Sport

It's hard to see Visionary losing at Dundalk

Taquin Du Seuil ridden by Aidan Coleman celebrate winning the BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase during the BetVictor Gold Cup Day of The Open Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday November 12, 2016. See PA story RACING Cheltenham. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial Use only, commercial use is subject to prior permission from The Jockey Club/Cheltenham Racecourse..
Taquin Du Seuil ridden by Aidan Coleman celebrate winning the BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase during the BetVictor Gold Cup Day of The Open Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday November 12, 2016. See PA stor Taquin Du Seuil ridden by Aidan Coleman celebrate winning the BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase during the BetVictor Gold Cup Day of The Open Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday November 12, 2016. See PA story RACING Cheltenham. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial Use only, commercial use is subject to prior permission from The Jockey Club/Cheltenham Racecourse..

Despite being a Fast-Track Qualifier for the three-year-old race on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield later this month, the €25,000 seven-furlong feature at Dundalk tonight has attracted just four runners, and Ger Lyons is responsible for two of them.

Rock In Peace arrives in search of a hat-trick, having backed up his maiden victory over this course and distance when upped to a mile at the end of January.

Colin Keane gets off him this time to ride stablemate Tuff Love, who created a rather striking impression when getting off the mark at the first attempt over track and trip when beating Jon Ess and Harbour A Secret a month ago.

Very green that night and sure to improve, one could argue that the form hasn’t exactly been franked by the subsequent exploits of the second and third, although Jon Ess almost certainly came up against other smart performers when beaten into third behind Beat The Bank and Vincy here three weeks later.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Remember The Days also did just that a fortnight ago but really it just amounts to ordinary Dundalk maiden form, and the three of them will surely struggle against the Newmarket raider, Robert Cowell's 94-rated Visionary.

This dual winner, at elite tracks Brighton and Wolverhampton, has to concede 6lb to the others, but his rating suggests he should have no trouble with that.

The action gets going with a competitive five-furlong handicap sprint, in which course specialist Togoville tries to back up his recent six-furlong success.

He takes on five-furlong experts Danz Gift, Go Kart and Strategic Force, who were first, second and third here last time, as well as course-winning speedsters in Chiclet and Oneoveryou.

On just 2lb worse terms, Danz Gift might confirm placings with Go Kart and Strategic Force.

Geological has been a good servant to Damian English this winter and turns out again for his usual Friday night stint, this time under top weight in the seven-furlong handicap.

Beaten by Shannon Soul last week, he faces another consistent performer in Lily's Prince, while Shinko Princess has very few miles on the clock and is a potential dark horse. She is still a maiden but some of her runs give the five-year-old mare a solid chance here.

A repeat of her effort three weeks ago when second to Sebastian Bach would make here an attractive each-way proposition.

Bottom weight Lorendano is 3lb out of the weights but the Bolger filly is entitled to run well at a price too.

Joseph O’Brien’s Michael Tabor-owned Ligeti has scored at this venue on each of the last two meetings and goes for a quickfire hat-trick under joint- top weight in the 10-and-a-half-furlong handicap which is confined to riders with 10 winners or fewer since the end of last June.

Conor King fits into that category and may get Ligeti home ahead of Scottish trainer Ian Jardine’s Tenerezza (Robbie Downey) and Settle For Red.

Ado McGuinness’s Pivot Bridge is another on a three-timer after a couple of January successes at Wolverhampton. Patrick Mullins is an interesting booking for the nine-year-old in the concluding two-mile amateur riders' handicap.

Venezia and Prince Charmin are others of some interest.

Venezia’s trainer Michael Halford has stronger hopes with Robe Of Honour, who made a very encouraging beginning to his career when runner-up here a couple of weeks ago and has an excellent opportunity in the mile maiden confined to older horses.

Old Burn The Boats has been running well here this year and could go close in the six-furlong claimer where he has a €13,000 tag on his head. He’s rated 72 and the weights descend to 39-rated Dandysteps.

Neville Ring

5.30 Danz Gift

6.00 Burn The Boats

6.30 Hailstone

7.00 Shinko Princess

7.30 Visionary (Dbl)

8.00 Robe Of Honour (Nap)

8.30 Ligeti

9.00 Pivot Bridge

Next Best

5.30 Go Kart

6.00 Split The Atom

6.30 Circus Ring

7.00 Lorendano

7.30 Tuff Love

8.00 Dandy Dude

8.30 Tenerezza

9.00 Venezia