The seven-year-old Double Kodiac showed useful form when trained by UK-based Simon Crisford, winning on debut over six furlongs and postmarking a high of 97 over seven furlongs at Newmarket.
He was sold on by his Arab owners and was campaigned between six furlongs and a mile right up to November 2021, before he moved to current trainer Noel Kelly, who has tried to get him to settle over middle-distance trips.
It has taken seven runs, but by deploying a hood Double Kodiac has learned to switch off and he has been seeing out 12-furlong races.
His mark is down to a basement 47 level, and is so well handicapped that he could win easily when in the mood.
19:00 (Dundalk) Double Kodiac
He did get punted over ten furlongs last year, but was badly bumped at the start and was never in that race, so clearly it must be that showing some ability remains.
By reading between the lines here, it appears that Double Kodiac was best when fresh, and while he had a couple of comeback runs in September and November, he has been off for an ideal freshening-up period of 79 days and that seems to be the logical approach.
They have removed the hood that has switched him off in his races, and freeing him of headgear might have the desired effect of allowing him to race with a little more freedom and stride out.
In my opinion, Kelly is still tinkering with him, as he raced Double Kodiac on his reappearance over one and a half miles, but brought him right back to seven furlongs last time.
He used Sean D Bowen on his latest runner, where he finished fourth of 13 at 100/1, and Sean was on Double Kodiac once last year, staying on over today's course and distance to finish a never nearer sixth of 13 off a mark of 53. All good sighters.
Running off 47 gives him every chance and I just hope connections are going for it from this nice low draw.
He could be a massive punt, so it's worth jumping on the early prices and I've recommend 1 point each way at 33/1 BOG, but he is still good value at 16/1.
- Tip advised at 33/1 by Richard Hutchinson who provides racing tips as Read Between The Lines on Tipstrr