Dundalk AW Tips: Tuesday 26 May 2026

Dundalk AW Tips: Tuesday 26 May 2026

Dundalk under the lights on a cloudy Tuesday evening. Three featured races worth your attention, with the sprint handicap shaping up as the race of the night. Standard going throughout suits the AW regulars in this card, so horses with proven course form get a significant tick. Let’s get into it.

7:18 — Sunday 12th July Ladies Day At Dundalk Stadium Maiden (1m4f)

This maiden has a few interesting angles beneath the surface, even if the market will make Minella Rockett a fairly short favourite. The Joseph Patrick O’Brien yard has sent out 7 winners from 66 runners over the past fortnight, a solid clip, and Diligo (9/2 Boyle Sports) is one to take seriously on the step up to 1m4f on the all-weather.

On debut at Gowran he was green and slow to break, but ran on strongly into fourth over 9.5f. The Ballinrobe run in cheekpieces over 1m5f on what was likely an unsuitable track can be forgiven. Tongue-tie goes on now and crucially, a half-brother has already won on the all-weather. The step up in trip to 1m4f looks the key move, and Dundalk’s flat surface should smooth out the greenness that cost him on turf.

Minella Rockett has solid form figures here from November and the Aga Khan pedigree screams stamina, but the keenness issue at Navan on his return is a red flag. Until he learns to settle, he’s vulnerable at the odds. Diligo at 9/2 with the booking of Declan McDonogh is the value angle in an open heat.

Selection: Diligo (9/2, Boyle Sports)

Of the outsiders, Yogini Each-Way at 11/1 (Boyle Sports) is a fascinating debutant. A Waldgeist homebred, brother to a 1m4f winner and closely related to Group 1 winners Forever Together and Together Forever. This trip at Dundalk for a Donnacha O’Brien yard that knows this track is a clever placing. Worth a small each-way saver at the price.

5:42 — Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden (7f)

Jamestown (5/6, Boyle Sports) is the clear market leader here and for good reason. He has form figures of 4-2-2, placed in a valuable handicap at Naas over 1m on good ground. The fact that he was due to run in a 100k handicap at Haydock at the weekend tells you everything about the level the David Marnane yard is pitching this horse at. Dropping to a 7f maiden at Dundalk is a significant drop in class and he sets the standard comfortably.

The concern is the 5/6 price. He hasn’t won yet and faces a drop in trip to 7f, which may or may not bring out the best in him. The value is simply not there at that price in a 12-runner maiden where a couple of unexposed types could outrun their odds.

The horse to watch underneath is Kirkland Sioux (16/1, Boyle Sports). She lost all chance at the start at Leopardstown over 1m on good ground, yet was sent off at 13-2, suggesting her trainer and connections expected a bold show. If she breaks cleanly at Dundalk, she takes a big step forward and the 16/1 looks generous for a J P O’Brien inmate with that level of market confidence behind her first start. Declan McDonogh takes the ride again.

Selection: Jamestown (5/6) to win, Kirkland Sioux (16/1) Each-Way for the each-way interest.

6:48 — Put The Fun In Fundraising At Dundalk Handicap (5f, 13 runners)

The sprint handicap is the race of the card and Arctic Steps (6/1, Boyle Sports) is the selection. She won for a second time on turf at Naas over 5f just recently, beating 15 rivals in the process under Patrick McGettigan, who keeps the ride. Five outings at this track and a consistent record make her course form among the best in the field.

Yes, she has a 6lb rise to absorb after that Naas win, but the data tells you she is not fully exposed yet. She has been improving throughout and the flat 5f at Dundalk suits a front-runner or prominent racer who can quicken. She handles standard AW going and Patrick McGettigan has been in good nick.

The danger is Clonmacash at 9/1, who posted a career-best RPR winning over 6f here in April and his Chester defeat can be forgiven as an away-day blip. He loves Dundalk. Buddy Batt has a wide draw that is genuinely troubling over 5f on this track, and Sovereign Cry’s heavy defeat at Naas raises questions about his form away from Dundalk. Arctic Steps is the one.

Selection: Arctic Steps (6/1, Boyle Sports) Each-Way

Today’s NAP

Arctic Steps — Put The Fun In Fundraising At Dundalk Handicap (6:48, Dundalk AW)
Odds: 6/1 — Boyle Sports (others: 6/1 Betfred, 11/2 LiveScore Bet)

Five runs at Dundalk and a consistent course record backs up what the form book says: this filly thrives on this track. Her Naas win over 5f, beating a field of 16, was a performance full of merit and Patrick McGettigan stays aboard, which is a positive tick. The 6lb rise is the only question mark, but for a horse still improving, 6/1 in a 13-runner sprint handicap is fair value. Back to her favourite track, back to 5f on standard going.

Each-Way Recommended 4 places at 1/5 odds