Berry can hit the Heights Fran Berry returns from his latest stint riding in Japan with five mounts on Dundalk's programme on Friday evening. The Kilcullen man combines with one of his local trainers, Curragh-based Johnny Feane, on Strategic Heights in the most valuable contest of the evening, the Floodlit Friday Nights Handicap. Strategic Heights, a four-time course-and-distance winner (including in this in 2014), rarely under-performs at this venue, and he's now equipped with cheekpieces for the first-time, having sported blinkers in the past. Berry has ridden the Feane runner to a win and a close-up placing on his two tries before and another bold showing is expected. The jockey steered Anthony McCann's Shabra Emperor to a course victory over seven furlongs back in December and gets back on board in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap. This event won't be easily won, with several bringing decent recent form into the equation, but the same can be said of Shabra Emperor and he should at least go close. Punters also need to be mindful of Berry's prospects on Hammermann in the 8.05, and Holy Water in the 8.35. In Hammermann's race, division two of the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap, maybe Willie Mullins' Poker Gold can follow up his course victory from a week ago. Anyone that witnessed that win, where the French-bred travelled well to lead before ultimately hanging on at the finish, will likely come to the conclusion that a slight drop in trip here can help. The 7Ib rise imposed on Poker Gold is offset by rider Tom Madden's claim and another big performance is surely in the offing. In the first split of this heat, hopes will be high that the Pat Smullen-ridden Balmont Flyer can supply Joanna Morgan with a winner as she sends out her last representatives as a trainer. The final runner who Morgan saddles will be bottom-weight Red Castle, under Wayne Lordan, in the aforementioned Poker Gold race.
