Son Of Beauty should prove tough to beat

Nikki Swango returns after a break and should be noted in the New Saddle Bar At Dundalk Stadium Handicap

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026 - 06:00

John Ryan

Dundalk preview

An eye-catcher on his debut here in January, the Stephen Thorne-trained Son Of Beauty should prove tough to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden in Dundalk.

A Nando Parrado gelding, he was sent off at 11/1 for his debut in a seven-furlong maiden and, coming from well off the pace, he was doing his best work in the closing stages, finishing a close third behind 80-rated Flanker Jet and the frustrating Astronomically, beaten less than a length.

Son Of Beauty went into plenty of notebooks on that occasion although, admittedly, the first six home were covered by two lengths.

Plenty of improvement is expected from Thorne’s charge over this longer trip and, if he takes a step forward here, he should take plenty of beating.

Danger include Ken Condon’s Star Of Beauty, third in a Naas maiden last August on her second start, but returning after a 194-day absence.

A revelation since joining Ado McGuinness (from John McConnell), Nikki Swango returns after a break and should be noted in the New Saddle Bar At Dundalk Stadium Handicap as she prepares for a Good Friday target, probably in Newcastle.

This mare has won four times and been places in her other three outings since joining McGuinness, a sequence which has seen her mark rocket from 44 to 78.

All wins for her current yard have been achieved over this course and distance, stretching back to last October, her most recent win being achieved in December off a mark of 73.

In her only subsequent outing, she did a lot of things wrong in a Class 2 handicap in Newcastle in January.

After a tardy start, she was keen and had to bide her time when looking for a run before encountering traffic issues and coming through to fill second spot, beaten four lengths, behind Stateira, with compatriot Indigo Dream back in third.

Now back in familiar surroundings, Nikki Swango will need a career-best off 78 here, but should run a big race in a field which includes Lahore Da King and Rockbury Lad.

Although stepping up in trip again, the Andy Slattery-trained Drucker is expected to follow-up last month’s wide margin victory (over a mile and a half) in the two-mile BAR 1 Betting Best Odds Guaranteed Amateur Handicap.

Successful twice on the polytrack, the four-year-old had plenty in hand when slamming Satono Chevalier by more than four lengths and should confirm form off this 8lb. higher mark, if he settles for Adam Ryan and sees out the two miles.

SELECTIONS

John Ryan

4.37 Pliny

5.12 Nikki Swango

5.45 Inishmot Prince

6.15 Drucker (nb)

6.45 Without Love

7.15 Son Of Beauty (Nap)

7.45 Alex Belardo

8.15 Tokenomics

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