Racecards
18:05 Dundalk (IRE)
Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Handicap
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 5f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- €10,000 added
- Winner: €6,900
- 2nd: €1,600
- 3rd: €700
- 4th: €400
- Form 5232-11
- Age 5
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer J F Levins
- Jockey D W O'Connor
chased leaders in 3rd, ridden 2f out, improved into 2nd 1f out, stayed on well final furlong to lead close home
- Form 4641-33
- Age 6
- Weight 9-8
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer J Feane
- Jockey P J Smullen
chased leader in 2nd, ridden 2f out, dropped to 3rd 1f out, no extra final furlong
- Form 80271-5
- Age 8
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer J F Levins
- Jockey G F Carroll
held up in 5th, ridden over 2f out, 5th 1f out, no impression
- Form 0722-21
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 73
led, ridden under 2f out, strongly pressed inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home
- Form 440556-
- Age 10
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer T Collins
- Jockey G P Halpin
chased leaders in 4th, ridden 2f out, soon no impression
- Form 0P8-788
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Anastasia O'Brien
held up in last, ridden entering straight, soon no impression, never a factor
Verdict
Your Pal Tal, Majestic Timeline and STRATEGIC HEIGHTS have beaten each other in turn over the past few weeks and it's just a question of which one does it on the night. The latter just gets the vote, despite his defeats by his rivals recently, as he's the only one of the trio to have dropped in the ratings. Dashwood landed a claimer over a mile here in December and rarely runs over a trip this short nowadays. Pencil Hill returned from a break to score here a year ago from a 9lb higher mark so he must be considered but there's still no sign of The Islander repeating his victory at Cork in April and he's yet to beat a rival in four starts on this track.
Formwatch
Your Pal Tal 5-4fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, 3rd early, 4th approaching straight, soon closed travelling smoothly, pushed along from 2f out, challenged and on terms 1f out, soon led, stayed on well, won at Dundalk 6f hcap pol in Jan beating Almadaa (9-8) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Strategic Heights (IRE) 7-4fav (9-10) Prominent, chased leader in 2nd halfway, ridden 2f out, no impression in 3rd over 1f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Majestic Timeline (9-4) at Dundalk 5f hcap pol in Jan.
Dashwood 6-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no impression 1f out, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 4l behind Indian Landing (10-2) at Dundalk 7f hcap pol in Jan.
Majestic Timeline (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Made all, 3 lengths clear halfway, ridden under 2f out, under pressure and kept on well inside final furlong, won at Dundalk 5f hcap pol in Jan beating Sylvan Mist (9-12) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Pencil Hill (IRE) 8-1 (7-13) Towards rear, 16th approaching halfway, ridden to chase leaders on outer 1f out, no impression and kept on same pace inside final furlong,, 6th of 17, 1 1/2l behind Prince Connoisseur (8-10) at Curragh 5f hcp gf in Sep.
The Islander (IRE) 33-1 (8-1) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 2f out, last of 8, 6l behind Indian Landing (9-9) at Dundalk 6f hcap pol in Jan.