Horse Racing Tips: Fran Berry’s top Friday flutters at Dundalk

Posted by Admin March 6, 2025 Horse Racing

Fran Berry’s Dundalk Tips

16:55 – Shamanka
17:30 – Notforalongtime
18:00 – Happy For Evva
18:30 – Beauforts Storm (NAP)
19:00 – Dromore Glory
19:30 – Valiant Force
20:00 – Mount Kilimanjaro
20:30 – Volatile Analyst

Fran’s Friday Acca: Shamanka, Beauforts Storm, Dromore Glory, Mount Kilimanjaro & Volatile Analyst

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at the time of publishing but subject to change.

Shamanka is dropping back in trip after running over a mile in January. The drop back to 7f should suit and bring out improvement. He beat Timandi at Dundalk in December and he can confirm that form. He’s the one to be with and he sets a good standard for the Natalia Lupini yard who are in fine form. I’d also keep an eye out for Ross O’Sullivan’s Merchants Arch as he’s better than his current rating of 62.

Notforalongtime is a three-time course and distance winner. He won last time out when blinkered for the first time and he travelled well. He may be getting back to his best form in this grade for Laura Hourigan. When he hits form, he can be hard to beat. It’s an open race and a strongly-run race would help him.

I’m siding with Happy For Evva, who is making her handicap debut. She’s lightly raced and her opening mark of 70 is fair. She was very well backed over course and distance when third at Dundalk in November and connections upped her to 7f in December which surprised me. She dropped back to 6f when second last time out and Shane Foley retains the ride. There should be a strong gallop which will suit her and she’s got a good draw in stall seven.

This is a cracking handicap. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Beauforts Storm. Her last run at Fairyhouse didn’t work out for her but she’s had a few good efforts in Listed company. The all-weather surface should suit her and if she can get herself in the first half dozen near the start of the race, she should be hard to beat.

Dromore Glory won at Dundalk in January and he followed that up with an impressive second in February when beaten by an unexposed type in Omakase. He looked like he had the race won last time but he ended up second and although he’s been busy this year, he is the one to beat. Nicola Burns claims 7lbs too which is a bonus given Dromore Glory carries top weight.

This race is really centred around the two Force horses – Valiant Force and Crypto Force. Colin Keane is booked for the latter and he ran a couple of really good races last year. If he’s at his best, he can go close but I’m with Valiant Force. He’s stepping up to a mile and his form is solid. His pedigree suggests he should enjoy the trip. There shouldn’t be too much pace in here which also suits.

This looks a penalty kick for Mount Kilimanjaro. He’s been well placed and I can’t go against Aidan O’Brien’s runner with Ryan Moore on board. The surface shouldn’t be an issue and he should go and win.

I was with Volatile Analyst last week and I’m sticking with him despite going up 11lbs in the weights for his win. The way he’s progressed since putting blinkers on has been really impressive. He got a good gallop to aim at last week and Jack Kearney retains the ride. He’s also claiming 5lbs which counters the rise in the weights!