Wide-open Mercury Stakes the highlight at Dundalk this evening A maximum field of 14 lines up for a highly competitive renewal of the Group 3 Bar One Racing Mercury Stakes at Dundalk this evening, the highlight on a seven-race card beginning at 5.15. West Acre heads a trio of UK raiders for this 5f feature and the Mehmas gelding, who won twice at Meydan earlier this year including at Group 2 level, is now fitted with cheekpieces as he reappears after a three-month break. The apprentice title race is an exciting four-way contest with Wayne Hassett currently on the 24-winner mark, one ahead of Robert Whearty, with Jack Cleary (22 wins) and Wesley Joyce (21) very much still in the hunt. All four young riders are in action this evening and every winner is important at this stage with just five Flat meetings remaining before the season ends on November 2. Ado McGuinness has a typically busy evening at Dundalk with six runners including Nikki Swango in the 6f handicap at 6.15. Michael Graham caught up with the Lusk trainer earlier this week as he outlined some plans for his team on the Polytrack over the coming months. “We are going to give Go Athletico a spin around Dundalk and see will he handle it. He might run in one of those good handicaps before Christmas. If not, he will finish up for the year. “Tribal Star has finished; he's on a break. There's a few of them off. “We would have 20 or more for Dundalk, definitely. Looking forward to that, just trying to get the races that will suit them.”
