Tsar Paul© Photo Healy Racing
Tsar Paul has not always been the most straightforward of characters but the nine-year-old has hit the form of his life in the past week and bids for a quick hat-trick at Dundalk on Friday night.
James Nash 's charge ended a long losing run when scoring in style under Ana O'Brien at the track last Friday.
The Xaar gelding clearly enjoyed that winning experience as he struck again on Wednesday night when powering home for another cosy success.
Conditions are tougher now as he carries the 10lb rise for his first success as well as an additional 5lb penalty for his last win.
The veteran has always been a strong traveller, however, and appears to have the ability to compete off this sort of rating when at his best. Fairy Foxglove who chased him home a week ago, reopposes and has a handy 12lb turnaround at the weights now. Elusive In Paris ran well over course and distance last month having dropped a nice bit in the weights and, remaining on that mark, looks capable of another big showing.
The other seven-furlong handicap on the card is of significantly better quality and classy sprinter Balmont Mast heads the weights on his return to action.
Eddie Lynam 's charge has been given a chance by the handicapper, having been dropped to a mark of 103, but may be more at home over shorter and is entitled to improve for his return. Rummaging will bid for a deserved success after filling the runner-up spot on his last three visits to the track.
Michael Halford 's gelding may just have found the mile a touch too far when chasing home Misty Lane here last time.
He is a couple of pounds better off with that rival now and is also 1lb better with Captain Joy having been a touch unlucky when chasing home that rival here in October. Marble Statuette bids for a hat-trick in the feature event but is stepping up in grade. She was given 7lb for her latest success in an apprentice race at the course and also runs from 2lb out of the handicap proper.
It looks a prudent move to book Tom Madden, who takes off a useful 7lb, for the Tony Martin-trained filly.
