Dundalk preview Last year's winner of the Dundalk Stadium - Light Up Your Night Race, Afonso De Sousa, has had only three starts in the interim but he would appear to again have every chance of capturing Friday night's extended 10-furlong event. The Henrythenavigator colt is said to need good or faster ground so it was hardly any great surprise when he finished towards the rear when last seen in the Lincolnshire at the Curragh back in March, with that event run on a soft to heavy surface. Joseph O'Brien now makes Afonso De Sousa his pick of a Ballydoyle trio. Stable companions Festive Cheer and Indian Maharaja have been disappointing and cheekpieces are now tried on the latter. Champion jockey O'Brien only has one other mount on this eight-race card, the George Kent-trained Coolgower in the first division of the bookings@dundalkstadium.com Handicap. This American-bred has nothing in particular to recommend her but she's worth watching in the betting as she makes her handicap and Polytrack debut. O'Brien's sister Ana had a day to remember when Cocoon dead-heated in the premier nursery at the Listowel Festival. The 7Ib claimer helps to offset Cocoon's welter 10st 2lb burden in the Dundalk Nursery. Despite being drawn widest of all in 14, the Galileo filly could be capable of further progression as she is now equipped with cheekpieces. Another of the O'Brien youngsters, Donnacha, could make it a memorable evening for the County Tipperary-based family on Waver in the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Apprentice Handicap. It looks like Aidan O'Brien has identified this mile-and-a-half contest as a nice opportunity for Waver, on the back of a maiden hurdle victory at Listowel just last Saturday. Elsewhere, the chief races of interest are for the juveniles at the start of the card. The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Auction Maiden has the 93-rated Sors amongst its number and he has several eyecatching opponents too. The Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Race sees the 95-rated Approbare face six rivals. Course winner Folk Law would seem to be a major contender as well in this six-furlong affair. Meanwhile, Gavin Faulkner is back to ride on these shores after quite an absence. He's on Bluerince Lady and Tohugo for trainer Mick Mulvany.
