8.00pm Dundalk Tips & Betting Preview 23/12/2016

The final race of the year at Dundalk is a 1m 2f handicap and in typical Dundalk fashion, it’s a very hard one to pick apart. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

A winner eight times at Dundalk, one mile was probably too short of a trip here for POLITICAL PARTY a few weeks ago. He finished second over this trip back in November when just being denied and clearly loves racing at Dundalk, so stepping back up to this trip should be a big advantage for him. Should run his race and will undoubtedly be in the thick of it come the finish, so it may be worth taking the chance on him today to notch up a ninth victory at this venue.

After a convincing win over C&D a few weeks ago, Power Grid has paid the price being raised 12lb. However, as a three-year-old he still has the potential to progress and with many of these looking exposed, he may well be able to take the rise in his stride. Therefore, he has to be given the utmost respect.

The top of the weights is a place that Johann Bach does not probably want to be after making no real impression here over C&D earlier this month. Does have some good form in the book, but most of it is on turf these days and he may well struggle today under this big weight.

Rated at 97 at his peak when with Ger Lyons, it has been a long time between drinks for Burn The Boats whose last win came back in July 2014 at Navan. He has been very much struggling for form lately and is relying on this step up in trip to have a big effect here today, but that alone is not enough to convince.

Eight times a winner here since 2012, He’s Our Music is another who loves the track at Dundalk. He ran well to finish third here a few weeks ago and did win the time before over C&D back in November which gives him big form claims today, so has to be respected on only his second run for this yard.

Twice a winner over C&D in recent months, Specific Gravity‘s latest escapade over C&D was last time out where he won easily enough: two lengths clear at the finish. Has suffered a 9lb rise for that latest victory which tempers enthusiasm and may be fighting for places at best today.

It has been almost two years since Sharjah has been in the winner’s enclosure and he has unplaced over 1m 4f on his latest start last Friday. Had finished second over C&D on his penultimate run, but does not strike as the likeliest type to win here today, not least due to his current drought.

Another who has a decent record at this venue is Catchy Lass who won over C&D back in April and has not been seen since finishing 13th of 15 at Galway back in July over today’s distance. Has a chance if he is fully revved up after his absence, but may well be vulnerable as many of these have race fitness on their side.