Halford out to continue hot streak with double challenge

7.35 Dundalk
Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap | 1m | 3yo+ | ATR

Michael Halford, the leading trainer at Dundalk, is gearing up for a two-pronged attack on this feature mile handicap with Chestnut Fire and Hat Alnasar.

Both are course-and-distance winners and have the benefit of a low draw as they bid to provide their Curragh trainer with yet another good prize here.

Stable jockey Shane Foley has decided to keep faith with Chestnut Fire. The four-year-old was successful here 11 days ago and has gone up just 2lb for that win. Conor Hoban rides six-time course winner Hat Alnasar.

Topweight Bishan Bedi will need to put a recent last-placed effort behind him at this course if he is to figure, while Victorious Secret tackles a mile for the first time.

Course form on show
The majority of the field have course form. Bishan Bedi, Hat Alnasar, Chestnut Fire, Beau Satchel and Strait Of Zanzibar are all course-and-distance winners, while Victorious Secret has also won here twice over shorter trips.

What they say

Joseph O’Brien, trainer of Bishan Bedi
He seems to be in good form but he was disappointing here last time. Hopefully he can put that run behind him, although top weight won’t be ideal. I'm happy with him at home.

Michael Halford, trainer of Hat Alnasar and Chestnut Fire
Both are fit and well and have good draws. Chestnut Fire did it well last time. Hat Alnasar is probably paying the price for his own consistency. He enjoyed a terrific campaign last winter, winning five times here, but he may be a little high in the handicap. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is also ready to run his race.

Adrian McGuinness, trainer of Beau Satchel
He’s in good form. It’s a nice pot and it's his last start of the season so we said we'd take our chance. He won cushy enough last time at Leopardstown and he has been in very good form since. He's never won off his current mark though, and that’s a worry, but we have a top young claimer on board with Oisin Orr taking 5lb off his back.

Ken Condon, trainer of Strait Of Zanzibar
The draw isn't ideal, as he likes to go from the front, but if he were to break away smartly he could overcome that. He's just a lovely horse to have around the place and has won at Dundalk five times, so we know he handles the surface. He's due a break but he's in very good form and I hope he can run well off a low weight.

Fozzy Stack, assistant to Tommy Stack, trainer of Victorious Secret
It’s her first time trying a mile. Hopefully she'll get the trip. She's off a low weight, which will help, and it’s a big prize.