Sheisdiesel to motor and land nice pot for Meade at Dundalk

Sheisdiesel and Colin Keane winning at Dundalk in 2018

Joe Fennessy

The handicapper may well just have too tight a grasp of SHEISDIESEL (6.00, Dundalk) but Noel Meade's charge is given another chance to land a nice pot this evening as Dundalk returns to our screens.

The first fixture of the new decade on the all-weather surface sees an eight-race card formed and a competitive field going to post for the Bet On The Best Night Out Handicap over a mile and a half.

2020 could be another big year for Colin Keane as he bids to be crowned champion jockey again as nemesis Donnacha O'Brien has gone training, and Keane has a two from two record on the selection over this course and distance.

Good draw

Sheisdiesel ran well last time out over a little shorter and the step back up to this distance, in a small field and with a good draw from gate four should tick a lot of boxes for punters.

Keane's championship credentials are so strong that you'd struggle to get much money on any price worth talking about.

While a championship looks beyond Rachael Blackmore this season, the leading National Hunt rider is keeping herself busy with a few spins on the level tonight.

Blackmore had a Christmas to remember at Leopardstown but makes the trip to Dundalk later where her best chance seems to be on the Anthony McCann-trained RAGTIME RED (8.00, Dundalk).

The last time out winner has gone up five pounds for his victory a fortnight ago but remains in low grade company and seems to be in the easier of the two divisions of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap.

The Pat Flynn-trained YARRAMAN (8.30, Dundalk) is the pick in the second division which closes the card.

Another man well able to mix both codes is Denis Hogan and SAYESSE (5.30, Dundalk) and RED AVENGER (6.30, Dundalk) could give the Tipperary handler another couple of winners at a venue which has been a happy hunting ground for Hogan in recent months.

A strong link with the National Hunt ranks begins in the opening race where Mark Enright rides ENOUGH SAID (5.00, Dundalk) for Aidan Fogarty and the four-year-old may just be open to enough improvement to oblige again.

BOUNDLESS POWER (7.30, Dundalk) not only has the benefit of a good run under his belt but also has the experience of a barrier trial under his belt and can put all that to good use in the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Stadium Maiden.

Johnny Feane has once again booked Kevin Manning for the three-year-old son of Slade Power and gets the nod over Charles O'Brien's Intervention.

Meanwhile, declarations will take place this morning for the first Grade One of the new year. The Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle is expected to attract the Gordon Elliott-trained Envoi Allen.

Some have been touting a possible Champion Hurdle assault this season for the unbeaten Envoi Allen who will step up to 2m4f for the first time on Sunday and among his expected rivals are Longhouse Poet and Midnight Run.

DUNDALK TODAY

5.00 Enough Said

5.30 Sayesse

6.00 Sheisdiesel

6.30 Red Avenger

7.00 Parkers Hill

7.30 Boundless Power

8.00 Ragtime Red

8.30 Yarraman