Denis Hogan holds a strong hand in the opening claimer at Dundalk this evening with the early morning market suggesting Jaafel is the pick of his four runners.

The Dark Angel gelding won twice over the polytrack mile earlier this winter and is again partnered by talented 5lb claimer Daniel King.

Jaafel has been backed from 5/1 into 7/2 with Bet365 and is now disputing favouritism with stablemate Big Baby Bull

Hogan and King also team up with Ransom in the mile handicap (5pm) and the son of Kingman is fancied to complete a hat-trick following course and distance wins either side of Christmas.

The topweight has been supported from 9/4 into a general 13/8 favourite.

Elsewhere on the card, the Jessica Harrington-trained Curvature looks set to go off a strong favourite in the fillies maiden (4.30), and Okita Soushi is odds-on to collect in the finale at 7.30 despite dropping down in distance to the extended 1m2f.

Ger O’Leary will be hopeful of landing the sprint handicap (6.30) as he saddles both the hat-trick seeking Mehman and Primo Uomo The latter has filled the runner-up spot twice behind his aforementioned stablemate this year.

The first on an eight-race card at Dundalk gets underway at 4pm.