Thursday racing tips: Acquiescent will appreciate the return to all-weather surface

A busy afternoon with two Flat meetings in Ireland, one on turf, the other on the all-weather

Thu, 02 Sep, 2021 - 00:00

Tommy Lyons

A busy afternoon with two Flat meetings in Ireland, one on turf, the other on the all-weather. The nap goes to Acquiescent, who will appreciate the return to Dundalk and can give Colin Keane another winner in his run towards a third champion jockey title.

John Murphy’s filly has been kept on the go this summer turf season but hasn’t, thus far, managed to add to the two wins she achieved last year. While one of those was on the grass, she won a fillies’ handicap at Dundalk off a mark of 79, which is 4lbs higher than she runs off today. And in her five runs to date on the surface, she has won once, been beaten the minimum margin in another, and finished third on three occasions, including off a mark of 83. Clearly, there is a strong chance that a return to this venue will bring better luck for the four-year-old, and connections’ decision to apply blinkers for the first time can eke out a little extra.

Approach The City is interesting on his first run for Matthew Smith, while Prisoner’s Dilemma showed something on his recent return to action, at Killarney, and is entitled to improve for that.

The opening race at Clonmel is the Clonmel Racecourse Supporters’ Club Fillies’ Maiden and a chance is worth taking on Ubuntu finally getting off the mark.

She was behind one of today’s rivals, Shahaada, on debut last year but showed significant improvement when a close third in a Group 3 on her next start. Since then, things really have not gone her way and, after starting this season on a handicap mark of 95, she is now 20lbs lower.

Today’s race offers an opportunity as many of her main rivals have something to prove over the trip, whereas she is dropping down in trip and should her rider, Seamie Heffernan, elect to set the pace, he could see them all off. Give Her A Squeeze caught the eye on her first start over this trip and if she truly stays, she will also be in the mix. She travelled strongly on that occasion, at Gowran Park, but was denied a clear run in the straight. This being quite a modest maiden, she ought to be involved at the finish.

DUNDALK

Tommy Lyons

3:00 All Things Bright

3:30 Thaleeq 4:00 Acquiescent (nap)

4:30 New York City

5:00 Amazing Emma

5:30 Hodd’s Girl

6:00 Adams Barbour

6:30 Rayadiyr

Next best

3:00 Sister Lola

3:30 Phantom Power