FLASH CAN BE MASTER
THE once-raced Grandmaster Flash should be very tough to beat in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk 2-Y-0 Race in Dundalk tonight.
The County Louth track stages two meetings this week, tonight and Friday. And Joseph O’brien’s Australia colt, which shaped with plenty of promise on his debut here three weeks ago, is napped to take advantage of the 5lb he receives from Playa Del Puente, the only previous winner in the seven-runner field.
The selection was sent off jointfavourite for his debut, over seven furlongs, and came home well to be beaten three-quarters of a length by Thebeastfortheeast.
Strictly on that form, Grandmaster Flash has a bit to find with chief rival Playa Del Puente, which had that colt back in third when scoring over seven furlongs here in October.
But Richard O’brien’s colt, keen when third on that occasion, probably improved plenty for that run.
And Grandmaster Flash is expected to step forward significantly from his debut effort, with the extra furlong of tonight’s race expected to suit him.
The 5lb he receives from his rival, plus Shane Crosse’s 5lb claim might give the selection the edge.
Joseph O’brien might also strike with hat-trick-seeking Shadow Seven in the finale as he bids to defy a combined rise of 18lb for his two wins once over tonight’s trip – a mile and a half.
A convincing winner over a short trip last time, the grey will appreciate returning to the longer distance here and might score for 7lb claimer Alan Persse.
And Pat Flynn’s versatile charge Jake Peter, beaten a half-length by Artic Pearl in a handicap hurdle at Punchestown last time, appeals in the two-mile 45-65 handicap.