Nash has high hopes for Manekineko

James Nash expects Our Manekineko to put up a decent show at Dundalk on Friday despite his rise in the ratings.

The four-year-old will be aiming for a third successive victory at the track after winning over a mile twice in December.

Those victories have seen Our Manekineko jump up a total of 20lb in the ratings, with his last off a mark of 66 incurring a subsequent 12lb hike.

Nash said: "He seems in great form and obviously loves the track and trip but has to improve again in order to overcome his 12lb rise though.

"Carenza beat him on the grass at Leopardstown last July and I think she looks a big danger but our fella seems to be improving and is much better on the all-weather surface.

"Tomorrow will tell us a lot more about him but of the fancied ones, he looks one of the more progressive."

While Nash fears Carenza, her trainer David Marnane believes his charge could be in need of the outing as she returns from a 110-day break.

"She is coming back off a break but her form has been solid and we're hoping to go on from here," he said.

"She has a nice low weight and I think she'll like the place as she ran well there on her only visit, as a two year old. Fingers crossed she runs a nice race, but it is her first run back."

Another who has enjoyed a spell on the easy list is Captain Cullen, who was last seen finishing fifth at this track in October.

His trainer Ger Keane said: "We gave him a break after his last run and freshened him up.

"Hopefully he'll be fit enough for this and the small field should suit.

"Johnny Murtagh rode him when he finished fifth here the last day but he is inclined to be free in races with other horses around him and needs to get him settled. He's a difficult type of horse and needs to come with one run."

The Eddie Lynam-trained Iron Major was a winner on the turf last summer but after finishing a fine third at Dundalk in November, he was down the field on his most recent outing last month.

Lynam said: "He's in good form and I'm hopeful he'll run well.

"He's a funny little horse in that some days it comes right and some days it doesn't, but he is rated as high as he is capable of winning off but hopefully he can pick up a race during the winter series."

By Thomas Weekes