18:30 Dundalk

Friday 1 December 2023

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Now Racing Every Wednesday At Dundalk Handicap (47-75)

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 1m 12.85s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Bold Optimist^p⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-2| J: O McSweeney⁽⁵⁾| T: M McCullagh| OR: 74| CD

7/2

Twice-raced winner. 1 win from 2 runs this year. 12/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, won 12-runner C&D maiden 42 days ago, driven out. Makes handicap debut. Should be more to come from this lightly-raced 3-y-o.

Form:

(10)

Marks Bear¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: D P McDonogh| T: W J Burke| OR: 74| D

18/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2021. Shaped bit better than result when tenth of 14 in C&D handicap 14 days ago. Being dropped another 3 lb can only help. Not discounted.

Form:

(8)

Half Nutz²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: J A Powell⁽³⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 72| D

9/2

Twenty two runs since last win in 2022. Respectable seventh of 14 in handicap at this course (7f, 11/1) 2 days ago.

Form:

(9)

Eastern Wind^v²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: R Whearty⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 71

10/1

Bit below form sixth of 22 in handicap (25/1) at the Curragh (7f, heavy) 26 days ago. Looks competitive on form.

Form:

(3)

Distillate³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: S D Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 70| C| D

7/1

Course winner. 3 wins from 20 runs this year. Latest win at Bellewstown in September. Thirteenth of 19 in handicap (40/1) at the Curragh (5.9f, heavy) 31 days ago. Capable of bouncing back.

Form:

(11)

Inishmot Prince^v¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: J J G Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: T G McCourt| OR: 68| CD

7/1

6-time course winner. Latest win here in October. 6/1, creditable fourth of 14 in handicap at this course (5f) 16 days ago, nearest finish. On the shortlist.

Form:

(6)

Sam's Xpress¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: C T Keane| T: K P Cotter| OR: 67| BF| CD

9/2

C&D winner. 4/1, respectable seventh of 14 in handicap at this course (5f) 16 days ago.

Form:

(2)

Hezahunk⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Adam Caffrey⁽⁵⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 58

9/1

4/1, seventh of 10 in handicap at Chelmsford (7f) 57 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Michael Appleby. Betting check needed starting out for Ado McGuinness.

Form:

(7)

Najat¹⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Kiely-Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Kinsella| OR: 57| D

150/1

100/1 and blinkered for 1st time, tenth of 11 in claimer at this course (7f). Off 142 days.

Form:

(1)

Pulse Of Shanghai^b,t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: J M Sheridan| T: J McAuley| OR: 54| C

15/2

4-time course winner. Thirty seven runs since last win in 2021. Creditable fifth of 13 in handicap at this course (7f, 4/1) 23 days ago.

Form:

(12)

Sense Of Security⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: C D Maxwell| T: J Larkin| OR: 54| D

80/1

One win from 25 Flat runs. Bit below form eighth of 14 in handicap at this C&D (100/1) 7 days ago, unsuited by way race developed.

Form:

Non-Runners

(4)

Furnace Creek²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 4

T: Joseph Murray J: R C Colgan

Forecasts

Bold Optimist (7/2), Half Nutz (9/2), Sam's Xpress (9/2), Inishmot Prince (7/1), Distillate (7/1), Pulse Of Shanghai (15/2), Hezahunk (9/1), Eastern Wind (10/1), Furnace Creek (16/1), Marks Bear (18/1), Sense Of Security (80/1), Najat (150/1)

There should be more to come from recent C&D maiden winner BOLD OPTIMIST who can see off a bunch of much more exposed opponents now moving into handicap company. Course specialist Inishmot Prince arrives in form and is second choice ahead of Distillate, who is better than she showed at the Curragh last time and won here at the start of her career.