6.00pm Dundalk Tips & Betting Preview 23/12/2016

Fourteen horses go to post for this Division 2 maiden over 7f here today at Dundalk with 7,072 Euros available to the winner. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Thunder Speed should leave her debut run behind her after not being knocked around and she is an interesting contender given her pedigree. She should come on for that run, but of those with experience it may pay to concentrate on Sir Danilo and THOMAS O’MALLEY. The former was a good runner up here over 1m and the drop in trip should suit. He can go close, but the Joseph O’Brien horse looks a bit more streetwise after seven runs and was a good second also last time out. He can continue to improve and belatedly get off the mark today.

1 Boy Charlton – Only one run so far, coming at this course three weeks ago and was prominent until weakening 2f out over 1m, finishing 13th of 14. Should improve for that run, dropped to 7f and with a tongue strap staying on. However, he is likely to be a big price for win purposes and best watched for the moment given that he has a less than kind draw out wide today.

2 Crois Lion – More Than Ready gelding who was foaled on 5 February. Only cost connections €2,500 as a two-year-old and related to a couple of minor winners up to 1m1f. Drawn wide which is not ideal here, but one to watch in the betting as pedigree suggests a win on debut would not be out of turn.

3 Massa Lubrense – Wears a tongue strap today after his 12th of 16 finish at Naas two months ago. Off the track since then and needs to be ridden more prominently to figure today (never nearer than mid-division last time).

4 Quiet Company – One run so far at the Curragh (Good) six months ago and faded quite badly 2f out after tracking the leaders and short of room. Slower surface might help in this, but has an absence to overcome and likely to find this another tough introduction upped to 7f.

5 Sir Danilo – Three runs so far and left his second run at Naas behind him when second over 1m on this track three weeks ago. Stayed on well that day, only to lose by a neck and could go close if improving further still. Has cheekpieces on for the first time.

6 Thomas O’malley – Henrythenavigator colt who remains a maiden after seven runs. Has improved for four runs at this track – three over today’s trip – and was a close second of 14 when contesting a similar maiden on course 16 days ago. Should continue to improve and looks the one to beat if it boils down to a match.

7 Thunder Speed – Dylan Thomas colt with one run under his belt on this course over 1m. Only mid-division that day, but she was not given a hard time and she should improve in this. Wears a tongue strap.

8 All About Grace – Two runs so far for the yard, finishing sixth behind a subsequent winner in fourth on debut and only slight a improvement to finish fifth behind Thomas O’Malley in second over C&D 15 days ago. Looks held by that rival and unlikely to make the frame again today.

9 Annie Apple – Tagula filly who was foaled on 21 February. Related to a 1m winner and probably best watched over this trip on debut.

10 Bonnie Flyer – Sir Prancealot filly who was foaled on 27 February. Half-sister to Dazzling Day who was a winner up to 7f but stayed further. Wears and hood for her debut today and one to note in the betting.

11 Forevertwentyone – Looked well beaten when pulled up after her saddle slipped over C&D a month ago. Hooded today, but looks held against the market principles.

12 Goodnite Irina – Decent pedigree for this once raced filly being by Roderick O’Connor. Only mid-division on debut over C&D a week ago (ahead of a couple of these, All About Grace sixth). Certainly entitled to beat that one if ridden more prominently and overcoming a wide draw, but probably has more on her plate against the top two in the market. Kevin Manning continues to ride in fine form at the moment.

13 Main Pulse – Dragon Pulse filly who was foaled on 12 February. Dam was a maiden up to 1m. Hooded for debut and hard to fancy on pedigree.

14 Pedisnap – Footstepsinthesand filly who has had one run so far over 1m on this track two weeks ago. Needs a big step forward from her wide berth to get involved for win purposes. However, she is open to progress and it would not be a surprise if she ran into the money if any of the market principles fail to fire.