5.30pm Dundalk Tips & Betting Preview 23/12/2016

Fourteen horses go to post for this Division 1 maiden over 7f here today at Dundalk, with €7,072 available to the winner. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Not much form to go on in this and it may pay to stick with those with previous form. The one that stands out is NOVEMBER TALE. She ran well to finish fourth coming back from six months off and she looks a good bet to improve further here and take this against a fairly modest bunch. Time Constraints was also fourth last time out, but does not look as progressive as the selection and also does not have the kindest draw in stall 12. Iskandar Prince is also entitled to step up from his debut and he can follow them home, whilst Maximus Deia is one to note in the market given his connections and smart pedigree.

1 Happy Company – Fast company gelding who did not show much on debut over 6f on this course. Improved to finish sixth on his second start in a maiden here when upped to 1m. Looked one-paced that day and this trip needs to spark some improvement. Trainer in good form.

2 Iskandar Prince – Distorted Humor colt who is by a dam out of Giant’s Causeway and only one run so far for the yard when tenth of 14 on this course three weeks ago. Entitled to improve for that given his pedigree and sports cheekpieces here for the first time. One to note in the betting.

3 Jackmel – Never really got into the race on his debut at this course three weeks ago when seventh of 14 (Happy Company sixth) over 1m. No tongue strap today, but was struggling a long way out last time and hard to fancy up against some interesting contenders.

4 Legend Status – Ran over the 6f trip on this track 35 days ago and could only manage ninth of 14 in a minor maiden event. That was only a slight improvement on his debut and not one to have maximum faith in at the moment. But he should pick up a race or two in time.

5 Maximus Delia – Holy Roman Emperor gelding foaled on 18 March. Has plenty of winners in his pedigree, including smart looking stablemate up to 1 ¼ m Eddystone Rock. Market check needed on debut and would be interesting if the money comes for him.

6 Time Constraints – Last on his course debut last month, but came on for the run when fourth in a similar field 16 days ago on this track. Needs to learn to settle better, but he was hampered that day 1f out when attempting to get closer and if coming out on terms from stall 12 he can get involved. Place claims.

7 Wild Jack Duggan – Does not have an ideal berth in stall 13, but has not shown much in two runs so far, including when only ninth of 14 around these bends fifteen days ago. Trainer has won this twice in the last five runnings of this race, but hard to see him landing win number three with this horse.

8 Baffin Bay – Made her debut over C&D last month when 50/1. Only had a handful behind her that day and looks up against it for win purposes.

9 Cosmic Cupid – Approve filly who was foaled on 28 February. Related to a couple of modest winners up to 1 ¾ m and is half-sister to 1m winner Coastline. Best watched for now.

10 Lambikin – Peintre Celebre filly with two runs under her belt at this track. Did not show much when eighth on debut over 1m and fared worse dropped to this trip when only eleventh in a field of the same size 28 days ago. Needs to show a lot of improvement to get involved.

11 Love Me Always – Lovelace filly who was foaled on 11 May. Cost connections €2,500 as a yearling and is half-sister to a few winners from 6f-9f. Best watched on debut.

12 Lucky Ellen – Elusive Pimpernel filly who was only slightly better than mid-division on her debut over 7f at Naas two months ago. Been off the track 93 days since and looks held on that one run against a few of these. Hard to fancy.

13 November Tale – Casamento filly who left her debut run at the Curragh behind her when getting the hang of things to finish fourth on this course two weeks ago over 1m. Looked a bit tardy early on in the race and will need to break better. However, the step down to 7f should suit and she should benefit for that experience to score in a race that will not take much winning.

14 Surewhynot – Baltic King filly who was foaled on 16 April. Full sister to a 5f winner and related to 1 ½m winner Eton Fable. Interesting enough pedigree, but one to watch for now.