Johnny Murtagh expects the step up in trip to suit More Than Munny in the €25,000 32Red Casino Race (7.35pm) at Dundalk, Ireland, tomorrow, Friday, February 19.
The seven-furlong Polytrack contest is one of two Fast-Track Qualifiers on the Dundalk card, with the winner guaranteed a free start in the £150,000 32Red All-Weather Three-Year-Old Mile at Lingfield Park on All-Weather Championships Finals Day, Good Friday, March 25. More Than Munny was fourth to impressive winner Roman Impero (Michael Halford/Conor Hoban) in a seven-furlong maiden at Dundalk on January 8 and needed every yard of six furlongs when overhauling Go Kart by a neck in a maiden at the same venue two weeks later. Apprentice Denis Linehan rides More Than Munny for the second consecutive time and claims his 7lb allowance. Murtagh said: "More Than Munny came out of his last race in great form. He is very well and we are looking forward to tomorrow night because it should tell us where he fits in. "I didn't expect him to win over six furlongs and the step back up to seven should definitely suit. "It looks a good race. Mick Halford's horse won nicely last time and Mark Johnston has a good strike rate when he brings them over. "We have a bit to find but I'm hoping the trip will bring out more improvement." The field is completed by British challenger Turbine (Mark Johnston/Joe Fanning), who was fourth to Race Day in a similar contest at Lingfield Park in November, and Les Talionis (Johnny Levins/Donagh O'Connor), who contested three Group Two races last year. Shalaman (David Marnane/Pat Smullen) and Mandatario (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning) are moving up sharply in trip for the €25,000 32Red.com Race (7.05pm). The two-mile contest is a Fast-Track Qualifier for the £150,000 32Red All-Weather Marathon over the same distance on Good Friday. The line-up also includes course scorers Bittern (Emmet Mullins/Wayne Lordan) and Lake Champlain (Jessica Harrington/Tom Madden), plus talented hurdler Modem (Jessica Harrington/Sean Corby). Dundalk's seven-race card starts 6.05pm and concludes at 9.05pm.
