There won’t be any UK racing until at least next week, after confirmed cases of equine influenza were found in horses in training. Meetings which should have taken place in Kempton, Bangor, Southwell and Newcastle are therefore abandoned.
There’s still Irish racing happening, though, and Friday 8th February will see the usual evening fare at Dundalk, where we have tips for every race. There will also be racing in Jebel Ali, but as we don’t get good data for international runners, we don’t have enough ratings on which to base selections in UAE.
Today’s Irish Racing Tips
Dundalk
An 8 race card of all weather flat racing under lights will be taking place at Dundalk. We’ve extended tips for every race, below. This will be screened in the UK on Racing TV.
Official Going is Standard. It is expected to rain.
5:00 666 Roulette @ Ace Casino Kildare Town Claiming Race (4yo+) 7f
- Selection: Yuften (GB)
- Jockey: Dean Curran (10)
- Trainer: John James Feane
- Early Price: 10/11 (bet365)
Seems an uninspired choice on paper, but this likely odds-on favourite has a little in hand on this field on the stopwatch. If you’d like an each-way selection, have a look at Art Of Unity (GB) – especially with extra places bookmakers – which is 33/1 at the time of publication.
5:30 Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Apprentice Handicap (4yo+) 7f
- Selection: My Good Brother (IRE)
- Jockey: Danny Sheehy
- Trainer: T G McCourt
- Early Price: 33/1 (bet365)
An opportunity for an each-way play, look for extra places, but this one is a live contender at this long price. Last time out, this one finished 8th over 6f at this course, but was not beaten a long way in a blanket finish. Seems to enjoy this surface more than turf of late, and the performance on the beach at Laytown over 6f does suggest that this extra furlong is not out of the realms of possibility. Hasn’t tried 7f for some time, and can be forgiven one of those efforts when left in the stalls. If having a little more stamina with age (which happens) could easily make the frame, at an attractive price.
6:00 STAGIT.ie / HENIT.ie Race (3yo) 7f
- Selection: Colfer Me (IRE) NAP
- Jockey: Donnacha O’Brien
- Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
- Early Price: 10/11 (bet365)
Arguably the bet of the day, this one looks to have plenty in hand on today’s rivals, and assuming things go to plan here over 7f, should be adding to the victory on this course last time out on 25 Jan (that time was 1 mile).
6:30 Dundalkstadium.com Handicap (4yo+) 1m
- Selection: The Game Of Life (GB)
- Jockey: Seamie Heffernan
- Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien
- Early Price: 6/4 (bet365)
We expect Joseph O’Brien to land a quickfire double with The Game of Life looking to repeat debut success back over a mile (had finished 2nd over 7f here last time out).
7:00 Hydroscand Ireland Maiden (3yo+) 6f
- Selection: Cityman (GB)
- Jockey: Ben Coen
- Trainer: Andrew Slattery
- Early Price: 7/2 (bet365)
Cityman is the selection here by only the narrowest of margins. Next Best, at a likely short price, is Royal Court (IRE) who has been knocking on the door for that man JP O’Brien recently. The selection is expected to just get the better today, but those two are fully expected to make up the first two places – barring improvement from an unexposed field.
For those looking for each-way value here, based on what we’ve seen on track to date, could do worse than looking at extra places and Libras Power (IRE) which is trading around 12/1 at the time of posting.
7:30 “Bet 5Euros Get 30Euros For All New Customers At BetVictor” Race (4yo+) 2m
- Selection: Kerosin (GER)
- Jockey: Donagh O’Connor(5)
- Trainer: Denis Gerard Hogan
- Early Price: 10/3 (bet365)
Denis Hogan’s Kerosin is our next best bet of the evening. Expect this one to make the frame today; our figures show a comfortable win here at today’s weights.
8:00 Fundraise At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (Div I) (4yo+ 45-65) 1m4f
- Selection: Important Message (GB)
- Jockey: Donagh O’Connor(5)
- Trainer: Denis Gerard Hogan
- Early Price: 10/1 (bet365)
We think Denis Hogan might land a double tonight, though this is a more open race than the 7.30. Important Message marks a solid each-way chance for the same connections at an early 10/1. Watch out for New Vocation (IRE) and Sleepy Head (IRE) who will likely both start with single figure prices, and have the quality to take this race too. The former, New Vocation (IRE), along with Magic Sea (IRE), and the selection, could be value each-way plays, though. As ever, try to take extra places.
8:30 Fundraise At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (Div II) (4yo+ 45-65) 1m4f
- Selection: Chaparral Dream (IRE)
- Jockey: Colin Keane
- Trainer: Adrian McGuinness
- Early Price: 2/1 (bet365)
We expect the night to end with a win for favourite backers, though at 2/1, the price is short enough, and this is probably the closest division on paper. If you’re looking for more value, try Sharjah (IRE) and Oromo (IRE) each way, and also remember that Trump Card (IRE) easily has the talent to lift this wide-open race.