Thorne introduces new recruit in Dundalk feature Dundalk hosts it’s final meeting before Christmas with the BAR 1 Betting Merry Christmas Handicap the feature on an eight-race card this evening and the action gets underway at 4.30. The Stephen Thorne-trained Instant Appeal scored for the second time this month on Wednesday, and the Meath-based handler has now taken charge of Take Heart who debuts for the yard in the concluding €24,000 highlight. Take Heart won three times for Johnny Murtagh including a valuable Goodwood handicap last year and was bought by current connections out of David Menuisier’s yard for 29,000 guineas. “He's a nice horse we picked up in October. We have nursed him along and he's ready to start, but whatever he does will be a bonus,” said Thorne. “Hopefully, he will be a nice horse for the new year. “He was appealing to us because he has tumbled down the weights. Hopefully, we can rejuvenate him.” The Shamrock Thoroughbreds-owned son of Dark Angel held a career high rating of 99 after that Goodwood success and has now dropped down to 88. Thorne has four runners in total on the card including Ocean Manifest in the 6.00 and Far From Dandy (7.00) who both won last time out and again have strong claims. Billy Lee has a couple of fancied rides on the evening aboard Wearing Stars in division two of the 6f juvenile maiden (5.00) and the Andy Oliver-trained Pretty Omagh Girl who bids to go one better in the mile maiden (6.30) after finishing second here last month. Henry de Bromhead’s Wearing Stars looks set to go off at odds-on after going close over course and distance last time.
