Better Call Caul – Cool running from Bobsleigh Dream in St Leger
Bobsleigh Dream put in an incredible performance to land the rescheduled Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger at Limerick on Saturday night.
After a delay of just over a week the final Irish classic of the season was worth waiting for as Pat Buckley landed his third Irish St Leger in dramatic fashion.
Sent to boxes the $2.37 favourite Bobsleigh Dream was well away by her standards, but it was Annagh Bailey who initially led up with Trinity Junior going up strongly on the inside, English Derby champion Romeo Magico was between the pair with Mustang Jet flying to the corner on the outside.
At this stage Bobsleigh Dream held fifth with Wi Can Dream last as they approached the first bend. As it loomed it looked as though Annagh Bailey was about to turn in front for trainer Rachel Wheeler but Trinity Junior moved off slightly and gave Annagh Bailey a slight nudge, doing himself no favours in the process.
It was now Mustang Jet in six who benefited from the trouble on the inside, Jet shot into a two length lead over Trinity Junior as they approached the second bend with Bobsleigh Dream now slipping into a menacing third, however, the complexion of the race was all about to change.
As Mustang Jet set off down the far side Bobsleigh Dream attempted to move to the outside of Trinity Junior and launch her challenge, she clipped him from behind forcing him into her path and costing her vital momentum.
In the blink of an eye, Mustang Jet had been handed a seven length lead with early trailer Wi Can Dream now giving chase and Bobsleigh Dream now in the clear in third but with a mountain to climb, or so it seemed.
You can watch Bobsleigh Dream win here:
Pillar Posts Big Performance to Take Hove Showpiece
Fromposttopillar ran out a wide margin winner of the Coral Olympic Final at Hove on Saturday evening. Not normally noted for his fast starts and early pace the son of Droopys Sydney was well away from four but showed fine early pace to race clear of an excellent quality field on the run to the bend.
Once leading early, the race was as good as over. Powering down the far side Fromposttopillar increased his lead to five lengths over Deelish Frankie and Lautaro.
The impressive youngster kept up a relentless gallop all the way to the finish and at the line had over six lengths to spare over Deelish Frankie. He is one of if not the, most promising greyhounds currently racing in the UK. With a bit of luck and an injury free 2023 we will certainly be hearing an awful lot more about Fromposttopillar.
Problems Continue at Towcester
We are still awaiting the quarter finals of the RPGTV Puppy Derby at Towcester to continue, after the meeting was twice cancelled by the weather at short notice, much to the frustration of trainers including those who had travelled from Ireland.
The meeting looked set to go ahead on Sunday after a couple of hours delay only for a major trap malfunction forcing the meeting to be abandoned yet again. The scenes were farcical to witness and its not the first time this has happened either.
Towcester, supposedly the flagship venue of English Greyhound racing, is currently performing so far below average its comical. The year is 2022, how hard is it to get a consistent set of working traps. Once again there are no winners in this situation, and it certainly does the sport in the UK no good.
Challenge Cup Final at Oxford
The Bet365 Challenge Cup Final is the feature on Oxfords Friday night card. Antigua Sugar has been installed as the $2.25 favourite with greyhound bookies to land the feature with last weekend’s fastest semi-final winner Chelms Cub.
Although it is a six bend race the early yards are vital around the tight Oxford circuit. I have long been an admirer of Gizmo Smasher in the event. Smasher boasts the fastest time of the line-up and also has the quickest sectional. If he can rediscover the form from round one, he will make them all go.
Available at $9 Gizmo Smasher represents real value from box three. A classy sort over four bends if he were to poach an early lead you can imagine a few of the better fancied runners may be held up. I will side with Gizmo Smasher to make all in the Bet365 Challenge Cup Final, the race will be live on RPGTV on Friday evening.
Winter Racing Festival
A quite time ahead in Ireland over the next number of days but all eyes will be back at Shelbourne for the annual Winter Racing Festival on Dec 29 and 30. Some of the biggest name on the Irish greyhound racing scene will be lining up and both nights action will be covered on Racing Post Greyhound TV.