Racecards
18:40 Dundalk (IRE)
Book Your Christmas Party At Dundalk Handicap
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- €12,000 added
- Winner: €7,392
- 2nd: €2,292
- 3rd: €1,092
- 4th: €493
- Form 1947-84
- Age 4
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer M Halford
- Jockey P J Smullen
dwelt, soon mid-division, pushed along in 6th 2f out, ridden between horses in 3rd 1f out, soon 2nd, stayed on well, just failed
- Form 210008
- Age 4
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer S Lavery
- Jockey R P Whelan
made all, ridden 2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, stayed on well, all out at line
- Form 315382
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer C O'Dwyer
- Jockey K J Manning
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden in 2nd 2f out, 2nd 1f out, no extra in 3rd inside final furlong, kept on same pace
- Form 009090
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer D English
- Jockey R P Cleary
towards rear, short of room 2f out, soon switched right and pushed along, ridden in 9th 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, went 4th near line, never nearer
- Form 665253
- Age 3
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer J Feane
- Jockey G P Halpin
towards rear, pushed along 2f out, short of room briefly over 1f out, no extra final furlong
Pushaq (IRE)
41- Form 120320
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer A McCann
- Jockey C J McGovern
dwelt, rear of mid-division, ridden 2f out, kept on without threatening final furlong
- Form 776369
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer P Martin
- Jockey D E Sheehy
mid-division on outer, headway entering straight, ridden in 5th 2f out, soon no impression
- Form 433540
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer G Donnelly
- Jockey D W O'Connor
rear of mid-division, ridden entering straight, soon weakened
- Form 0100
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey P B Beggy
mid-division, ridden entering straight, soon weakened
- Form 0-23431
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 78
chased leaders in 5th, ridden 2f out, soon no impression
- Form 544202
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer K H Clarke
- Jockey S Foley
dwelt, pushed along early and soon headway into 2nd, ridden entering straight, soon weakened
- Form 3-07363
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 75
chased leaders in 4th, ridden in 4th 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 628246
- Age 9
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 74
slowly into stride and in rear, ridden on outer 2f out, no impression
- Form 894000
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 78
Verdict
The three-year-old ARTISTIC MELODY (NAP) has had a break since landing a Killarney maiden in impressive fashion from Birds Of Prey in July. The runner-up has won both subsequent starts and is now rated 93 so Ger Lyons' filly looks thrown in on 78 and has to be the selection. Mr Ormsby started favourite for a 7f handicap here earlier this month and was staying on strongly so the extra will suit while the lightly-raced Jon Ess, a winner here in May, was caught right on the line over track and trip the same day. Poetic Choice found only the rejuvenated Seanie too strong over 7f here last time though the main threat could emerge in the shape of Groundfrost. John Feane's filly hasn't been suited by heavy ground lately but wasn't disgraced in Listed company in August and looks well treated on that form.
Formwatch
Tonkinese 12-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden in 6th 2f out, went 3rd under 1f out, no extra in 4th close home, 4th of 14, 1 1/4l behind Atlas (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Secret Wizard (IRE) 25-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway into 3rd entering straight, soon ridden, no impression, 8th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Atlas (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Jon Ess (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden and led 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Atlas (9-5) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Oct.
Red Avenger (USA) 33-1 (9-4) Soon towards rear, no impression straight, 12th of 14, 11 3/4l behind Beach Bar (9-2) at Leopardstown 7f hcp Yielding in Oct.
Groundfrost (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Rear of mid-division, some headway on outer approaching straight, ridden 2f out and no impression in 7th over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 3 3/4l behind Hit The Silk (9-4) at Limerick 7f hvy in Oct.
Pushaq (IRE) 16-1 (9-4) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division on outside, ridden 3f out, soon weakened, last of 10, dist behind Mushaireb (9-2) at Pontefract 1m hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Ishebayorgrey (IRE) 20-1 (8-9) Dwelt, a little keen, soon raced in moderate 6th, pushed along 3f out, one pace from over 1f out, 9th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Xenobia (8-11) at Curragh 7f hcp Yielding - Soft in Aug.
Plough Boy (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Always towards rear, no impression straight, never a factor, 12th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Lucky Mistake (8-4) at Leopardstown 1m hcp sft in Oct.
Ruby Shoes (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Rear of mid-division, 8th halfway, no headway, never a factor, last of 11, 7 1/2l behind Hunaina (9-10) at Dundalk 7f hcp fll pol in Oct.
Artistic Melody (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Soon led, pushed along to assert 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Killarney 1m mdn gd in Jul beating Birds Of Prey (9-5) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Poetic Choice 7-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, headway 2f out and ridden in 2nd over 1f out, no impression on winner inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Seanie (9-13) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
Mr Ormsby (IRE) 4-1fav (9-12) Chased leaders, pushed along in 5th on inner 2f out, ridden in 3rd 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Vincita (9-11) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.
Rummaging (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Towards rear, saddle slipped and raced in 2nd after 1 1/2f, led after 4f, ridden and headed under 2f out, weakened 1f out, 6th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Mainicin (9-1) at Navan 1m 2f hcp gf in Jul.
Split The Atom (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Pushed along on inner in mid-division early, checked and hampered after 1f, soon in rear, no impression straight, 13th of 14, 6l behind Vincita (9-11) at Dundalk 7f hcp pol in Oct.