Better Call Caul: Hellofakerfuffle makes all in Maiden Derby

Better Call Caul - latest Irish and UK racing news with Barry Caul

The Jamie Kingsley-trained made all to land the Maiden Derby at Towcester on Sunday.

Fast away from box four, the son of Confident Rankin and Tibet showed good early pace and just led up from Farneys Maestro in three. Hellofakerfuffle ran a great first bend forcing Farneys Maestro to check off outside of him, leaving outsider Savana Camino to give chase as the entered the back straight with odds-on favorite Wide Open now recovering from a slow start on the inside to move into third.

Hellofakerfuffle maintained a strong gallop down the far side and, if the truth be told, he never really looked in any danger. Try as they might, the chasers could not get close enough to land a blow, and at the line the winner had over two lengths in hand on Savana Camino with Wide Open a further head back in third.

You can expect the majority of the field to be in the hat for the draw next week. Wide Open and Hellofakerfuffle will be high on many people’s list after their recent performances over the Derby trip at Towcester.


Big night for Holland to Towcester

On the supporting card at Towcester on Sunday many of the top Irish-trained runner made the trip across the Irish Sea to have a prep run before the start of the Derby.

Champion Irish trainer Graham Holland had an incredible four-timer. Bockos Budsit was first up when making every inch to score in 29:37. Another Irish runner AllAboutTed was a beaten odds-on favorite in this, but better can be expected in the coming weeks.

Holland made in two from two when the classy held off a determined challenge by last year’s Derby winner, Thorn Falcon, just getting the verdict by a head in 29:32.

The third winner, Romeo , made no mistakes when he made all in 29:42 at the expense of Skywalker Stan and Faughan Rebel. Similar tactics were employed for the fourth of Holland’s triumphs when Part Blake took a flier from box three and ran out a comfortable winner in 29:56.

Goldies Perryman was another good winner on the card in 29:50; however, the fastest run of the day came in the Puppy trophy, where Farneys Ritchie was an ultra-impressive winner for trainer Kevin Boon when making all in 29:17.


Cesarewitch continues at Mullingar

One of the biggest events on the Mullingar calendar continues this Sunday when the semifinals of the Cesarewitch continue at the Westmeath venue. As usual, it has attracted a strong field.

Magical Mary was fastest of the second-round winners when making all in 32:68 for trainer Patrick Guilfoyle. Patrick is no stranger to winning this event, having led Definite Opinion to win the title in 2010 and 2011. He was also responsible for Skywalker Logan in 2019 and last year’s winner, Amazing Alice. Magical Mary will be strongly fancied to make it a fifth win in the event for Guilfoyle.

Crafty Bonanza was a good winner for local trainer Martin Lanney when winning in 32:88. Toolmaker Beach (33:04) and Glendalough (33:25) won the remaining second-round heats. Pierno, Gaston Pecas and Young Bud are all still very much involved despite suffering defeats in round two.

The semifinals are live this Sunday on RPGTV, and the line-ups are as follows:

Heat 1

  1. Bective Cherry
  2. Old Treasure
  3. Toolmaker Beach
  4. Ballyard Taylor
  5. Pierno
  6. Young Bud

Heat 2

  1. Magical Mary
  2. Beaming Scarlet
  3. Gaston Pecas
  4. Glendalough
  5. Hellofaracket
  6. Crafty Bonanza

Ladies take centre stage at Limerick

With the Irish Oaks due to commence at Shelbourne later this month, Limerick offers the chance for some of ‘s fastest ladies to before the main event.

The first round of the took place on Saturday night, when Annagh Lucy was the fastest of the four first-round heat winners. The daughter of Droopys Sydney was unfancied in the betting, going off at $7, but she ran out a facile winner in a 28:24.

Punters were once again licking their wounds when Kilbannon Psycho won the next heat at $11. We lost odds-on favorite Droopys Nice One at the first bend when she met trouble and took a fall. Kilbannon Psycho got up in the dying strides to head longtime leader Ballinabola Ruby by a neck in 28:64.

A thrilling finish ensued in the third heat when Cnoc Abbie came home fast and late to nab race favorite Burgess Josie by a neck with a further neck back to early pace-setter Burgess Cassie, with the winner posting 28:66.

Burgess Pippa made all to run out a comfortable winner of the fourth and final heat to score in 28:53.

The semi finals are up for decision this Saturday night, when Burgess Josie will have a fine chance to get back on the winning trail in the opening heat. The second heat is wide open, but Kilbannon Psycho just gets the nod with a perfect draw in box one.


Kilkenny Track Champion Open Unraced Stake

Ireland has been blessed over the past couple of months with the amount of unraced and puppy events run, and Kilkenny hosts yet another mouthwatering open unraced stake this night.

Leading trainer Karol Ramsbottom is well represented with six runners across the opening eight heats. Storys Cashout is an eyecatcher in heat seven for trainer Murt Leahy after a stunning 28:70 qualifying trial over course and distance.

Hes The Greatest will be hoping to live up to his name for Brendan Matthews in heat six. The wonderfully named Pablo Escobark is another who qualified in real style and will be looking to make a winning debut when he contests heat four.

It will no doubt throw up a future star or two and is certainly an event to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.


Islandbridge Sprint Cup at Shelbourne

It is one of the quieter weekends at this Friday and Saturday, but we still have an opportunity to see some of Ireland’s fastest two-bend stars in action when the first round of the Islandbridge Sprint commences on Friday evening.

Young Trainer Jamie McGee will have a strong had in the event with his star duo of Two Amigos and Gizmo Cash. The pair are among the best around at the moment. Off The Pitch has a fine record around Shelbourne Park in sprint events and is another who will be expected to go close. Ela Supremo has a career record of 14 wins from 24 starts and should give Gizmo Cash most to do in heat three.


Weekend’s best bets

Shelbourne Park, Friday (20:12 GMT)

Greyhound

Two Amigos

Bet Type

Win

Stake

2 units

*Odds correct at time of publication

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