Joseph O'Brien holds the key with three runners in Dundalk's best race on Friday

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As is the case with a lot of races run at Dundalk these days, Joseph O'Brien holds the key. O'Brien is triple-handed and has the two top-rated horses in the line-up in Grandmaster Flash and Tonkinese, but it could be worth concentrating on Scholastic at the opposite end of the handicap.

A filly who has been in good form in both codes, Scholastic was only narrowly beaten over the course and distance last month and looks to be attractively weighted in this contest, especially with Mikey Sheehy taking off a further 5lb.

Scholastic has yet to win from her four starts at Dundalk – she finished 12th, fourth and seventh on her first three attempts, albeit over trips ranging from six furlongs to a mile – but last month's effort was by far her best effort on the surface and she may not be far from breaking her duck there.

She looks the most likely winner, but O'Brien's other runners are classy horses on their day.

Tonkinese (near): 'needs things to fall right for him,' says trainer Joseph O'BrienCredit: Patrick McCann

Grandmaster Flash is having his first run since being gelded and has an 89-day absence to overcome. However, he has displayed a real liking for Dundalk, winning once and finishing second on another four occasions. He appears off a 9lb higher mark than for his last course run in November 2019 when beaten a short head.

Tonkinese is not easy to predict for all that he is a good fun horse who has more than paid his way for Syndicates.Racing. Unlike Grandmaster Flash, his all-weather record is less promising with no wins and two seconds from 15 starts.

John McConnell, who is already up and running for 2021, relies on Make The Switch, the biggest danger to the O'Brien-trained trio if seeing out the trip. He is up 6lb for his length-and three-quarters win over a shorter trip last month.

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Grandmaster Flash, Tonkinese and Scholastic
Grandmaster Flash is the classiest of my three but he has to give away a lot of weight and it is his first run after a layoff. Scholastic ran very well over the course and distance recently and goes there in good form. Tonkinese just needs things to fall right for him. We think he's capable of collecting prize-money at least.

Pat Flynn, trainer of Jake Peter
He's in good form. He just got a little bit lost on heavy ground the last day but he should give a good account of himself back on this surface.

John McConnell, trainer of Make The Switch
If he stays the trip, we think he can be competitive, it's just not guaranteed that he will. He's in good form.

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