Irish racing tips: Johnny Ward's Friday selections at Dundalk

The optional claimer is a questionable concept, but its value is advertised here in that the first two contenders have to carry the maximum weight as they are not in to be claimed, yet that means Aiteall in particular is badly in at the weights. He's a three-year-old rated 16lb below Autocrat, but is giving him 6lb, so it should be straightforward for the Paul Sweeney-trained runner to beat him here.

The selection has won six times at Dundalk, too, including five times over this trip.

The market is made here by a favourite, This That, who I believe far too short at 9-4, and there simply has to be value elsewhere. 

I like Heart Of You who showed promise for Jessica Harrington, and seemed to be fancied on stable debut for Ken Condon, but had no run at all plus still looked green. 

She has plenty going for her off a rating of 72 here, and Billy Lee is in fine form. 

It's also worth keeping an eye on Yellow Sky, who I tipped at Galway when he ran no sort of race, and is also off 72.

He just failed from the widest draw here over a mile on stable debut last time out, when Glen Breeze was comfortably held, and did not get anything like a soft lead. 

Dubai Opulence makes plenty of appeal from a better draw and, crucially, drops back a furlong in distance.

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