Friday Tipping: McCarthy doubly represented for repeat bid in Ladies Handicap Hurdle Another double header in Ireland on Friday sees Listowel stage their penultimate afternoon of the Harvest Festival beginning at 1.40pm with Dundalk under the lights that evening starting at 5.30pm. Eoin McCarthy was quick out of the blocks to book both Jody Townend and Anna McGuinness for his two runners in the MCG Ladies Handicap Hurdle (2.15), the two riders alongside their respective mounts last Tuesday. In a recent interview, McCarthy singled out Who’s Da Goose as the horse he’d love to win with at this meeting as it’s owned by his daughter Clodagh. Now 9lb higher for his Wexford win, the 4yo has crept into the race under Townend and might just hold the upperhand over his stablemate Ollie La Ba Ba and Anna McGuinness. Last year in this race it was Jody Townend who proved victorious aboard Ollie La Ba Ba when rated 4lb lower and with her now switching to ride Who’s Da Goose it might well be a tip in itself. Glory back on the polytrack on Friday COINCIDENTAL GLORY returns to Dundalk and has a notable booking in rising star Reese Holohan who’ll claim 4lb off his back in the apprentice handicap over 6f at 6.00pm. While he must race off his AW mark of 72 on Friday, his last three runs at this venue off this same rating were 1-3-2, with his most recent visit yielding a win over 7f last December. He’ll renew rival with Paul Flynn’s Caffu Zafeen who must shoulder a 7lb penalty for his victory at Fairyhouse last Monday. Coincidental Glory finished five-and-a-quarter lengths back in third place on that occasion and back on a surface he acts well on the hope is he can reverse that form and get his head in front where it matters. O’Brien going in search of more Diamond success The BAR 1 Betting Diamond Stakes over an extended 1m2f is the richest race on the Dundalk evening card with a field of seven including two British challengers — Alla Stella (Sir Mark Prescott) and Military Order (Charlie Appleby). The latter has ran well following a break before and was last seen in Bahrain last November when third in a Group 2 event. The 6yo gelded son of Frankel overcame a six-month break to win on his return at Newbury in 2023 and with the stable operating at a 62% strike rate in the last 14 days (13-21) coupled with the assistance of Billy Lee, he’ll have his supporters. Slight preference though is for the sole Aidan O’Brien challenger CHARLES FORT, one of two 3yos in the line up, to build again on his recent career-best effort in Group 2 company at the Irish Champions Festival. He finished third behind Quddwah in the Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown over 1m and stepping up in trip here might see him in a better light for a trainer who has won this 1m2f 150yds listed contest eight times. Lough Leane has his chance under Holohan LOUGH LEANE did us a favour on quick ground at Down Royal at the start of this month and ran with credit off his revised mark at Clonmel since despite a lot going wrong. Short of room soon after the start it was a similar story when they turned for home before he had to settle for second spot on ground (yielding) that probably wasn’t ideal. With six wins to his credit on synthetic surfaces in Britain, going back over this slightly longer trip should help off this 1lb higher rating. He might prove good enough from this low draw in the 1m2f 150yds handicap (8.00pm) with Holohan teaming up for the first time.
