7:15 Dundalk Tips

Kitty Bear holds solid course form and shaped well last time. With her regular 7 lb claimer aboard, she’s weighted to go close and could add another C&D success.

Palazzo Persico remains of interest, especially because this quite marked drop in trip (10f to 7f) could suit, judged on breeding (by the sprinter Profitable). Has run prominently on two of the last four occasions here at Dundalk and kept on to the finish. Won three times on the all-weather for Ed Dunlop previously (at 1m and 1m2f, admittedly). Reese Holohan returns to the saddle, and this excellent 16- or 17-year-old apprentice is worth his 4 lb claim. He has a +£69 career record to £1 stakes on all runners. Denis Hogan trained, James MacAuley owned.

Normally I look away from horses with ratings under 50, as they are pretty poor. Punk Poet does have an interesting look, being on 48. He has won off 83, so being thirty-five pounds down from that mark (plus twenty pounds from recent marks) he could be putting it together for a big run, appearing from this course-and-distance winner.

Deep Vein is a 4yo gelding trained by Noel Meade. He is 0-15 in wins and runs today off a career low handicap mark of 43 (posted a career high RPR of 54 in five starts on the AW) and 36, with apprentice Emily Grifferty taking off 7 lb, so he runs off just 8 st 6 lb. He's been campaigned over a variety of trips but by and large over further. It's eye-catching that whilst Deep Vein hasn't yet placed, he does race very prominently, having led at some point in two of his last three races. At Clonmel over 9.5f three starts back he was beaten 5.25 lengths off 47 and led for a large part of the race. On his penultimate start over 12f off 37 he ducked at the start, took a keen hold, led, was headed under 2f out, and weakened in the final furlong. He's 1 lb lower today and, with two runs now under his belt after a 176-day break, he may be let loose from the front over today's mile and surprise a few of his main market rivals.