Bucket seeks number seven at Dundalk Dundalk regular Shake The Bucket bids for his seventh success on the all-weather track when turning out again on Friday evening. Trained by Niall 'Boots' Madden, the seven-year-old started off his career in point-to-points and has mixed it over jumps and on the level during the last few years, but seems most at home at the Louth venue. The stable favourite, owned by the trainer's daughter, Sarah-Ann, gave youngest son Tom 'Socks' Madden his third winner there in November before another fine run in defeat last month when third behind Gretzky. "He's a real star around there. He's well enough in, he has 9-10 but we claim 7lb off and he's meeting Gretzky on better terms," said Madden senior. "They claimed off him the last time but they don't on Friday night so we are well in with him. "He always runs a good race around there so we are hoping for another big run." Matthew Smith drops Gretzy back slightly in trip after he landed what was a nice touch over a mile and a half. He went up 5lb for that victory while Joseph O'Brien takes over now from champion apprentice Connor King. "He's back in good old form. He was a bit out of form during the summer but he's come back to himself now," said Smith. "I don't think the trip will be a problem for him - hopefully not. There is no mile-and-a-half there for him for a while. He's in good form so we decided to run." Eddie Lynam would love to see Denny Crane go close, and while the eight-year-old has not won since October 2011 he invariably runs his race on the Polytrack meaning he has had little leeway from the handicapper. Lynam said: "His highest career-winning mark was 83. He's had 18 consecutive defeats and hasn't won in three years but is still 81. "He's a stable favourite but looks up against it."
