprise in handicap (16/1) at Naas (5f, heavy) 45 days ago.

Form: 969-0

(7)

Tassel Flower¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: M A Gallagher| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 48

50/1

Struggling for form at present, faring no better back on turf last twice.

Form: 248700

Forecasts

Betrayed (7/2), Twilight Man (4/1), The Highway Rat (9/2), Just Reminiscing (6/1), Zen Silence (15/2), Zegos Surprise (10/1), Amazing Emma (10/1), Olivia Valere (12/1), Fine Distraction (22/1), Woodstown (33/1), Tassel Flower (50/1)

ZEN SILENCE has a pretty solid record at this venue and might be able to bring to an end the winning run of Betrayed, who is expected to go close on his hat-trick attempt despite having the outside stall to contend with. Zegos Surprise is also on the shortlist.