Dundalk Sunday: Never Say Nivvo Again

I think the handicapper has been lenient with Tracey Collins’ improving filly Nivvo at Dundalk.

2:00 Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden

Ger Lyons has an outstanding record with newcomers at Dundalk, and Andre Amar can continue that trend, in a race where all the runners are debutants. Andre Amar is a son of Dandy Man out of a talented maiden half-sister to useful mile winner Neutrafa and 2-y-o seven-furlong winner Three Gems. He is a half-brother to Buccaneer’s Vault, a useful handicapper at up to seven furlongs who won on his debut as a juvenile, and looks a sharp prospect on paper, a notion backed up by an entry in the Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar in the autumn.

Bet: Back Andre Amar @ 

3:05 Lmfm Fillies Maiden

Michael O’Callaghan has inherited a decent prospect in Rionach here, and the daughter of Sea The Stars promised plenty when fourth on her last two starts as a juvenile, firstly behind Muirin at the Curragh, with a pair of subsequent winners in front of her, and then when paying the price for making a race of it with I Can Fly here. The winner is a big fancy for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, so it’s no disgrace to have failed to make an impression there, and she would have finished a comfortable third if ridden for a place. Her pedigree suggests she will improve again as a three-year-old, and her new handler will be keen to strike at the first time of asking.

Bet: Back Rionach @ 

5:25 Meridian Security Irish European Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap

Nivvo looks a very good bet back up in trip after racing against the likes of Diagnostic in the All-Weather Fillies’ and Mares’ Championships at Lingfield last time over a trip too sharp for her. She had won over seven furlongs here prior to that, but stays this trip well, and should prove her current mark to be lenient by getting back to winning ways for Tracey Collins. She split subsequent winners when runner-up in a C&D maiden in December, and a repeat of that effort may well suffice, although she is open to significant improvement in any case.

Bet: Back Nivvo @