Fran Berry with his best bets for Dundalk on Friday evening
by Fran BerryIt’s another trappy card at Dundalk but I do have four each-way selections.
ANYTHINGYOUWANTTOBE is a Kingman filly trained by Willie Browne. She was having her first start on the all-weather surface for over a year when fourth here last time and was a real eyecatcher, coming home strongly.
She’s entitled to come forward for the run and has a kind enough draw in seven. She looks a major player in the opening Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap
The Fundraise At Dundalk Stadium Handicap is a very deep affair and you can only discount one runner. The one I like is NIMITZ who is a three-time winner here and ran well to be fifth last time, finishing nicely in a slowly-run heat. The return to a mile-and-a-half will suit.
Joseph O’Brien is responsible for five of the nine runners in the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Race & Stay Maiden. Three are newcomers so unknown quantities but I’m going to side with the Jessica Harrington trained THE TRUANT.
He ran well on his first three starts at Leopardstown, The Curragh and Galway before coming unstuck on soft ground at Down Royal. He was off for five months before running here in January. He was slowly away and a little rusty but came home strongly and the step up to ten furlongs will suit. He can put his experience to good use against a vulnerable favourite in China’s Storm who I’m not sure is going to be quite as effective at this distance.
My best bet on the night is GOUGANE BARRA in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap. He ran well to chase home the well-backed Jo Ness here last time who runs in a better race than this earlier on the card.
The selection drops in grade to a 0-70 and while he’s up two pounds, he’s a big horse he who will carry the weight. He has a good draw and even though he can be slowly away, he jumped on terms last time. If he does the same here he’s a solid bet.