Shield can put rivals to the sword in maiden

Not many pilots navigate Dundalk better than Joseph O’Brien and the champion jockey can prove such thinking to be reasonably accurate by guiding Shield to victory in the Happy Christmas To All Our Patrons Maiden on the all-weather tonight.

The selection’s last three outings have been over flights, producing his best effort to date last time when chasing home Willie Mullins’ Lucky Bridle at Thurles.

His last appearance on the flat came at the Curragh in October, when the Dylan Thomas gelding left a bad effort at Ballinrobe previously solidly behind, coming from off the pace to take third to McKinley and Cape Glory.