Chestnut Fire can roast rivals in closing race at Dundalk
Michael Halford’s horse was a ready winner of a maiden at Fairyhouse in late September, and didn’t have the race run to suit when a close fourth behind Wexford Opera at the Curragh just a fortnight later.
The son of Showcasing made his all-weather debut earlier this month and, showing himself to be progressive, travelled well just off the pace, and ran on well to win with a little to spare. He has been raised 9lbs for that success, but the three-year-old looks capable of winning off his new mark of 83, and is preferred to Reckless Lad.
Victorious Secret showed enough promise on debut, at this track, to suggest a maiden is within compass, and she can prove so by taking the opening race.
Tommy Stack’s filly travelled nicely just behind the pace on her debut, but was unable to quicken up enough to get to experienced pair Indrahar and Sufoof. A little more than two lengths behind runners now rated 81 and 80 respectively, it was clearly a very bright effort by the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor and any improvement on that should make her very hard to beat.
The danger may come from Up Up And Away, who has shown promise on both outings. The subject of heavy support on the more recent of those runs, at the Curragh, she has the assistance of Pat Smullen this time, and market confidence would be significant.
Mark Johnston has had plenty of success with his British challengers, and his Twobeelucky looks another likely winner, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The colt was runner-up on his debut at Nottingham, and met a real tarter when filling the same place, seven lengths behind Wajeez when sent off favourite at the same track next time out.
Unlikely to run into something as smart here, the promising sort can make it third-time lucky, at the expense of Red Rannagh, who looks as though the step up to a mile should play to his strengths.
