Racecards
18:15 Dundalk (IRE)
Dundalk Stadium Racecourse Of The Year Handicap
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 5f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- €13,000 added
- Winner: €8,970
- 2nd: €2,080
- 3rd: €910
- 4th: €520
- Form 08-5110
- Age 5
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Joseph O'Brien
prominent, ridden entering straight, 3rd 2f out, soon no impression
- Form 1010-55
- Age 5
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer D Marnane
- Jockey Gary Halpin
always behind, ridden entering straight, no impression
- Form 22428-1
- Age 4
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer E Lynam
- Jockey P J Smullen
rear of mid-division on outer, ridden 2f out, soon no impression
- Form 0034-14
- Age 5
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer D Bunyan & G O'Leary
- Jockey K J Manning
dwelt and in rear, ridden entering straight, closer in 7th 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong
- Form 26051-2
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer M J Browne
- Jockey G J Phillips
led narrowly on inner, ridden and strongly pressed entering straight, headed 2f out, kept on in 2nd final furlong
- Form 7334-31
- Age 6
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer P Martin
- Jockey Chris Hayes
chased leaders, ridden entering straight, 5th 2f out, 3rd 1f out, no extra final furlong
- Form 1/10048-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer D English
- Jockey Rory Cleary
chased leaders early, ridden entering straight, soon weakened
- Form 0/57-211
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer J Feane
- Jockey R P Downey
chased leaders on inner, improved to lead 2f out, soon ridden clear, stayed on well under pressure final furlong
- Form 241581-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey N G McCullagh
prominent, close 2nd halfway, soon ridden and weakened
- Form 3162/55
- Age 9
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer M J Browne
- Jockey Wayne Lordan
chased leaders, ridden entering straight, 4th 2f out, soon no extra
In depth
Verdict
The assessor has been tough on Sylvan Mist, handing her a 9lb rise for last months comfortable victory over Queen Grace and Knock Stars with Grey Danube just behind along with Ability N Deliver. She'll need to make further progress to see off those behind with the runner-up, who was having her first start since August, taken to reverse the form. Knock Stars has since won though that was over an extra furlong. Strategic Heights was raised an astonishing 19lb for beating Catwilldo almost 3l a fortnight ago but it made little difference as he followed up last week. He has another 3lb to carry here but his trainer has put Robbie Downey up with a 7lb claim so he's likely to be in the frame again. The interesting one here is BAYTOWN KESTREL. Brian Ellison must think highly of her to be sending her to race against older horses at this time of the year but she's unbeaten in three runs on Polytrack in the UK and is taken to continue in the same vein. Caspian Prince has also been sent from England and he's been racing in much better company with recent victories at Kempton and Wolverhampton to his credit.
Formwatch
Caspian Prince (IRE) 9-1 (8-13) Chased winner until ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Even Stevens (9-4) at Wolverhampton 5f hcap (2) pol.
Harry Trotter (IRE) 9-2 (10-5) Held up behind leaders, ridden entering straight, closer in 4th 2f out, soon no extra, 5th of 8, 3l behind Knock Stars (9-4) at Dundalk 6f hcap pol.
Sylvan Mist (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Settled in rear, last on outer 2f out, soon ridden, closer in 5th on outer 1f out, headway to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Dundalk 5f hcap pol in Jan beating Queen Grace (9-10) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Grey Danube (IRE) 5-2fav (10-1) Chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Sylvan Mist (9-5) at Dundalk 5f hcap pol in Jan.
Queen Grace (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Led, ridden 2f out, strongly pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Sylvan Mist (9-5) at Dundalk 5f hcap pol in Jan.
Knock Stars (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride and towards rear, closer in 6th and switched to inner 2f out, ridden and headway into 3rd 1f out, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Dundalk 6f hcap pol beating Antiquus (9-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
All Ablaze (IRE) 7-2fav (9-6) Led, strongly pressed and headed early straight, soon no extra and dropped to rear 1f out, weakened, last of 8, 16l behind My Good Brother (8-5) at Dundalk 5f hcp pol in Jul.
Strategic Heights (IRE) 10-11fav (9-9) Prominent and tracked leader in 2nd, led 1 1/2f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 5f stks (0-75) pol beating Regal Power (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Baytown Kestrel 5-1 (9-7) Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at Lingfield 5f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) pol in Sep beating Ice Slice (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Ability N Delivery 5-1 (9-9) Led, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, no extra inside final furlong, last of 5, 7l behind Strategic Heights (9-9) at Dundalk 5f stks (0-75) pol.