Dundalk | Horse Racing Free Tips

Storm Eunice Forces Cancellations in UK/Ire

The approach of Storm Eunice, which will impact Ireland and the United Kingdom on Friday, has caused some racecourses to cancel their cards as a precautionary measure. Fakenham was called off on Thursday due to the severe weather warnings, and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has cancelled Dundalk's Friday card, too. The storm is expected to bring high winds and, in some cases, snow.

“We discussed the situation with Jim Martin of Dundalk Stadium and Met Eireann this morning and again this afternoon and we felt with the current forecast for tomorrow it was prudent to make an early decision and cancel the fixture,” said IHRB Clerk of the Course, Brendan Sheridan via Twitter. “Many parts of the country are subject to Orange and Red Weather Warnings in the morning which would make travel unsafe and Met Eireann are also forecasting gusts with speeds in excess of 80km/h during race time.”

Kelso, one of three UK courses still set to race on Friday, will hold an inspection at 8 a.m. on Friday morning.

“We're only a yellow warning at the moment up here and we are getting nothing like the wind speeds down in England,” said clerk of the course Matthew Taylor. “Our concern would be snow more than anything and access to the racecourse maybe and the surrounding areas on high ground if they got heavy snow. We are in a trickier situation than most because it literally is just the waiting game.

“The problem as well is that the forecast is changing by the hour. We were supposed to be getting 10 centimetres of snow and then this afternoon it's changed back to rain so we don't know exactly what we're going to get.”

“We've got an 8 a.m. inspection so hopefully we can make the right call early.”

Lingfield and Southwell are both set to race as of Thursday evening, with Lingfield set to be inspected at 8 a.m. and Southwell, which is expecting 60-70mph winds, due for inspection at 10 a.m.

Kirkland Tellwright, clerk of the course at Haydock, is hoping by Saturday that the storm has weakened in advance of the course's Saturday meeting.

He said, “The main concern has been wind, which would be a problem on a raceday but shouldn't be the day before. There will be a lot of damage to repair, no doubt. Saturday is expected to be blustery, gusts of wind and more rain. Having walked the course a couple of times today, I'm pretty optimistic we'll get through.

“The hurdle course is heavy, soft in places, and is not in a bad place. The chase course is heavy, and very heavy in one or two places so we might be bypassing them. I've taken the second fence out in the back straight mainly as a precaution because it gives us more options in terms on how we get past that location.”

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Winter Break For Top Irish Jockeys

Ireland's leading flat jockeys will have a four-week winter break after Horse Racing Ireland restricted three Dundalk meetings in early January to apprentices or jockeys or rode fewer than 20 winners last season. The meetings are Jan. 5, 7 and 14.

Jason Morris, Horse Racing Ireland's director of racing, said, “In 2021 HRI extended the break for our leading jump jockeys from 12 to 24 days during June, which was very well received. The changes announced today, which were proposed by the Irish Jockeys' Association, will mean that we will likewise have doubled the break period for the leading Flat jockeys from 14 to 28 days, while at the same time increasing opportunities for other riders at the start of the year.”

Jennifer Pugh, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board's senior medical officer, said, “Following on from the extended break for National Hunt jockeys in June of this year, it is encouraging to see HRI take a similar approach for Flat jockeys. With a busy all-weather season now in place, in what was typically the off-season for Flat jockeys, they now remain busy for 12 months of the year, with no opportune time for rest and recuperation while racing continues. The mental health issues and high level of burnout faced by jockeys have been well documented by the Irish Jockey Research Group, so it is welcome to see the findings and recommendations of these studies come to fruition to further enhance jockey wellbeing.”

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Half-Brother to St Leger Third Debuts at Dundalk

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a half-brother to G1 St Leger third The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

16.45 Dundalk, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, c/g, 8f (AWT)
Atlantic Thoroughbreds' 140,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate ATLANTIC BREEZE (IRE) (No Nay Never), a Donnacha O'Brien trainee, is a son of MG1SP G2 Queen Mary S. and G2 Lowther S. victrix Flashy Wings (GB) (Zafonic) and thus a half-brother to this year's G1 St Leger third The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The May-foaled chestnut faces a baker's dozen and is one of just two newcomers in this fully subscribed heat.

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Churchill Colt To The Fore In The Star Appeal

Off the mark at the second attempt by five lengths at Down Royal Sept. 3, Demi O'Byrne's Snaffles (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) was one of a clutch of unexposed juveniles lining up for Friday's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal S. at Dundalk and ultimately proved strongest to open his black-type account in the seven-furlong test. Settled in the box seat by Shane Crosse tracking the leading duo Corviglia (Karakontie {Jpn}) and Leinster House (War Front) early, the 11-1 shot worked his way to the front with 150 yards remaining and fought hard to stay there as King X J (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) stayed on out wide to make the margin 3/4 of a length at the line.

“It was a lovely performance. I think he should be unbeaten, as first time out he was slowly away, got into all sorts of trouble and ran on well,” trainer Joseph O'Brien's assistant Brendan Powell said. “Last time at Down Royal he was very laid-back but went and did it well in the end, he learned from that. I think he'll keep improving, if you saw him in the paddock before he's literally asleep. He's the most laid-back horse you'll ever get. He's a tall, sparely-made horse but a good-looking horse and I think he has a very bright future. They've all come to him today and Shane said he's just doing enough in front, because he's having a look at the stands and the whole lot. He's very genuine, will stay a mile very well and could stay further as he's so laid-back.”

Snaffles is the last known foal out of the dam, with her first being the six-times group-winning sire Libranno (GB) (Librettist) whose exploits included successes in the G2 Park S., G2 Richmond S. and G2 July S. Also responsible for the G3 Prix de Cabourg runner-up Al Muthana (Fr) (Pastoral Pursuits {GB}) and the G3 Brownstown S. and G3 Silver Flash S. runner-up Unforgetable (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), she is a half to the G3 Polar Cup-winning multiple Scandinavian champion Alyshakeys (Den) (Sendawar {Ire}).

IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF STAR APPEAL S.-Listed, €47,500, Dundalk, 10-1, 2yo, 7f (AWT), 1:25.32, st.
1–SNAFFLES (IRE), 131, c, 2, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Annabelle Ja (Fr), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Alamea (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
3rd Dam: Adjala (Ire), by Northfields
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (£28,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOR; €11,000 Ylg '20 GOFOCT). O-D L O'Byrne; B-Lynch Bages, Camas Park & Arkle Bloodstock (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Shane Crosse. €28,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $47,596. *1/2 to Libranno (GB) (Librettist), MGSW-Eng, $620,826.
2–King X J (Ire), 131, c, 2, Cotai Glory (GB)–Star of Kings (GB), by Sea the Stars (Ire). (€25,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; £15,000 RNA Ylg '20 TATIRY; £100,000 2yo '21 TATGOR). O-Paul J Nolan; B-Tom and Hazel Russell (IRE); T-Michael O'Callaghan. €9,500.
3–Markaz Paname (Ire), 131, c, 2, Markaz (Ire)–Vale of Paris (Ire), by Vale of York (Ire). O-Mrs M Boylan; B-Mr Donal Boylan (IRE); T-Ger Lyons. €4,750.
Margins: 3/4, NK, NO. Odds: 11.00, 6.00, 3.30.
Also Ran: Corviglia, Leinster House, Star Girls Aalmal (Ire), The Entertainer (Ire), Cornman (Ire), Gaire Os Ard (Ire), Absolute Ruler, Lyrical Poetry (Ire). Scratched: Dirtyoldtown (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result.

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