GREYHOUND PREVIEW: We look forward to an excellent card at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night featuring the final of the Gold Cup. Also selections from Towcester on Sunday (covered on RPGTV).
Gold Cup Final from Shelbourne Live on RPGTV
The first Irish Classic of the year will be the highlight of the live RPGTV coverage on Saturday evening when the final of the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Gold Cup will be run at Shelbourne Park. Last year’s Irish Derby winner Born Warrior has a perfect draw in six, but such is the quality of the opposition he may not even start favourite, with last week’s emphatic semi winner Stream Of Sydney likely to top the market. Let’s take a look at what promises to be another top-class card from Shelbourne Park ….
Gold Cup Final (21:09)
- Stream Of Sydney
- Rathdown Molly
- Bogger Hunter
- Disco Pants
- Clona Blu
- Born Warrior
Verdict: Stream Of Sydney has landed a plum draw in the red jacket and on last week’s running she is the one to beat. She stopped the clock in a blistering 28:07 last time out and that run is unsurprisingly the fastest run of the year over the standard trip at Shelbourne. Local runner Rathdown Molly is capable of flying to the corner. The Marie Gilbert trained youngster has some smart sectionals on her card and could make a bold bid from the front if breaking in her best style. She took the other semi last weekend in 28:45 but has clocked 28:27 in the past from the blue jacket. Bogger Hunter will need to be alert early if he is to clear the inside duo and you feel he will need to do so for win purposes. The ever-popular Disco Pants is in cracking form having won four times already this year. He looks the value play in the final at around 8/1 after catching the eye in defeat behind Stream Of Sydney last weekend. Kevin Losty’s Clona Blu knows his way around this track with twenty eight of his twenty-nine starts coming around here. Blu is likely to struggle early but none will finish faster. That leaves us with Derby Champion Born Warrior. Warrior has only has the three starts since his famous win back in September and should be reaching peak fitness around now. For me he has been a little disappointing recently, but he simply can’t be ruled out from an ace draw out wide. It’s a tricky puzzle to solve, if Stream Of Sydney can reproduce last week’s effort she will surely take all the beating, but at a price, I’ll side with Disco Pants to cause a mild surprise.
Shelbourne Undercard
Midfield Deano runs in an A1 575, the second race on the card. The Rachel Wheeler trained son of Droopys Sydney has raced in much higher company in the past and could find himself in a prominent position as they hit the back straight. Deano won well at Clonmel recently and may prove too strong for his rivals in the second on the card due off at 19:39.
Romeo Hanzo is an exciting puppy for Graham Holland. He runs in race eight on the card due off at 21:24. Still only an April 2021 whelp, Hanzo displayed huge promise early on in his career and could be one to keep onside during 2023. He returned to winning ways here last week and is fancied to go in again.
The frustrating but hugely talented The Other Kobe lines up in the 21:37 from trap four. Kobe is amongst the absolute best in training on his day but has his consistency issues. Oak’s winner Raha Mofo is well drawn out in six but may just need the run on her comeback. Cryptopunk, Deadly Showtime and Bockos Budsit are others to return from layoffs. Kilgraney Sydney has been running well of late but faces a nightmare draw inside The Other Kobe. The recent sprint trial run of Deadly Showtime is eye-catching, and he looks the one to side with from an ideal draw in red for the excellent Karol Ramsbottom.
UK Scene
It’s quiet on the UK front this weekend, however there is a decent Sunday afternoon card on offer at Towcester, again live on RPGTV. Newinn Touch and Romeo Expo look two promising youngsters to look out for in the maiden race at 14:52. At 16:08 Master Ten Ten, Callmesteve and Romeo On Tilt step back down in distance, obviously the trio are better over much further and this looks a good opportunity for Late Bolger to make all once again. Roll On Sydney was our ante-post selection for the Golden Jacket and he went agonisingly close when second behind the excellent Bellmore Sally who won the event for the second year in a row. Sydney goes in the Stadium Bookmakers Stayers event at 16:28 and this is no easier than his most recent assignment. It may be worth siding with Sydney once more, at a track that should suit his relentless galloping style.
Weekend’s Best Bets
Shelbourne Park Saturday
Romeo Hanzo 21:24 Two units win.
Disco Pants 21:09 One unit win.
