16:30 Dundalk

Friday 4 February 2022

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

BetVictor Casino Handicap

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 2m 34.82s

(7)

Dalvey^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Ewing⁽⁵⁾| T: J McAuley| OR: 90| C

12/1

Course winner in November and December. 13/2 and back up markedly in trip, seventh of 10 in handicap at this course (16f) 16 days ago, weakening final 1f. Back down in trip.

Form: 47121-7

(10)

Dare To Flare⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: C Horgan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 78| C

11/1

Unreliable type. At least as good as ever when winning 14-runner handicap at this course (10.7f, 16/1) 7 days ago, leading well inside final 1f. 5 lb rise to deal with but can feature.

Form: 0053-61

(9)

Dances With Stars^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Hugh Horgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 76| BF| CD

9/4

C&D winner in November. Creditable fifth of 10 in handicap at this course (16f, 9/4) 16 days ago, having to pick way through. Leading claims back down in trip.

Form: 2/2213-5

(11)

No Trouble^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J A Heffernan| T: J C McConnell| OR: 76| CD

8/1

Dual C&D winner last year. Only fourteenth of 18 in novice hurdle (50/1) at Leopardstown (16f, soft) 40 days ago. Up 8 lb but should bounce back switched back to the level.

Form: 122221-

(6)

Three Comets^b¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: M A Gallagher| T: L Comer| OR: 76

50/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2018. 80/1, never seriously figured when seventh of 11 in minor event at the Curragh (12f, heavy), missing break. Off 101 days. Makes polytrack debut.

Form: 30/0067-

(4)

Top Line Tommy^t1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Coen| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 73| BF| CD

16/1

C&D winner this time last year. 15/2, creditable third of 7 in minor event chase at Tramore (15.4f, heavy) 34 days ago, none too fluent. Tongue strap on 1st time. May feature on return to the Flat.

Form: 6/16432-

(8)

Dartan^b1,t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: M J Smith| OR: 72| D

9/2

9/1, seventh of 17 in novice hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, soft) 38 days ago. Fair on the Flat, poor on last outing (for Markus Klug last April). Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 173/234-

(5)

Harriet's Force²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Leonard| T: K H Clarke| OR: 71| C

10/1

Course winner. Thirty two runs since last win in 2018. Soon back to form when fifth of 13 in handicap at this C&D (14/1) 21 days ago. Yet to try this far but in the mix provided she stays.

Form: 69428-5

(2)

Scott Lang¹⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Chris Hayes| T: A Murray| OR: 68

11/2

28/1, below form eighth of 15 in handicap at Galway (12.4f, good to soft). Off 6 months. Handicapper given him a chance so would be folly to dismiss after only six starts.

Form: 226308-

(1)

Drakensberg^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: N G McCullagh| T: A J Martin| OR: 67| CD

18/1

3-time C&D winner. Tenth of 13 in handicap (40/1) at this C&D 21 days ago. Has returned out of sorts but is lurking on a good mark again

Form: 17000-0

(3)

Angel In The Sky^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Sean Davis| T: L Comer| OR: 62| CD

16/1

Bounced back to form when winning 14-runner handicap (22/1) at this C&D 14 days ago, edging ahead over 1f out and always holding on. Up 6 lb and not an obvious type to follow up.

Form: 91206-1

Forecasts

Dances With Stars (9/4), Dartan (9/2), Scott Lang (11/2), No Trouble (8/1), Harriet's Force (10/1), Dare To Flare (11/1), Dalvey (12/1), Top Line Tommy (16/1), Angel In The Sky (16/1), Drakensberg (18/1), Three Comets (50/1)

A host in with chances but the vote goes to DANCES WITH STARS, who ran creditably when fifth on his first try at 2m here just over a fortnight ago. Dropped back in trip here, Joseph O'Brien's charge can notch C&D victory number 2. This trip is a bit of an unknown for Harriet's Force but she's feared most, ahead of Top Line Tommy and Dare To Flare.