Fran Berry’s Friday night Dundalk selection

Fran Berry’s Dundalk tips

5:30 p.m. – Say if you will
6:00 p.m. – Cross-border (there and back)
6:30 p.m. – I am Spartacus
7:00 p.m. – Island Girl (NAP)
7:30 p.m. – His Majesty
8:00 p.m. – Dakota Blue
8:30 p.m. – Tuba (there and back)

Fran’s top picks: Sayifyouwill, Island Girl & Dakota Blue

Frans Two-Way Double: Cross Border & Tuba

*All prices are up to date with our nifty widgets, while odds in the text are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.

The first 7f competition is a demanding race for the Fillies, in which Sayifyyouwill made a proper Irish debut last week for coach Stephen Thorne, who has just received his license after being part of the Adrian McGuinness team for years. She has raced a lot in Britain and with a nice draw in box three and the weight cut from some rivals, she could prove very difficult to beat and give Thorne his first own winner as a trainer.

An apprentice handicap over 7f where the big three in the apprentice title race all have a mount. Wayne Hassett rides Von Krolock, James Ryan is at Shoot To Kill and Adam Caffrey throws the leg over Skontonovski. It was very frustrating to follow him Cross-bordera former winner on the track and now trained by Gavin Cromwell. He is now four years old and the trip should suit him. Any market movements should be noted and he could have a great opportunity in either direction.

A 6f sprint handicap where Adrian McGuinness has a few interesting runners I am Spartacus – who was a good winner last time out here when he beat Collective Power – and Hezahunk. The former could still have a little hold on the handicapper with his runner-up to Blanc De Noir at Fairyhouse in good form and Adam Caffrey losing a valuable 3lb. Colin Keane takes over for Kevin Coleman as Devil’s Angel and could be popular in the market.

A 5f handicap for two-year-olds with Bobbi Rossa top scoring 78 and Sam Coen losing 10lb. Island girl However, she was able to score a score of 77 in her first handicap. Fozzy Stack’s team is doing great at the moment and she seems to be a great player. She seems to be learning all the time and Daragh O’Sullivan loses 7 pounds. She is my night’s sleep.

The best race on the card is the Group 3 Mercury Stakes over 5f and there is strong interest from the UK. There are 13 registered trips and six from the UK. Electric Storm has decent form and looks to be a player, while Star of Lady M has gained 35 pounds this season so she can’t be ruled out. However, we might just keep the prize at home His Majesty trained by Aidan O’Brien. He may not have trained as much as they would have liked, but some of his two-year form is outstanding and after a 13-month break from the track he made a pleasing comeback at the Curragh last month. He has the opportunity to improve.

The penultimate race on the card is a 1m maiden race and should prove revealing. Some Performance showed plenty of pace on his debut when finishing fourth to Expanded, who finished a narrow second in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Glenderry comes in after finishing second to Aftermath in the Curragh race, in a race that has produced several winners. This is what I like though Dakota blue trained by Johnny Murtagh. It was an expensive Breeze Up purchase and has been there twice. First over 7f at Tipperary on debut and then at the Curragh where he finished fourth to The Lion In Winter, the ante-post favorite for next year’s Epsom Derby. This is very strong form and increasing it to a mile should be fine. Dakota Blue is the one for me.

We end with a 1m 2f maiden race with Colin Keane booked to ride Stand Back, who should be suitable for the track but has had a poor run in a Ballinrobe bumper over the summer. There are many unprotected runners in this competition, and it may be best to be on their side tuba (there and back) at a fair price. He ran an excellent race over a mile in Limerick when he finished third behind Bomberg and followed in sixth to Emphasis in Killarney in a good first race and has had some decent performances since then. He’s had some time off the track and a stall-one draw can help him become competitive. There are three reserve players who could also be interesting to join.