Niall McCullagh winning on La Novia at Fairyhouse in July© Photo Healy Racing
Niall McCullagh has a promising book of rides on Dundalk’s eight-race card.
McCullagh and trainer Michael Halford successfully teamed up with the well-backed juvenile Jasikan here earlier this month, and they may repeat the trick on Friday evening with Karasi in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The Aga Khan’s home-bred son of Excelebration made a very encouraging debut at the Curragh in August when beaten just a little over a length in an 18-runner maiden.
Despite a subsequent reverse at Killarney, he may now show the benefit of a three-month break. Vivacious Spirit and Royal Court have both filled the runner-up spot at Dundalk in recent weeks, and could provide the chief threats.
The McCullagh-Halford alliance also has strong claims in division one of the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap, with La Novia at the foot of the weights.
The daughter of Casamento finished strongly from off the pace when a close-up third over course and distance a fortnight ago, and may now gain compensation. Stranagone was fitted with blinkers for the first time when just pegged back close home by hot favourite First Response over a mile here earlier this month.
The Tracey Collins-trained filly is taken to go one better again under the veteran McCullagh in the Dundalk Stadium Business Club 2018 Fillies Maiden.
The best bet of the evening may come in the Fundraising Made Easy At Dundalk Handicap, with Too Precious fancied to complete a hat-trick.
She represents the in-form Joseph O’Brien, and is again ridden by champion apprentice Shane Crosse — who partnered the three-year-old to score twice over course and distance in the space of 48 hours earlier this month.
