Racecards
20:30 Dundalk (IRE)
Christmas Parties at Dundalk Apprentice Handicap (50-75)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- €8,500 added
- Winner: €5,865
- 2nd: €1,361
- 3rd: €596
- 4th: €340
- Form 1-26000
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 75
towards rear, not clear run on inner 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace
- Form 5-22400
- Age 4
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr E D Linehan
close up in 2nd, led early straight, kept on under pressure from 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed close home, all out
- Form 627070
- Age 5
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer Ms J Morgan
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
prominent, 3rd halfway, lost place early straight, one pace
- Form 963750
- Age 6
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer F Ennis
- Jockey Martin Harley
mid-division, 7th halfway, 6th before straight, effort 2f out, one pace
- Form 830-564
- Age 7
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 70
led, ridden and headed early straight, soon weakened
- Form 42709-6
- Age 7
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Joseph O'Brien
held up towards rear, no impression straight, bridle broke
- Form 901048
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 69
mid-division on outer, 8th 4f out, headway early straight, 3rd and challenged 1f out, kept on
- Form 1376B6
- Age 7
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer G Keane
- Jockey Colin Keane
held up in touch, 9th halfway, some progress on inner early straight, 5th and kept on inside final furlong
- Form 059-600
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer P J Rothwell
- Jockey S M Levey
prominent, 4th halfway, effort entering straight, soon no extra
- Form 57030
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer Ms J Morgan
- Jockey K T O'Neill
mid-division, no impression straight
- Form 230001
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 68
held up towards rear, progress on outer early straight, 7th over 1f out, kept on
- Form 303920
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer T G McCourt
- Jockey B J Cooper
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 4th under 2f out, 2nd and challenged entering final furlong, kept on under pressure
- Form 972423
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer M J Grassick
- Jockey B A Curtis
held up towards rear, 13th into straight, headway into 4th 1f out, ran on well closing stages, just failed
- Form 184000
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey Ronan Whelan
mid-division, 8th approaching halfway, weakened straight
- Form 684271
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 65
In depth
Verdict
Diamond Shower has scored over timber since his last run on the Flat at Galway and is in good shape as he makes his AW debut. Munnings has also been in action over timber and has dropped to a fair mark on the level while Little Bug bounced back to winning ways two weeks ago and a 5lb rise shouldn't be enough to prevent another big run. KING OF ARAN hasn't taken to hurdling but his form when a close third to Denny Crane over the C&D last month bears the closest scrutiny and Michael Grassick's three-year-old can revert back to the Flat with his first success on the surface.
Formwatch
Saint By Day (IRE) 18-1 (8-13) Always behind, last of 14, 15l behind Dahindar (10-0) at Dundalk 1m hcp 60-85 pol in Oct.
Dazzle Dancer (IRE) 20-1 (8-4) Mid-division, headway in 9th 5f out, ridden in 6th 3f out, soon no extra and weakened, 16th of 21, 48l behind What A Charm (9-2) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Oct.
Gargano (IRE) 14-1 (9-6) Led, ridden and headed over 1 1/2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 9l behind Denny Crane (9-6) at Dundalk 1m 4f 3yo stks pol.
Salazaar (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Mid-division best, 10th of 21, 7l behind Waydownsouth (9-1) at Curragh 1m app hcp 50-85 in Oct.
Diamond Shower (USA) 20-1 (9-11) Led, strongly pressed and disputed 4f out, ridden in lead over 2f out, kept on under pressure, disputed entering straight, headed inside final 100 yards and no extra, 4th of 18, 2l behind Dusty Trail (9-6) at Galway 1m 4f stks gf in Jul.
Munnings (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Raced towards rear in 6th, ridden from 3f out, beaten when short of room 2f out, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 6th of 8, 21l behind Solo Performer (9-5) at Down Royal 1m 2f hcp 50-80 fm in Jun.
Gracchus (USA) 12-1 (9-3) Chased leaders on far side, 5th halfway, 7th under pressure 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 8th of 27, 7l behind Ultra Cool (9-7) at Curragh 7f hcp 50-75 in Oct.
Lynott (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Dwelt, towards rear, 10th halfway, ridden 2f out, 8th 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 14, 6l behind Force Of Habit (9-9) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 50-70 pol in Oct.
Ma Ani (USA) 33-1 (9-7) Slowly away and always behind, last of 14, 15l behind Boynagh Joy (9-12) at Dundalk 1m app hcp 60-76 pol.
A Hit Is A Hit (FR) 16-1 (8-6) Mid-division, moderate 8th and ridden before straight, no impression and kept on same pace from over 2f out, 11th of 18, 11l behind Table Mountain (9-2) at Navan 1m 5f hcp 60-90 gd in Oct.
Little Bug (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, switched to outer early straight, improved into 4th under 1 1/2f out, 2nd and challenged final furlong, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 47-65 pol beating Sports Casual (8-12) by hd, 14 ran.
Spring Hawk (IRE) 6-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden in 6th 2f out, no extra over 1f out, weakened, 12th of 14, 13l behind Force Of Habit (9-9) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 50-70 pol in Oct.
King Of Aran (IRE) 7-2 (9-11) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, progress entering straight, led briefly 2f out, soon strongly pressed and joined, headed 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Denny Crane (9-11) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 50-70 pol in Oct.
Gipsy Countess (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Rear of mid-division, no impression from 3f out, 18th of 22, 13l behind Leah Claire (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m 4f hcp 55-80 gf in Oct.
Golden Nugget (IRE) 16-1 (8-4) Held up, 10th 2 1/2f out, 7th approaching straight, ran on well inside final furlong, nearest at finish, 2nd of 16, nk behind Walter De La Mare (8-5) at Sligo 1m 2f hcp 60-90 in Sep.
Sovento (GER) 9-1 (9-3) Held up well in rear, headway well over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (0-65) (6) pol in Oct beating Not In The Clock (9-5) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Ned Of The Hill (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden in 13th 2f out, kept on one pace, 10th of 17, 8l behind Our Nana Rose (8-10) at Navan 1m 3yo hcp 50-80 in Oct '09.