Sahreej Weighted To Go Close At Dundalk

Breath Of Blighty ran an absolute stormer for us on Thursday, despite drifting all the way out to 40/1. He put in a flawless round of jumping, and he was very economical over his fences. He saved his best jump until the last, putting in a spectacular leap and landing in the lead.

I thought he was going to go on and win easily, but the soft ground blunted his finish and he was agonisingly edged out of a place in 4th. The handicapper is likely to drop him another couple of pound for that run and, back on slightly better ground, he is well capable of winning a handicap chase.

Adrian Keatley has had a superb season. 

Dundalk has been a happy hunting ground for the blog, with Shelbe and Burning Brightly doing the business for us there in recent weeks. I like the look of another one there tomorrow and, with talented claimer Danny Sheehy taking off 7lb, Sahreej looks well capable of hitting the frame back in handicap company in the 5.30 (5F).

This 3yo gelded son of Zebedee used to be trained by Charlie Hills, but he was sold out of that yard in July and he is now in the care of shrewd Curragh handler Adrian Keatley. He made his debut for his new yard in a handicap over course and distance back in September, and he ran a cracking race under Chris Hayes to finish 3rd, just failing to get up by 0.5L off a mark of 85.

He headed to the Curragh (5f hvy) for his next start, but he didn't put his best foot forward and he finished well down the field, beaten 7.75L. Last time out he was tried in a listed heat back at Dundalk (5F), but he was outclassed in that company and he finished out the back, again beaten just over 7L. He has been dropped a couple of pounds for that effort, and he races off a mark of 83 on Friday night.

That means he is 2lb lower than for a half length defeat here in his last handicap and, as if that wasn't enough, Danny Sheehy takes off another 7lb for good measure. Sahreej is effectively off a mark of 76 and, when you consider his last win came by 4.5L off 83, he looks potentially very well treated back in handicap company.

The one negative is his draw in 12, but he will be held up for a late run and he was drawn 10 of 10 when going close here back in September. With a number of confirmed front runners in the race there should be no shortage of pace, and that should set the race up for a closer. Hopefully the gaps come at the right time for Sahreej and, if they do, I think he is capable of hitting the frame. At odds of 16/1 he is worth backing each way in what looks a very winnable handicap.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 5.30 DUNDALK-SAHREEJ E/W 16/1