Willie and Emmet Mullins out to strike in lucrative £70,000 series final at Worcester – punting pointers for Friday's racing

Punting pointers from some of today's race meetings . . .

Dundalk: Whearty's eyecatching record

Manhattan Dreamer makes his first appearance since Newcastle’s All-Weather Championships finals day in the 6f apprentice handicap (5.15). 

The three-year-old was last of eight in the Listed Burradon Stakes 182 days ago, but returns to Dundalk, a track where she made the frame on her first three starts that included victory in a 14-runner maiden in January.

A mark of 71 could make Amo Racing’s daughter of Quality Road competitive on her handicap debut. Robert Whearty has ridden more than four times as many winners at Dundalk than any other track and is an encouraging booking by trainer Adrian Murray.

A £1 stake on all 62 of Whearty’s rides at the course this season would have yielded a profit of £23.75, with five of those being winners. Land Lover is also respected for Denis Hogan, who has won this race twice since 2019.

Manhattan Dreamer17:15 Dundalk (A.W)

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Jky: Robert Whearty Tnr: Adrian Murray

Dundalk: hot Halford

All six of Michael Halford’s runners in Dundalk’s Diamond Stakes (7.15) have made the frame in the last decade. Halford has been joined on the licence by Tracey Collins since Bear Story won back-to-back runnings of this race in 2021 and 2022 under Ronan Whelan, who rides Ameerat Jumaira this time. Last month’s course-and-distance winner could enhance the yard’s 20 per cent strike-rate in the Listed feature in the last ten years.

Ameerat Jumaira19:15 Dundalk (A.W)

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Jky: Ronan Whelan Tnr: M Halford & T Collins

Haydock: Fallon back at scene of Group 1 triumph

Cieren Fallon returns to Haydock for the first time since winning the Merseyside track’s Flat highlight of the season, the Betfair Sprint Cup, on Montassib this month.

The Saeed Suhail-owned duo of Supermodel and Nardra will make their debuts under Fallon for Montassib’s trainer William Haggas.

Cieren Fallon celebrates as he crosses the line in front on Montassib in the Group 1 Sprint CupCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Supermodel was bought for 150,000gns as a yearling and will contest the 7f fillies’ novice (2.15) before fellow Night Of Thunder progeny Nardra, a 440,000gns buy, lines up in the following 6f novice (2.50).

Sam Hawkens won a Salisbury maiden for Richard Hannon in May and will be ridden by Fallon for the first time on the son of Galileo’s second start for Haggas.

The three-year-old was fourth on his stable debut at Ascot last month and steps up in trip for the 1m6f handicap (4.00). Fallon’s final mount is the hat-trick-seeking Myal (5.40) on only his second ride for Steph Hollinshead this season.

Listowel: repeat result in Listed feature?

Man O Work bids to repeat last year’s win in the MCG Handicap Hurdle (2.40), the Listed highlight on the penultimate day of Listowel’s harvest festival.

That length-and-a-half success over the Wille Mullins-trained Horantzau D'Airy remains the biggest win of Cian Cullinan’s career, and the 7lb claimer is back for more on Paul Fahey’s son of Workforce.

The six-year-old was fifth behind subsequent German St Leger winner Prydwen on the Flat at Killarney when previously seen, and will have to defy a 6lb higher mark than last season’s victory against a five-strong Mullins squad headed by Kilbeggan novice winner Tounsivator.

Man O Work: won last year's runningCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Man O Work14:40 Listowel

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Jky: Cian Cullinan (7lb)Tnr: P G Fahey

Wolverhampton: Angel aims to follow up

Grace Angel bids to back up last Tuesday’s win at Yarmouth in Wolverhampton’s feature 5f handicap (6.30).

The filly has not run on the all-weather since finishing sixth at Lingfield in April, but did break her maiden over course and distance in July 2022.

Liam Wright rode the daughter of Harry Angel on that occasion and is reunited with the four-year-old for the first time this term.

Wright’s 5lb claim counteracts the penalty Grace Angel carries as a result of her Yarmouth win, which was her second victory of the year. She had previously been successful at Brighton last month.

Grace Angel18:30 Wolverhampton (A.W)

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Jky: Liam Wright (5lb)Tnr: Darryll Holland

Wolverhampton: Owen's strong strike-rate

James Owen has a 38 per cent strike-rate (11-29) at Wolverhampton. He saddles Flying Panther (5.25) and Destinado (7.30) on the evening card.

Worcester: £70,000 pot attracts big-name Irish trainers

The £70,000 prize-money on offer for Worcester’s 2m4f handicap hurdle (3.45) has attracted runners from Willie Mullins and his nephew Emmet, with the duo represented by Fine Margin and Backmersackme respectively.

Fine Margin, winner at this track and trip in July between victories at Fontwell and Bangor, will be partnered by 5lb claimer Kieran Callaghan, who seeks a first winner in Britain from his fifth ride. 

Donagh Meyler, the rider of Backmersackme who has ridden a Grade 1 winner for owner Paul Byrne before, makes his first visit to the track.

Neil Mulholland and Sam Twiston-Davies landed this race last year with Ike Sport and they team up again with Jacobs Acre. Brian Hughes continues his partnership with Mulholland’s other runner, Light Fandango. 

Mulholland said: "It looks a stronger race than last year with Willie and Emmet targeting it, but we'll be trying our best to get some of the good prize-money. It's great that tracks like Worcester are offering this at this time of the year.

"I'm not saying we'll win it, but both horses seem to be in good form and have run well at the course before, too, which should help their chances."

The Irish raiders also face stiff opposition from the hat-trick-seeking Flying Fortune for Peter and Michael Bowen, who also run fellow course-and-distance winner Letterston Lily.

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