Songhai makes each-way appeal at Dundalk

On the jumps front, Cheltenham Festival runner-up Sixandahalf should prove the one to beat at Sligo

Fri, 24 Oct, 2025 - 06:21

John Ryan

Take a chance on the consistent Songhai to reward each-way support in the Group 3 Bar One Racing Mercury Stakes, over the minimum trip, in Dundalk tonight.

Enjoying his best season as a trainer, Johnny Murtagh has bagged listed prizes with vastly-improves fillies Onemoredance and Shaool in recent weeks.

And, although she has a bit to find on ratings, Songhai should make a bold bid to earn winning black type on a track where she made a successful debut, over six furlongs, last February.

She has performed consistently all season, posting a number of rock-solid placed efforts, including two good runs behind recent Group 1 winner Arizona Blaze, more recently when third in the Sapphire at the Curragh.

Last time, on her return to the polytrack, Songhai chased home another Amo-owned performer Valian Force over this course and distance, with Black Forza a close third.

Suited by a strong pace, Songhai will be doing her best work late and is expected to finish in the frame again.

An 11-time winner, who contested the Group 1 Abbaye last time, Star Of Lady M, sixth in this race last year, might prove best of the three British challengers.

And it will be fascinating to see how sole two-year-old Kansas, trained by Aidan O’Brien, fares against his elders.

Fourth to Ipanema Queen here last time, his form also includes a second in Doncaster’s Flying Childers and a fifth behind Wise Approach in the Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket. He’s up against it here, but should figure prominently.

Earlier on the Dundalk card, Rosie Frith, winner of a Cork maiden and a close second to By The Lake over this route last time, might defy top-weight in the Christmas Party Nights Nursery.

This afternoon, Sligo stages its final meeting of 2025, with the focus on the five-runner Solar Generation Hurdle.

Caught close home by Air Of Entitlement in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, Gavin Cromwell’s mare Sixandahalf might prove the one to beat.

Third to Cottesloe Sunshine at the Punchestown festival, Sixandhalf was last seen when finishing down the field in the Irish Cesarewitch.

But, back over hurdles, and receiving weight from her four rivals, she can make her pace count and return to winning ways under Keith Donoghue.

Later in Sligo, John McConnell’s Additional Time, disqualified having beaten Herons Butler by a short-head in a recent, long-distance maiden hurdle in Thurles, might gain compensation in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden Hurdle.

DUNDALK

Selections

5.15 Independent Expert

5.45 Venetian

6.15 Masked Angel

6.45 Rosie Frith (NB)

7.15 Songhai

7.45 Boston Benjamin

8.15 Ben Lawers

Next best

5.15 Minaun View

5.45 I’m Spartacus