Orr hoping to row in with McGuinness for Specific success

6.00 Dundalk
Crowne Plaza Jockey & Trainer Awards Handicap | 1m2f | ATR

Oisin Orr is an apprentice in demand and Adrian McGuinness has secured the services of the popular 5lb claimer for Specific Gravity, who has three course wins to his name in 2016, two of which were over this trip.

Specific Gravity was a comfortable two-length winner of a course and distance handicap in mid-October off a mark of 65. He is only 3lb higher for this and has drawn stall one so everything looks in place for a bold showing from the eight-year-old.

Sharjah is the ultimate course specialist. Six of his ten wins have come at his beloved Dundalk but he has finished eighth on his last two starts and needs to bounce back to the sort of form that enabled him to win at Hamilton in June.

Joseph O'Brien is double-handed with Stone Mountain and Udogo, and recent form would suggest the latter is his number one hope in the hands of younger brother Donnacha.

The wonder of Whelan
Ronan Whelan, rider of Brokopondo, has been successful on three of his last 11 rides at Dundalk, winning at 8-1, 16-1 and 6-1.

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Stone Mountain and Udogo
Stone Mountain is going back up in trip having disappointed over a mile last time and hopefully he can bounce back to form. He doesn't have a great draw in stall 11, though. Udogo is doing the opposite and drops down in trip having been a good third over a mile and a half last time. He arrives in better form and is better drawn in stall three, so he is probably the pick of my two.

Johnny Levins, trainer of Brokopondo
He ran behind the bridle for too long the last day and got going too late. The hood and a lack of freshness may have been the reason. I have left the hood off and freshened him up so one would be very hopeful.

Andy Slattery, trainer of Sharjah
He's getting fitter and getting back to himself with every run. I was happy with how he performed last Friday night and I think he has come forward again since. I expect a good run from him and he is not too badly drawn in stall five.

Adrian McGuiness, trainer of Specific Gravity
He has a great draw in stall one and the last few times he has been drawn towards the inside he has won, so that's certainly a good omen. He is obviously off a higher mark than he won off over course and distance last month, but I think he has improved since and having the services of Oisin [Orr] is a big bonus. He has been very lucky for us.