The Trials and Tribulations of Dundalk!

Around a year ago I started the process of compiling speed figures for Dundalk. Armed with a database covering all previous meetings, my early findings where that the results and markets were far more volatile, with only weekly meetings (usually Friday) making the form lines a little bit more tenuous than its All Weather counterparts in England. Handicaps are the exception to this rule and that is where I will focus my attention this evening.

As the Irish markets are not generally formed until late morning there is also little liquidity on the exchanges to place any meaningful wagers until early afternoon. Add to the mix the ‘Reserves’ policy which leaves you guessing on the make-up of the field until mid-day of the race at the earliest.

Last week was a typical scenario where the reserve, in this case Johann Back was my first selection with Wither Hills and He’s Our Music my next choices (all qualified under the same criteria). Waiting on the reserves to either be declared or withdrawn is not conducive to getting opening shows and left me getting my prices ordered, steadily filled throughout the day. In one scenario only half my stake was matched and the remainder was matched at BSP. This was far lower than opening shows regardless of any subsequent rule 4 the reserves may have incurred.

Today has seen a similar scenario playing out and against my better judgement I simply played 4 horses EW in the 8:40 (only two remain) and 3 in the 9:10 (all 3 still run)

These recommendations are EW plays @ EW prices!

8:40 Timjoe  12.5 (Exchange) 12-1 (Bookmakers) & Horsewithnoname 9.0 (Exchange) 8-1 (Bookmakers)

9:10  General Bunching, Golan Heights & Ed Led Jed – all around 20’s on both the exchanges and Bookmakers.

The whole process of making the most of Dundalk is still very much a work in progress. I hope for favourable results but expect at minimum a bold run ;)

Good Luck