Friday's best bets at Dundalk
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Dundalk 12 January 2024 Cousin Shay and Siobhan Rutledge win for trainer John McConnell
© Photo Healy Racing
Dundalk is the main event in Ireland this Friday evening with a seven-race card on the all-weather.
The action kicks off at 16:13 and runs through to the finale at 19:15 and we have provided selections and analysis for three of the races on Wednesday’s card.
Selections
4.45 Dundalk - Movin And Groovin
6.15 Dundalk - Cousin Shay
7.15 Dundalk - Together Aclaim
4.45 Dundalk - Movin And Groovin
Movin And Groovin has become a bit of a course specialist at Dundalk and will be looking to continue her good form. Having spent the early part of her career on the turf with very limited success, she was tried for the first time on the all-weather in October and showed some improvement when finishing in midfield and taking her first bit of prize money.
The improvement has continued throughout the winter and she won her first race at the beginning of the month in impressive fashion over six furlongs. She ran strongly and faced significant pressure in the closing stages, but stuck to her task gamely and made all the running.
She followed up with a respectable third place when tried over a mile. She was running under a penalty for her win and although prominent early on she was no match for the front two, weakening in the closing stages. It is possible that she did not quite see the trip out so today’s drop back to seven furlongs seems a logical step as she looked to have found six furlongs a little sharp and a mile a bit too far. She has every chance of going well again.
6.15 Dundalk - Cousin Shay
Cousin Shay has been in a purple patch recently, winning three of his last four races.
The streak started in November after being sold and heading to Natalia Lupini’s yard where he repaid his new connections' faith with a narrow victory, his first for nearly a year. Having fallen down the handicap slightly he ran a solid race where he was prominent throughout, a tactic which has been used for all his career but now seems to be paying dividends.
He disappointed in December, but can be excused for that run as he hung left early on and was playing catch-up the rest of the way. He followed that with two impressive wins, most notably when stepping up in trip to a mile-and-a-quarter last time out and running what is arguably a personal best.
He has a tendency to hang both ways at points during his races, which is a concern and he is now on a career-high mark which may impact his performance. However, the dominant manner in which he has won recently suggests that he should be up to the task.
7.15 Dundalk - Together Aclaim
Third behind Cousin Shay last time out, Together Aclaim showed no ill-effects from being off the track for 10 months.
His previous form suggests that today's mile-and-a-quarter is his optimal trip and he won over course and distance this time last year.
He ran a bit free at times during his last race, but that is to be expected after such a lengthy lay-off and all-in-all it was a solid performance and something that connections can build on.