Shake The Bucket is looking for his seventh success on the Dundalk all-weather this evening.

Trained by Boots Madden, the seven-year-old started off his career in point-to-points and has mixed it over jumps and on the level during the last few years, but seems most at home at the Louth venue.

The stable favourite gave youngest son Tom ‘Socks’ Madden his third winner there in November before another fine run in defeat last month when third behind Gretzky.

“He’s a real star around there. He’s well enough in, he has 9st 10lb but we claim 7lb off and he’s meeting Gretzky on better terms,” said Madden senior.

“They claimed off him the last time but they don’t on Friday night so we are well in with him.

“He always runs a good race around there so we are hoping for another big run.”

Matthew Smith drops Gretzy back slightly in trip after he landed what was a nice touch over a mile and a half.

O'Brien takes over
He went up 5lb for that victory while Joseph O'Brien takes over now from champion apprentice Connor King.

“He’s back in good old form. He was a bit out of form during the summer but he’s come back to himself now,” said Smith.

“I don’t think the trip will be a problem for him – hopefully not. There is no mile-and-a-half there for him for a while. He’s in good form so we decided to run.”

Eddie Lynam would love to see Denny Crane go close, and while the eight-year-old has not won since October 2011 he invariably runs his race on the Polytrack meaning he has had little leeway from the handicapper.

Lynam said: “His highest career-winning mark was 83. He’s had 18 consecutive defeats and hasn’t won in three years but is still 81.

"He's a stable favourite but looks up against it."

Returns to action
Andrew Thornton makes his return to the saddle tonight and trainer Pat Martin is hopeful that he will have a winning comeback on Reckless Lad.

Thornton has been out of action since a schooling fall in mid-October but returns with one ride on the all-weather.

Reckless Lad was twice successful over a mile at the course in the autumn and Martin is hoping he can handle the slight drop in trip.

“It’s a slight concern coming back to seven furlongs as we’ve been riding him to come home well in his races,” said the Navan trainer. “It’s important that he relaxes early on and the faster pace will suit. It may just be on the short side but he’s in good form.

“He’s a horse that’s after bucking up (his ideas) a bit. He has a decent draw and we’re expecting a good run. It’s Andrew’s first ride back since he hurt his shoulder and ankle. It’s nice to be able to give him a ride as he’s been out a long time.”

Eddie Lynam saddles course and distance winner Doc Holliday, who carries top-weight and renews rivalry with Reckless Lad having finished a length third to the Martin runner last time out.

Lynam said: “He’s got plenty of weight and the handicapper put him up again while he was standing in his box.”