A COUPLE of €25,000 events at Dundalk on Friday have totally failed to capture the attention of owners and trainers.
The 32Red Casino Race, a Fast Track Qualifier for the All-Weather championships at Lingfield on Good Friday, manages to attract just four runner, including Turbine from Mark Johnston’s Yorkshire yard.
This son of Cape Cross got his career off to a bright start when making all to convincingly defeat subsequent winner Tailwind at Wolverhampton in November, and was far from disgraced on his only outing later that month at Lingfield.
The trainer has a huge number of three-year-old colts to choose from and it is significant that Turbine is the chosen traveller. He has a rating of 91 which puts him comfortably ahead of the three home candidates.
That resistance is headed by Mick Halford’s Roman Impero, progressive and a ready scorer here at odds-on last month. He had More Than Munny over eight lengths behind him that night and Johnny Murtagh sent that one back here a couple of weeks later to win a six-furlong race from previous victor Go Kart. But he looks well held by Turbine and the handicapper suggests there is 7lb between them, although they meet at levels here. Hard to envisage Turbine not winning.
Classy Shalaman will be fancied to enhance his already impressive Dundalk record when he takes on just four opponents in the two mile 32Red Casino race. David Marnane’s seven-year-old has the assistance of Pat Smullen following a solid showing in handicap company behind Marise here two weeks ago.
This looks a clever bit of placing, he is very well treated at the weights and has a fitness edge over chief rival Mandatario, who was third in Listed company at this track last year but hasn’t been sighted since October.
Smart hurdler Modem has proven more than capable in this code, but he does have a good bit to find with the aforementioned pair on official handicap ratings.
Bittern, comfortable over this course and distance, is possibly the one for forecasts.
There is another decent prize on offer in the €24,000 Weatherbys Stud Book Handicap and most eyes will be on Split The Atom, who chalked up a third success from his last four starts when winning easily over six furlongs a fortnight ago. Up 14lb for those efforts and stepping up in class, he seems sure to lay down another bold bid but takes on a couple of interesting rivals in Dark Alliance and Geological, who ruffled up Captain Joy here seven days ago.
Russian Soul didn’t make his usual trip out to Meydan this winter and hasn’t won since last July, but if he’s in the mood he’d put these to bed with no fuss.
Togoville and Geological are more likely to give their best.
Times In Anatefka might prove the safest bet in the opening five-furlong handicap where Coto and Strategic Heights could run well. Royal Blessing and Tansanite are the pair to follow in the mile Weatherbys Printing Handicap.
NEVILLE RING
6.05pm: Times In Anatefka
6.35pm: Togoville
7.05pm: Shalaman (Dbl)
7.35pm: Turbine (Nap)
8.05pm: La Renaissance
8.35pm: Tansanite
9.05pm: Temasek Star
NEXT BEST
6.05pm: Coto
6.35pm: Geological
7.05pm: Bittern
7.35pm: Roman Impero
8.05pm: Pharadelle
8.35pm: Royal Blessing
9.05pm: Sir Raston
