Racecards
19:05 Dundalk (IRE)
Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap (45-65)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- €9,000 added
- Winner: €5,535
- 2nd: €1,710
- 3rd: €811
- 4th: €360
- Form 795768
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer J R Finn
- Jockey J A Heffernan
held up in rear, ridden 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, kept on well close home
- Form 611-244
- Age 5
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer Joseph Murray
- Jockey P J Smullen
mid-division, ridden into 6th 2f out, stayed on into 4th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, kept on one pace
- Form 689041
- Age 4
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer G Donnelly
- Jockey D W O'Connor
prominent early, soon chased leader, 2nd halfway, ridden to challenge under 2f out, disputed 1 1/2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, headed last 50 yards
- Form 870701
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer P D Deegan
- Jockey R P Whelan
soon led, ridden 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 002771
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 56
- Trainer N Madden
- Jockey T P Madden
prominent early, soon mid-division, ridden 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace
- Form 60-060
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer J J Murphy
- Jockey C T Keane
held up towards rear, ridden into 9th 1 1/2f out, stayed on to challenge inside final furlong, led last 50 yards and kept on well
- Form 900222
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 50
- Trainer P J Flynn
- Jockey G P Halpin
disputed early, soon chased leader, 3rd halfway, ridden to challenge 2f out, disputed 1 1/2f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, headed last 50 yards
- Form 383680
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 45
held up towards rear, ridden into 8th 1 1/2f out, stayed on to challenge inside final furlong, 2nd close home
- Form 0-000
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 45
chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden 3f out, soon no extra and weakened
- Form 9-94002
- Age 7
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer E O'Connell
- Jockey M C Hussey
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and close up 2f out, under pressure in 5th 1 1/2f out, no extra over 1f out
- Form 570-306
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer T Cleary
- Jockey R P Cleary
mid-division, ridden and no extra over 3f out
- Form 005007
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer M C Connell
- Jockey N G McCullagh
settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, ridden into 4th 1 1/2f out, no extra over 1f out
- Form 443050
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer R O'Sullivan
- Jockey S Foley
soon towards rear, ridden and progress under 2f out, 7th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong and kept on one pace
- Form 6-00070
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 45
- Form 00-0955
- Age 11
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 45
Verdict
Carrigeen Prince was having only his second start on the surface when battling to victory last month and a 4lb rise looks fair though Three Majors appears to have been let in lightly with just 1lb extra for his victory over subsequent winner Shabra Emperor in September and looks certain to make a bold bid in a tight handicap. Against The Breeze was making her all-weather debut and dropping back dramatically in distance when beating the consistent Twistsandturns and the fast-finishing Easy Boy last month. Boots Madden's grey has only been raised 3lb so should confirm the form with the runner-up though the third looks a danger. ROTER BARON could be the best option in an open contest. He ran his best race for a very long time when just failing to catch Reddot Express over the track and trip a month ago and connections must be delighted to see him dropped 4lb in the ratings.
Formwatch
U S Navy Seal (USA) 25-1 (9-7) Always in rear, last of 8, 19 1/2l behind Dark Wonder (9-8) at Yarmouth 7f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Captain Midnight (IRE) 10-1 (9-5) Broke well, tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, progress to lead under 2f out, soon ridden and headed 1f out, under pressure and no impression inside final furlong, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Dark Alliance (10-3) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
Carrigeen Prince (IRE) 7-1 (9-7) Mid-division, ridden in 9th 2f out, went 4th 1f out, headway to lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct beating Voyageofdiscovery (10-0) by 1l, 14 ran.
Three Majors (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, closer in 2nd under 2f out and ridden to challenge 1f out, led over 100 yards out, kept on well under pressure, won at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Sep beating Shabra Emperor (9-13) by nk, 14 ran.
Against The Breeze (IRE) 16-1 (9-2) Rear of mid-division, 10th halfway, progress 2f out and ridden in 4th 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong to lead close home, won at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct beating Twistsandturns (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Paved With Gold (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Always behind, ridden and no impression from 3f out, last of 10, 37l behind Masonbrook Lady (9-2) at Wexford 1m 3f hcp Yielding in May.
Twistsandturns (IRE) 7-1 (9-2) Led early, tracked leaders and 3rd halfway, led again 2f out and ridden over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Against The Breeze (9-2) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Cosmic Symbol (IRE) 11-2fav (9-3) Mid-division, ridden in 8th and no impression 2f out, kept on one pace, 10th of 16, 21 3/4l behind Grande Waltz (8-11) at Limerick 1m 3f hcp sft in Oct.
Inis Art (IRE) 40-1 (8-12) In rear, 14th halfway, ridden over 2f out, no extra over 1f out, eased final 150 yards, 13th of 16, 21l behind William Ashford (9-0) at Gowran Park 1m hcp sft in Sep.
Roter Baron (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden into 3rd 2f out, closer 1f out, kept on to press winner inside final furlong, no extra in 2nd close home, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Reddot Express (9-10) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Bracklin Princess (IRE) 14-1 (8-4) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, progress into 9th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 6th of 16, 8 3/4l behind Dont Quit (8-8) at Gowran Park 1m hcp Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Pemberton Snow (IRE) 50-1 (8-5) In rear and off pace early, pushed along entering straight, soon ridden, went moderate 8th 1f out, no impression, 7th of 14, 6 1/4l behind Carrigeen Prince (9-7) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Bad Penny (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along in 10th halfway, no extra 2f out, weakened, 10th of 11, 31l behind Kubali (10-0) at Killarney 1m hcp gf in Aug.
Matriarch (IRE) 11-4fav (8-9) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge 1 1/2f out, narrow lead over 1f out, narrowly headed final 200 yards, no extra in 3rd closing stages and 4th close home, 4th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Veil Of Stars (8-9) at Dundalk 7f mdn pol in Oct.
Easy Boy (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) Held up towards rear, 12th halfway, some progress on outer under 2f out and ridden in 7th 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Against The Breeze (9-2) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Trenchtown Rock (IRE) 20-1 (8-5) Rear of mid-division, 8th 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, 10th of 14, 8l behind Veil Of Stars (9-11) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Billyford (IRE) 8-1 (8-9) Mid-division, ridden in 7th 2f out, no impression, 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Carrigeen Prince (9-7) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.