Declan McDonogh has five rides at Dundalk this afternoon© Photo Healy Racing
Former champion jockey Declan McDonogh rode five winners at Dundalk’s three meetings last week, including two doubles, and has some good chances at the County Louth venue this afternoon.
His first mount, the 79-rated Shackleton Hero was runner-up on his previous outing at the all-weather track and is favourite (6/4 into 5/4 generally) to go one better in the opening 2-year-old maiden at 1.45pm.
This looks quite a competitive heat, though, with Ger Lyons introducing the Juddmonte Farms-bred Bated Breath colt Diderot and Shackleton Hero’s trainer Joseph O’Brien starting off the No Nay Never colt Visualisation and the Camelot filly Miss March
McDonogh rode Linus Larrabee to victory over 7f at Dundalk a week ago and bids to follow up on Eddie Lynam’s Slade Power gelding over the same trip at 2.55pm. He’s market leader this morning (at around 15/8 generally) although 10st 4lbs is a fair impost to overcome.
The Meath-born jockey is in opposition to Lynam’s consistent performer Chagall in the second division of the 7f handicap at 3.30pm as he partners Kieran Cotter’s St George's Head
This grey gelding by Kingston Hill made the breakthrough under McDonogh last Monday and is favourite (generally around 9/4) to go in again, although it won’t be straightforward with a wide draw to overcome as well as a 9lb higher mark.
The well-bred Smile At Me makes a first visit to Dundalk in the 12f maiden at 4.00pm and is fitted with cheekpieces after finishing fourth on heavy ground at the Curragh on her second career start last time. Joseph O’Brien’s filly, a full-sister to Listed winner Curly, is another McDonogh-partnered runner that has been strong in morning betting, shortening to around 7/2 from 7/1.
Among her rivals is Swift Verdict by Dubawi out of 2013 Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Just The Judge, who is having his second start for Willie Mullins.
This one cost E1.4 million as a yearling and had three runs for John Gosden earlier in the year before struggling on heavy ground at Gowran on his first Irish outing last month.
Fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time, maybe the Dundalk polytrack will see this one (5s into 7/2 in morning betting) in a better light but it’s fair to say much better was hoped for when he went through the ring at the Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale a couple of years ago.
McDonogh rounds off his afternoon on Noel Kelly’s dual-course winner No Trouble (10/1 with Paddy Power) in the second division of the 1m2f handicap at 5.30pm and although not without a chance in that finale, the in-form jockey’s followers will be hopeful that he has a winner or two on the board by that stage of proceedings.
