Dad makes quick reappearance at Dundalk Ask Dad landed a real old-fashioned gamble at Dundalk on Wednesday evening, and the four-year-old gelding has very strong claims of following up again on the Polytrack just 48 hours later in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap. The son of Intikhab was rated in the high 90s when scoring twice as a juvenile for Richard Hannon but his mark has plummeted since and he was off just 55 when the money went down this week. Available at 20/1 in the morning, the Damian English-trained gelding went to post at just 4/1 and gave supporters no worries when prominent throughout and stretching clear in the final furlong to score by over four lengths. All three of his career victories have been gained over six furlongs but this extra furlong will surely hold no terrors, such was the ease of victory, and a mandatory 5lb penalty will leave him 'well in' compared to his future revised rating. Last season's champion apprentice Connor King has had a quieter time this term but he could well enjoy a double on the card with a pair of interesting handicappers, Octavia and First In The Queue. Octavia tackles handicap company for the first time in the www.dundalkstadium.com Nursery. David Marnane's charge may not set the pulse racing with form figures of 080 but the Irish 1,000 Guineas entry ran much better than her finishing position would imply at Naas last time. She was knocked back to the rear when badly hampered about two furlongs out but kept on in the closing stages to suggest an initial rating of 70 can be exploited. King is also on board First In The Queue in the concluding Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Handicap. The former Nicky Henderson-trained gelding made a belated seasonal debut for Joanna Morgan when a promising fourth over a mile at Leopardstown last month. A nine-times winner both on the Flat and over hurdles, he should appreciate this longer trip.
