GREYHOUND PREVIEW: We preview the finals of the Olympic from Hove and also the final of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial from the same track on Saturday night. The semi-finals of the (Bet365) Challenge Cup are the highlight on Oxford’s Friday night card.
The 2022 Irish St Leger at Limerick will now be run on Sunday evening and will be live on RPGTV with the broadcaster showing ten live races. Towcester also lost their card on Sunday that was due to feature the quarter finals of the English Puppy Derby. These heats will now be run on Thursday morning live on SIS with the semi-finals due on Monday Dec 19th with the final penned in for its original slot of Friday Dec 23rd.
Hove Saturday
Hove was one of the few tracks to beat the weather at the weekend when they held the semi-finals of the Olympic and the semi-finals of the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob memorial 740.
The Olympic is shaping up to be a cracking final with youngster Fromposttopillar installed as the 7/4 favourite. There is no doubt he is a dog blessed with incredible speed and should be a major force in all next year’s major events. For me he just lacks a yard of early pace, and I can see him struggling to get a good pitch early in this final. Deelish Frankie looks a certain leader up the fence and was an impressive winner of his semi-final last weekend, a repeat performance may suffice. The one I give a real chance to is Havana Bale Out, she certainly caught the eye in defeat last weekend and if reproducing one of her better starts she may find herself within striking distance of Deelish Frankie at halfway. Currently available at 11/2 she makes plenty of appeal to pick up the pieces late on.
In the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob Memorial 740m final Space Jet heads the market at 8/13. She has an incredible record over marathon trips and has now won her last six races on the trot. I’ll be taking her on in this. Her running style suggests she will be trailing the field at halfway and will need the gaps to appear to make her challenge. Clongeel Ozzie is the likely pace setter, and his early sectionals suggest he will be a long way clear a halfway. Any trouble in behind will help Ozzie and he represents real value at 7/1.
Oxford Friday
The Challenge Cup semi-finals are the feature event on Oxford’s Friday night card, Gizmo Smasher will be a big price to take the first semi-final, but he has a serious chance if he can reproduce his first-round run. He ran well to qualify last weekend from a less than ideal position and can still be backed at 25/1 to win the event outright.
In the second semi-final Chelms Cub will be a warm favourite to score but will have to come from off the pace to do so. I will be laying Chelms Cub in this. At big prices Liquid Lunch and Chelms Chris could be worth a small bet against the favourite.
Limerick Sunday
Just a reminder that the Irish St Leger will now be run at Limerick on Sunday evening live on RPGTV.
Bobsleigh Dream will go off a deserving favourite after her impressive recent runs around here. Powerful from halfway, Pat Buckley’s charge has been going to the corner much better in recent weeks and if she can secure a clean run around the opening bends, she will be hard to contain.
There is an abundance of early pace in the final with Mustang Jet Trinity Junior and Wi Can Dream all capable of flying to the corner. I have been sweet on Trinity Junior for the last couple of weeks and I still feel there is a big run to come from him. If he can get to the front around the opening bend, I feel we will see an improved performance. He needs to clear Wi Can Dream in the early yards and hope Wi Can Dream can hold up the favorite. Mustang Jet will be hoping to do the same, led round and hope for a little trouble in behind.
For me Romeo Magico and Annagh Bailey face tricky draws surrounded by early pace. I’ll take a chance Trinity Junior can lead up and make all at a big price. If he can lead, he should have a couple of early pacers in behind who may just hold up the strong runners around the bottom bends, currently at 13/2 Trinity Junior represents good value.
Weekend’s Best Bets
Limerick Sunday: Trinity Junior One unit win
Hove Saturday: Havana Bale Out One unit win
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