Shield will relish longer trip

Shield, who has run well of late both on the flat and over flights, can land the [e-mail] Maiden on the all-weather tonight.

The five-year-old was last seen in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas, chasing home the smart Willie Mullins trained Sure Reef.

Prior to that, Shield appeared to be given a little too much to do when beaten three and a half lengths into second by Ballyadam Brook on this track.

He was certainly doing all of his best work at the finish and, hopefully, moving up no less than four furlongs in trip will work in his favour.

George Kent’s Shanooan is the fancy in the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Fillies Maiden.

She made plenty of improvement from her first to second runs when a length and a half runner-up behind the 82 rated Vector Force at Dundalk in December.

Tom McCourt’s Horsewithnoname is the choice in the first division of the Winter Racing At Dundalk Handicap.

He struck form with a vengeance when scoring by eight lengths here a week ago and a rise of 14lbs might not be enough to stop him.