October 03 / 17.55 Dundalk (AW)

17.55

Standard

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  • Prize money: £8289.26
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • 5 runners
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Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 180022 CD BF

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won the Group 2 Norfolk as a 2yo; won this 12 months ago and gained two further Dundalk wins this year, at 6f and 1m; nothing wrong with his recent defeats here at 5f and 6f, under big weights in handicaps; every chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(4)

15th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

14:25 Dundalk (AW)

Valiant Force

10st 0lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: Robson De Aguiar

Five-time winner at the track at 5f-8f, including 4-runner minor contest last winter; out of form on turf in first half of season and last month's AW return leaves him with a fair bit to find with some of these.

10/1

7th

1

(6)

12th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

14:00 Dundalk (AW)

Valiant Force

10st 4lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: Robson De Aguiar

Struggling on turf this season but won his last start over C&D in February and, overall, he has won five times at this venue over a variety of trips; second behind Eclairage in this last season; a return to form would come as no surprise but David Egan prefers Ipanema Queen.

16/1

13th

1

(7)

27th Jun 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

17:05 Curragh

Valiant Force

10st 0lb

J: Donagh O’Connor

T: Robson De Aguiar

Sole win on turf in the 2023 Norfolk Stakes; has won five conditions races at Dundalk since, the most recent over 5f in February; has struggled since then; drop in class after contesting a Listed race and C&D Group 2 in May; was 20lb higher at his peak; still an entire.

12/1

Form: 1144-0

Last run: 55 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Smart 2yo, winning a 6f Group 2 at Glorious Goodwood; difficult to know where he is right now having finished tailed off in a 6f Group 3 at the Curragh in early August on first sighting since contesting the Middle Park last September; tried blinkers last time and those are removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

(7)

15th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

14:25 Dundalk (AW)

Black Forza

9st 10lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: M D O’Callaghan

Group 2 Richmond Stakes winner in 2024; sparingly raced last year, including third of 5 behind Valiant Force in 5f conditions event here; never sighted on seasonal return in Naas Listed in May and has had time off since (gelded); first-time headgear combination for handicap debut.

9/1

29

(4)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Black Forza

9st 0lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: M D O’Callaghan

Reserve; won 6f Group 2 at Goodwood (good to firm) as a 2yo; sparingly raced with mixed results since and has plenty to prove after a low-key Listed run on reappearance at Naas (5f); no aids latest; has worn blinkers, first-time cheekpieces today.

50/1

7th

1

(6)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

17:26 Naas

Black Forza

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: M D O’Callaghan

Winner of a Goodwood Group 2 in 2024; sparingly raced last year, well beaten in a Curragh Group 3 (6f, good); some better efforts twice at Dundalk but more needed here and lacks a run.

18/1

Form: /131-5

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Smart sprint form in America and may have found the yielding ground soft enough in a Listed at Tipperary (just behind Songhai but now 6lb better off); could be a different proposition on this surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(14)

30th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:35 Goodwood

Fandom

9st 10lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Below par in Stewards' Cup but largely in good form over 5f/6f otherwise for current stable, keeping-on third in Shergar Cup Dash most recently; again has place claims.

8/1

3rd

4

(7)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

13:35 Ascot

Fandom

9st 12lb

J: Suraj Narredu

T: Richard Hannon

Ran on well when third in a C&D handicap last month; not in the same form when down the field in the Stewards' Cup last week; not discounted in these slightly calmer waters.

6/1

24th

16

(22)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Goodwood

Fandom

9st 3lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

6f winner at Thirsk (good) in May and back at a similar level when a keeping-on third behind Dubai Bling at Ascot (5f, good to firm) three weeks ago; should run his race but others are perhaps better treated.

20/1

Form: -73125 CD

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Completed a C&D hat-trick late last year and beat Valiant Force here this summer in a handicap; will do well to confirm those placings on these much tougher terms but has continued to run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(11)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

17:58 Cork

Eclairage

9st 3lb

J: Terry Casey

T: Daniel James Murphy

Second runner for yard; all four wins have come on AW but front-runner was second in this race last year off 2lb lower; just denied at Dundalk last time and 2lb lower on turf, so should go well.

11/2

2nd

4

(1)

12th Jul 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

14:00 Dundalk (AW)

Eclairage

9st 3lb

J: James Ryan

T: Daniel James Murphy

Speedy filly has an excellent strike rate over C&D (4-6) including this race last year off 2lb lower; went close behind Howd'yadoit at Navan in May but has failed to fire in three runs since; return to this track offers hope of a revival and cheekpieces are added; bold bid likely from plum draw.

12/1

15th

6

(12)

28th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

13:40 Curragh

Eclairage

9st 9lb

J: Terry Casey

T: Daniel James Murphy

Has only won on the AW but nearly put that right in a 5f handicap at Navan last month; not suited by the rain-hit ground when well beaten in the Dash at Epsom; failed to maintain a strong gallop in a Cork Listed race in which Likedbymike and Erosandpsyche were placed.

25/1

Abandoned

Form: 326334 C BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Admirably consistent filly who won her maiden here in February and has been holding her own since then in a Group 2 and five Listed races; progress may have plateaued but still commands considerable respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

11

(11)

24th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

19:15 Dundalk (AW)

Songhai

9st 11lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

Yet to win this year but has been running very well in defeat; chased home Valiant Force over C&D latest (Black Forza and The Highway Rat behind); fine third in the 5f Group 2 Sapphire Stakes earlier this season; won her maiden here (6f) and she should be in the mix again.

10/1

6

(6)

14th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

17:35 Dundalk (AW)

Songhai

9st 7lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

Yet to add to her 6f debut win at this venue; running well in defeat in stakes company this season and her rating of 98 might underestimate her ability; the return to this venue is a plus and she should go well.

6/1

Verdict

Last year’s winner Valiant Force has been running really well under welter burdens in handicaps and looks sure to put up a bold defence. However, it might pay to chance FANDOM, a smart American sprinter who probably found yielding ground on the slow side when returning from a year out at Tipperary. Songhai won’t be far away.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Valiant Force

The Irish Sun:

Eclairage

SPOTLIGHT:

Fandom

TOPSPEED:

Valiant Force

POSTDATA:

Valiant Force