Sport

Gary Carson: Shamwari and Sandy Creek can score for Joseph O'Brien at Dundalk

Dundalk hosts an eight-race card this afternoon, with Joseph O'Brien fancied to take home the honours with both his runners. Picture by PA
Dundalk hosts an eight-race card this afternoon, with Joseph O'Brien fancied to take home the honours with both his runners. Picture by PA

Joseph O'Brien has just two runners on the card at Dundalk on Wednesday afternoon and it wouldn't be a surprise if both collected.

Shamwari looks hard to oppose in the 10-furlong maiden where she takes a drop in class in a bid to gain an important winning bracket.

The Justify filly ran in an Oaks trial at Naas on her last outing and despite finishing seventh that day she wasn't beaten too far at the line.

On her previous outing at Leopardstown she had chased home Tower Of London in another Listed contest and that form has been boosted since with the winner going on to land the Ulster Derby.

A mark of 96 looks fair enough for Shamwari and that sets a very high standard now in an all-weather maiden.

It's not a bad race to be fair though and the Ballydoyle colt King Leodegrance could be a danger.

He has been second in two solid maidens on his last couple of outings and bumped into a smart looking newcomer in Waltham at Leopardstown last time.

The handicapper has him with a bit to find, off a mark of 83, but there could be more to come from the Camelot colt and Jack Cleary taking 7lb off his back helps.

The mile maiden a few races earlier looks more competitive and Sandy Creek could be a better price for punters.

This Frankel filly went to post an odds-on shot at Gowran last month but couldn't live with stablemate Maxux in the closing stages.

The winner has been disappointing since, but was reported to be showing signs of coming into season.

Sandy Creek has now been placed on her three career outings to date and her first two runs came on nicer ground.

This surface should suit well now and she is well up to winning a race of this standard.

The handicapper has her with a couple of pounds to find on Dermot Weld's colt Time Tells All but she does have the advantage of the fillies allowance.

Time Tells All was a touch disappointing when last seen at Cork in mid-May having shaped well on his two previous runs in softer ground. This surface would be a question mark.

Pivotal Revive and Shanadar are others with good placed form that have to come into calculations but Sandy Creek is fancied to confirm her early promise.

There will be plenty of pace on show in the opening sprint handicap with a few confirmed front-runners in the field and Harmony Rose may be the one to pick them off in the closing stages.

Is That Love makes his first start for 'claimer king' James McAuley and can give the Naul handler another winner in today's seven-furlong contest.

SELECTIONNEXT BEST

1.55: Harmony Rose                      Harry's Bar

2.25: Is That Love (Dbl)                 Secret Road

2.55: The Fog Horn                        Dromantine

3.25: Sandy Creek (Nap)               Pivotal Revive

3.55: Dutch Glory                            Alfarida

4.25: Kratos                                     Tynamite

5.00: Shamwari                               King Leodegrance

5.30: Rauzan                                   Gracesolution