Burn The Bookies With Brightly At Dundalk

Topalova ran a good race for us earlier this week, but unfortunately it wasn't good enough to reward each way support. I wasn't the only one who fancied her to improve for the step up in trip, and her price halved on the morning of the race.

I am not one for believing in market movers, but on this occasion I think it was a genuine gamble. She ran as though she was trying her best, but the trip on easy ground proved too far for her. I still think she will get the trip, but only on better ground.

Friday's fancy comes from the punter's graveyard, and it has been a while since I have put one up from Dundalk. However, the combination of John Joe Murphy and Colin Keane proved too hard to resist and, at odds of 33/1, I think a real case can be made for Burning Brightly off a mark of 67 in the 6.00, a 7f nursery handicap.

This 2yo son of Sir Prancelot has had four runs so far, and in three of those he finished well beaten. However, those three poor showings came on easy ground, including his handicap debut last time off 69 at Leopardstown (8f yld). A lot more encouragement can be gleaned from his sole start at Dundalk in his final maiden run, a race that has worked out very well.

Burning Brightly fell out of the stalls in that 5f contest, and Colin Keane did well to stay on board. He was in rear from early on, and he got outpaced as the race hotted up. However, he showed definite ability in the closing stages, and he stayed on for 6th under a pretty tender ride. He was just over 5L behind the winner Swish, and that horse is now rated in the 90s.

The 2nd home won his handicap debut next time out off 80 (4.5L ahead of selection), the 4th home has since won a maiden and a handicap off 80 (4L ahead) and the 7th home (a head behind) went on to finish 4th in a 108k sales race at the Curragh. Burning Brightly is related to an all weather winner, and he has another half brother that went close at Wolverhampton on the dirt.

Given all the above, I think Burning Brightly is capable of making an impact off 67 back at the only track he has shown an affinity for. His draw in stall 11 is a slight concern, and he will need to start better than he did on his last visit. However, Colin Keane is a master around here, and if any jockey is capable of overcoming a poor draw it is him. He has ridden 3 winners for Murphy this season (6 in total) and at odds of 33/1 I think Burning Brightly is worthy of a small interest each way.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 6.00 DUNDALK: BURNING BRIGHTLY E/W 33/1