Mont St Michel 28/1 Headlines Underdog Plays at Dundalk
Every racing fan knows the thrill of landing a big-priced winner, and Thursday's racing offers plenty of fascinating outsiders to consider. With 39 races across Southwell, Beverley, Perth, Warwick, and Dundalk, our focus today is on long-odds selections who could provide a handsome return for punters.
Without question, **Mont St Michel** (19:45 Dundalk, 28/1) jumps off the page as the standout longshot of the day. Trained by an under-the-radar handler and with first-time booking of jockey **Jared Huggan**, this horse might appear to have the proverbial "mountain to climb," but closer analysis reveals genuine upside. Let’s dig into why this runner and other value picks warrant serious consideration.
Mont St Michel (19:45 Dundalk, 28/1) – A Value Proposition Too Big To Ignore
The final race of Dundalk's Thursday card is an ultra-competitive 1m4f handicap featuring 14 runners, and the betting market has largely overlooked **Mont St Michel**. On the face of it, recent form figures of **0-0-9** don't inspire confidence, but savvy punters know Dundalk's Polytrack can yield surprises.
**Course Suitability**: This 5-year-old gelding has shown glimpses of potential on all-weather surfaces, producing a career-best performance over 1m3f at the venue last spring. Importantly, tonight’s return to a stamina-testing 1m4f trip—combined with expected patient tactics—marks the horse's optimum conditions.
**Trainer and Jockey Booking**: Trainer **Aiden O’Hanlon** rarely saddles runners at Dundalk, which could indicate the yard is shrewdly targeting this contest. Huggan develops a respectable record riding outsiders, with a 11% strike rate on horses priced 20/1+. At 28/1, Mont St Michel represents a tantalising each-way play worth considering. Read more with our [each-way selections](/each-way-tips).
Comfort Line (18:45 Dundalk, 13/2) – Consistent Performer Ready to Strike
Dropping back to the mile trip in the 18:45 handicap at Dundalk should see **Comfort Line** deliver another big showing. A reliable campaigner, this 6-year-old shows form figures of **4-2-3** at this venue, including a valiant second place over this identical distance in early January. What’s changed since? The addition of star apprentice **Cillian Rowan**, a young jockey who claims a valuable 7lb off the horse's back, making Comfort Line incredibly well-handicapped tonight.
**Market Perspective**: At 13/2, there is still value in backing this runner outright in a competitive 12-runner field, especially with evidence that Dundalk specialists tend to outperform their odds. Rowan’s claim could make all the difference between hitting the post and collecting the spoils. Should you prefer spreading risk, Comfort Line is an excellent addition to an [accumulator bet](/accumulator-tips).
Electric Beauty (20:15 Dundalk, 6/1) – More Spark Than Odds Suggest
The **20:15 at Dundalk** presents another closely-matched 12-runner field tackling a testing 1m2f150y trip. Among them, **Electric Beauty** is undeniably among the most interesting contenders. Priced at 6/1, this runner boasts a consistent profile on the all-weather and enters the race fresh after a decent effort at Wolverhampton last month.
**Why Fancy This One?**: Trainer **David Dunbar's** yard has hit form in recent weeks, operating at a 25% strike rate with runners first-time following travel. Jockey **Wesley Joyce** enjoyed a fruitful 2025 on Dundalk’s Polytrack and his confident front-running style should suit the filly, provided she handles the extended trip. A win-and-place approach is prudent here—see more analysis on our [each-way selections page](/each-way-tips).
Perth's Marathon Hope – Look to Schism at 14/1
Switching our radar to jumps racing, Perth’s **16:40 Handicap Hurdle** boasts Thursday’s largest field of 14 runners over 2m47y on good-to-soft going. A mixture of improving novices and exposed campaigners makes this a dream betting puzzle. One horse grabs attention as notably overpriced: **Schism** at 14/1.
**Form Insights**: Schism has yet to taste victory in 2026 but showed promise three starts ago when third in a large-field handicap at Carlisle. That run came on soft going, which bodes well for today's conditions that are described as 'good soft (in places)'. Paired with savvy tactician **Tom Scudamore** aiming to dominate from the midpoint, Schism appeals as the ideal each-way contender to land a payout.
Check the [latest results](/fast-results) after the race to see if Schism lives up to expectations or browse additional [Perth racecards online](/racecard/perth/23-04-2026/16-40).
Smaller Fields, Big Opportunities at Beverley
Over at Beverley, smaller fields dominate today’s action, but that doesn’t eliminate value plays. The **17:25 Class 5 Handicap** (10f) looks particularly open, featuring 12 runners battling on good-to-firm ground.
One intriguing, longer-priced selection here may be **Courtship Drama** at 12/1, trained by **Mick Appleby**. Known for getting flat-handicap wins out of quirky sorts, Appleby aims to ignite improvement from this quirky gelding after disappointing efforts on softer ground. Jockey **Frederick Larson**, a name punters should track closely, knows how to handle hold-up types like these. An improved track configuration should lead to significantly better finishing metrics.
Best Bets Summary
Wrapping up today’s value-driven deep dive, here are the top selections, each offering genuine upside:
1. **Mont St Michel** (19:45 Dundalk, 28/1) – Stamina-laden outsider primed for a shock.
2. **Comfort Line** (18:45 Dundalk, 13/2) – Consistent performer solid for win-place bets.
3. **Electric Beauty** (20:15 Dundalk, 6/1) – Trainer and jockey form amplify appeal.
4. **Schism** (16:40 Perth, 14/1) – Improving hurdler suited by field size and ground.
For the full breakdown of possibilities, including racecards and head-to-head data, visit our [full racecards page](/racecards).
Don't Miss the Action – Start Betting Smart
Whether it’s lumping on a high-confidence favourite or siding with an underdog poised to land a spectacular upset, today’s racing offers opportunities across the board. For each-way punters, **Mont St Michel** looks outrageously overpriced at 28/1, while more cautious backers may want to mix reliable picks like **Comfort Line** into a multiple via our [betting calculator](/calculator).
Get ahead of the game for tomorrow's card by checking our [early tips for Friday](/tomorrow-tips) and be sure to track [non-runners](/non-runners) as the day progresses to adjust your strategy. Happy punting!
