Better Call Caul: All about the ladies in Easter Cup betting
The Bresbet Easter Cup gets underway this Saturday, February 19, over 503m at Shelbourne Park and the line up is brimming with talent. The ladies head the ante-post market with current Derby/Oaks champion Susie Sapphire at the top of the market at $5.50 followed in by Skywalker Cilla at $11. Next in is Limerick 503m track record holder Part Blake, derby finalist All About Ted, last week's stunning winner Romeo Magio and Sprint Cup winner Good Cody. Its even bigger prices about classic winners Ballymac Wild and Priceless Jet. Eight first round heats kick off this Saturday, let us look at the heats.
Heat 1: Part Blake will share favouritism with Knight Tornado in heat one with Swords Maestro drawn in red, winning machine Auxerre in five, and early paced performer Russmur Pat drawn in two. Swords Maestro is exceptionally fast when he has his trapping boots on but as we have seen on more than one occasion he can be slowly away, similar comments apply to his kennel companion Knight Tornado, so a tentative selection is given to Russmur Pat in trap two for James O'Regan and Jeremiah Murphy at a big price to take heat one. The son of Pat C Sabbath is very capable on his day and the longer run to the corner should suit him.
Heat 2: Romeo Magico clocked the fastest time of the year last week at Shelbourne Park over the standard 480m trip when making all in 28:11, he also boasts some fine form over the Easter Cup trip of 503m, in fact his best run over the distance came from box three where he finds himself drawn this weekend. Its not as straight forward a task as it may look at first glance, Benalmadena Roxy is a bitch with huge ability and if trapping level she could give the favourite plenty to think about, we seen her win at the winter racing festival over this trip when scoring in 29:40 and as we know, Romeo Magico is much better when able to dictate alone up front. Scarty Yank makes his Shelbourne debut after some flashy trials and is likely to improve for the outing.
Heat 3: Derby finalist Jackslittlething has yet to come back to the form of last year and has not won a race since September 2021, he will need to step up on his recent efforts. Irish Laurels winner One Time Only heads the market from Sentimental Lad. Sentimental Lad finished ahead of Jackslittlething last week and can go to the corner better than he did last time. Race favourite One Time Only is yet to win around Shelbourne from three starts and is worth taking on at the prices. Spinosaurus has a bright future and could get a nice run into the race from box two. He is not to be ignored.
Heat 4: Heat four looks the most open of the night where currently Ballymac Merlin and Coolavanny Duke are vying for favouritism. Ballymac Merlin took the St Leger in Limerick last November and finally scored at Shelbourne Park after ten attempts when winning well over the 480-meter trip late last month. Coolavanny Duke on the other hand has won seven of his eight career starts and has a record of five wins from six around Shelbourne. The long run to the corner will suit and if his stamina holds out, he is the one to side with in this. He finds himself drawn in between early speedsters Crokers Spirit and Vanderbilt and will need to be on his toes early, but he has plenty of scope for improvement.
Heat 5: Susie Sapphire returns to the 503m trip for the first time since her thrilling victory in last years Derby. She has won her last six starts over the trip and has not seen another rival in any of those six starts, last week's comeback run was more than pleasing when third behind Romeo Magico and she is likely to be hard to beat in heat five. Catchmeflying is a dog with huge ability but often finds himself in trouble and forever looking unlucky. For all his talents a record of two wins from eighteen starts over the trip does not inspire confidence and I would certainly rather be on Beach Avenue to give Susie Sapphire most to think about, he could find himself with a bit of room to work with early on and there's few in training that finish faster than Beach Avenue.
Heat 6: Jacob Tashadelek and SkywalkerCilla head the market for this with English Derby Finalist Ballymac Fairone and six bend classic winner Priceless Jet available at bigger prices. Skywalker Cilla won last years Consolation Derby and was a beaten favourite in the Arena Racing Company Oaks at Perry Barr in the UK last October. She has not run since, but her comeback trials have been impressive. For me she faces a tricky enough draw in five and will need to be fast away to secure a clear run. Jacob Tashadelek beat a useful field here last week and has race fitness on his side while Ballymac Fairone will be having his first start of the year. Priceless Jet is incredibly fast, but his best form is over further and a record of three from twenty-two over the trip would make you look elsewhere.
Heat 7: Good Cody steps up in trip but if in front I can't see the extra distance posing any problems. Barefoot Supremo, Storys Direct, Ballymac Wild and Hello Hammond are all better over further. I can't see anything troubling Good Cody if he comes away level and if he leads, I am certain he will get the new longer trip. The legend that is Ballymac Wild will no doubt run his usual honest race, but Good Cody is the best bet of the night for me, currently at $2.10.
Heat 8: Another derby finalist lines up in heat eight in the form of All About Ted, last seen when winning over 526m here at the winter racing festival he has returned this year with some flying trials. Although drawn in his favourite six box he faces some stiff opposition in the shape of Coom Leo, big finisher Darbys Delight and the unbeaten Bockos Vieira. Coom Leo is another with a poor record of one from nine around Shelbourne whereas Bockos Vieria is unbeaten with two from two. I will side with the gifted Bockos Vieria to come out on top in the final heat on what should be another action-packed night at Shelbourne Park.
Freedom Alibi nicks kennel-mate Trojan in Puppy Derby thriller
Freedom Alibi caused somewhat of a shock when getting up on the line to beat kennel mate Innfield Trojan by a short head in the final of the Arena Racing Company (ARC) Northern Puppy Derby and take the first prize of Au$19,000. It was a terrific achievement for local trainer Tom Helibron whose two runners went to boxes $9 and $21 respectively. Market leaders Havana Bale Out and Mickys Barrett where unusually slow away and were both crowed at the first bend losing all chance. Innfield Trojan took a flier from red and led by a couple of lengths down the far side where it was apparent his only real danger was kennel mate Freedom Alibi, as they turned for home the duo remained three clear of the remainder, Freedom Alibi just had his head in front where it mattered and took the verdict by a short head from Innfield Trojan who was back in front yards after the line. Havana Bale Out ran well to finished back in forth and remains a young bitch with real potential.
Tom in the zone to take Golden Jacket
Warzone Tom will be a short price favourite to take the Premier Racing Golden Jacket this Saturday morning at Crayford after another flawless display when winning his semi final in style. Although he does have to find a little on the clock on main market rival Bellmore Sally who went some five lengths quicker when winning her semi-final in 45:07. Warzone Tom is drawn on the inside of Bellmore Sally and his superior early pace could prove decisive. Crayford is a tight track, and the lead is crucial. Let us hope Tom can trap level and build up a sizeable winning lead. Warzone Tom was our ante-post selection at $8.
This weekend's best bets
Shelbourne Park Saturday
- Good Cody 3 units win @ $2.10 (21:42 UK time)
- Jacob Tashadelek 1 unit win @ $2.87 (21:27)
- Bockos Vieira 1 unit win @ $3.25 (21:57)
Bresbet Easter Cup ante-post
- Good Cody 1 unit win @ $15
- Bockos Vieira 1 unit win @ $21