Racecards
20:50 Dundalk (IRE)
Christmas Parties At Dundalk Handicap (55-75)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f 150y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- €8,001 added
- Winner: €5,520
- 2nd: €1,279
- 3rd: €560
- 4th: €320
- Form 4-6P494
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Gary Carroll
settled in rear of mid-division, 12th entering straight, travelled well and some headway into 9th 1f out, kept on
- Form 90260/0-
- Age 8
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 71
tracked leaders on outer, 4th halfway, no extra entering straight, weakened
- Form 541660
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey M C Hussey
tracked leader on inner in 2nd, ridden early straight, no extra under 2f out, weakened
- Form 692578
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer J C McConnell
- Jockey Colin Keane
slowly away and in rear, never a factor, kept on one pace in straight
- Form 300713
- Age 3
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Joseph O'Brien
mid-division, 9th halfway, ridden and kept on one pace in straight, not trouble leaders
- Form 121300
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer M Halford
- Jockey M M Monaghan
chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden early straight, no impression in 6th over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
- Form 4019
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer T Stack
- Jockey K J Manning
tracked leaders, 6th halfway, 5th entering straight, ridden in 4th 1f out, kept on under pressure and short of room well inside final furlong
- Form 137730
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer J Geoghegan
- Jockey N G McCullagh
mid-division on outer, 8th halfway, ridden and headway into 3rd 1f out, kept on under pressure without reaching winner
- Form 853232
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer K A Ryan
- Jockey P J Smullen
tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, headway into 3rd early straight, led 1f out, edged right and kept on under pressure inside final furlong
- Form 21-0408
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer A Heffernan
- Jockey S A Gray
tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden approaching straight, no extra 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 637419
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer C O'Brien
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
always towards rear
- Form 023025
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 66
led, strongly pressed and headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 075336
- Age 5
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 66
held up in rear, never a factor, kept on one pace in straight
- Form 5055/2-3
- Age 9
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer T Cooper
- Jockey Chris Hayes
rear of mid-division, 10th halfway, kept on one pace in straight without threatening
- Form 78484
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 61
In depth
Verdict
Flavia Tatiana is Aidan O'Brien's only runner at the meeting but she went up an astonishing 11lb for her C&D victory late last month and couldn't quite cope on a return visit a week later. Total Excitement, who was beaten 5l in the first of those races, is 12lb better off and should get much closer but Key Breeze, a consistent if moderate handicapper for Kevin Ryan, looks a few pounds high in the weights. Saint By Day ran well from a poor draw on his penultimate start but disappointed on his most recent visit and Norther Bay is much better known as a chaser these days. MELODIE D'AMOUR is still a maiden after 13 starts but she's shown on her first two runs on Polytrack that there's a race to be won with her and the assessor appears to have given her a chance to finally get off the mark.
Formwatch
Avanti Albert (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, 10th travelling well 2f out, ridden in 6th 1f out, kept on well final furlong, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Strandfield Lady (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f 3yo stks pol.
Norther Bay (FR) 12-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, 7th early, weakened approaching straight, 14th of 16, 19l behind Miss Eze (9-13) at Galway 7f hcp 55-80 gd in Jul '10.
Black N Brew (USA) 25-1 (8-7) Always towards rear, 17th of 18, 24l behind Rock Critic (9-11) at Galway 1m hcp 60-90 gd in Jul.
Blue Ridge Lane (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) Held up towards rear, some late headway into 8th 1f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 14, 9l behind Strandfield Lady (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f 3yo stks pol.
Flavia Tatiana (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, moderate 3rd halfway, improved to challenge 2f out, soon led, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Reggae Rock (9-13) at Dundalk 1m 3f Handicap (55-80) (3yo+) pol.
Leaves You Baby (IRE) 11-2 (8-13) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 2f out, soon no extra and weakened, 10th of 14, 15l behind Strandfield Lady (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 4f 3yo stks pol.
Pivotal Rock (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, driven along entering straight, kept on one pace, 9th of 15, 9l behind Winning Impact (9-4) at Roscommon 7f hcp 50-85 sft in Sep.
Prince Of Fashion (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Prominent, disputed halfway, ridden and weakened over 3f out, 21st of 22, 36l behind Tupelo Honey (9-4) at Navan 1m 2f hcp 55-80 sft in Oct.
Key Breeze 7-2 (9-5) Dwelt, mid-division, headway on outer over 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, hd behind Tiger Webb (9-6) at Redcar 1m 2f clm stks (6) gd.
Slade (IRE) 11-1 (9-10) Always behind, 8th of 9, 17l behind Casbah Rock (10-0) at Navan 1m 2f hcp 50-80 gf in Jun.
Mount Abora (IRE) 11-2 (9-13) Settled towards rear, ridden early straight, no extra from 1 1/2f out, 9th of 14, 5l behind Ancient Sands (9-8) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 50-70 pol in Oct.
Melodie D'Amour (IRE) 7-2fav (10-0) Led, headed after 4f, ridden to lead again over 2f out, headed under 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 5l behind Shake The Bucket (9-4) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 47-70 pol in Oct.
Saint By Day (IRE) 4-1fav (10-0) Mid-division, went 5th 2f out, soon ridden and no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 14, 9l behind Acushladear (9-10) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 50-70 pol in Oct.
Total Excitement (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, headway entering straight, 4th 2f out, ridden in 3rd over 1f out, no impression leaders, kept on same pace, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Flavia Tatiana (9-3) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 47-70 pol in Oct.
Alubari 8-1 (9-9) Keen tracked leader, led 8f out, ridden and headed 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 10, 20l behind Transfer (8-5) at Haydock 1m 4f app hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Jun.
Gort Na Mona (USA) 8-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden 3f out, no extra over 2f out, 11th of 22, 10l behind Tupelo Honey (9-4) at Navan 1m 2f hcp 55-80 sft in Oct.
The Fox Tully (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Mid-division, headway into 6th 4f out, ridden in 5th 2f out, 4th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Mutasareb (8-9) at Dundalk 1m 4f app hcp 47-65 pol.