GREYHOUND PREVIEW: After a slight delay to some of the early-season fixtures, the big race action is finally set to burst into life this weekend, with the rescheduled ARC Cesarewitch at Central Park topping the bill alongside the opening round of the Essex Vase at Romford. BARRY CAUL previews the action with recommended BETDAQ bets.
Big Races Return Essex Vase & Cesarewitch Take Centre Stage
There’s plenty to get stuck into, so let’s take a look at the best of the action.
Essex Vase at Romford
It’s no surprise to see the evergreen New Destiny heading the ante-post market for this year’s Essex Vase. She boasts a host of big-race victories over the course and distance, including the Champion Stakes and Coronation Cup, where she broke the track record with a blistering 34.53 (+.15) in June 2024. She continues to perform at the top level and goes in heat one at 8:13 on Friday evening from trap two. She should prove too good for her rivals, with Burrows Charm likely best of the rest. She has only had one start over six bends when finishing well behind Vhagar but has moved well in a recent trial and could follow New Destiny home.
Wrighty, another old stager, lines up in the second heat from trap one. He continues to perform with real credit and should have a say from an ideal box. The eye is drawn to Ballymac Axel in five. This will be his first run since November, but he performed well around Shelbourne Park and Hove at the back end of last year and can be a real handful when getting his start right. It looks a tricky heat with Fabulous Sonique, Bacon Frazzles, and Untold Ariary all holding claims. A tough one for punters and I’ll gladly sit this one out.
Chelms Charmer and Newinn Deejay were both winners last time out over the trip and arrive in top form, but the pair may have to give way to another in-form tracker in the shape of Missile One. A recent finalist in the Olympic at Hove, he has been racing against the best four-bend performers in recent weeks and has winning form around here in the past. He clocked 34.99 when scoring here back in September and, if going anywhere close to that, he will take all the beating in heat three.
Early pace will be crucial in heat four, where Out The Blue could be the key to the race. She has won two of her last three and can go up strongly, although she does move inwards on the run to the first bend and may hamper some of the more fancied runners, including Silverhill Adam, who needs to brush up on his starting. I give Rolo Rosie a big chance here. She has the perfect make-up, has already posted some big runs around the track, and was desperately unlucky in defeat here on December 27th. She comes from a fast litter and is a half-sister to the rapid Trinity Junior.
Experience could be the key to heat five, where Gary The Arb has that in spades. He was mighty impressive when winning here last time out and, if repeating that performance, should prove too good for his rivals. Burrows Eclipse has been a great servant for connections and holds strong form over four and six bends, but this will be his first attempt over the trip and he will surely benefit from the experience. The Other Winx impressed on her first outing over six bends when making all, but this looks tougher. Antigua Kestrel will have his supporters but has never been around the track.
Tiffield Tarquin can take the final heat. He was a finalist in the Champion Stakes here back in October and continues to hold his form well. Bluejig Outlaw was impressive when winning two starts back and has the pace to get involved. Table Toppers will be popular from the red jacket but lacks track experience, while Cartoonist can run on for a place.
Cesarewitch at Central Park
The rescheduled Cesarewitch gets underway on Saturday night and it’s a familiar name at the top of the ante-post list, with Mongys Wild installed around the 6/4 mark for outright honours. Mongys Wild lines up in heat one, due off at 6:30. Deadly Disco got the better of Mongys Wild in the final of the recent George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob at Hove, but I fancy Mongys Wild to turn much closer this time. Swift Jarvis should be doing his best work late.
Droopys Flare will be all the rage in the second heat. She hasn’t raced since winning at the Winter Racing Festival at Shelbourne back in November, but she has moved well in recent trials and should prove too good. Princess Matilda is in fine form and can follow her home.
Romeo Empire and Garfiney Blaze look set to dominate the third heat. I’ll just side with Garfiney Blaze to edge this one. He may be getting no younger, but he ran well in the final of the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob at Hove, where he was stopped at a crucial stage. He has moved well in a recent trial and could just get the race run to suit him. I fancy Garfiney Blaze to get the better of Romeo Empire.
The final heat can go the way of Two Spot. She has recent winning form around here and this looks by far the weakest of the heats.
Good luck to all connections.
Recommended Bets
• Garfiney Blaze – 1pt E/W @ 12/1 (¼ odds, 1st 4)
• Rolo Rosie – 0.25pt E/W @ 100/1 (¼ odds, 1st 4)
• Total Stakes: 2.5pts
