Better Call Caul: Major races postponed due to icy weather
Horse and greyhound racing fixtures have been severely disrupted due to the recent cold snap in the UK and Ireland, with Limerick's St Leger Classic now rescheduled for Sunday, December 19. Most trial sessions have been cancelled throughout Ireland over the past week, although Shelbourne Park did manage to race on Saturday after a mammoth effort from the track team.
Horse racing also cancelled some major fixtures. The International meeting at Cheltenham on Saturday was lost to the frost, while Ireland's Punchestown meeting on Sunday — featuring the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase — was another to succumb to the weather.
Sunday's card at Towcester — featuring the quarter-finals of the Puppy Derby — was another to fall victim to the weather and will now be run on Thursday morning with the semi-finals due for Monday, December 19, and the final penned in for Friday, December 23.
Finals Night at Hove
Hove was one of the lucky tracks to beat the weather at the weekend when its hosted the semi-finals of the Olympic over 515m and the semi-finals of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial 740m event. Let us look at the two upcoming finals due off this Saturday night, live on RPGTV.
George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial Final (20:17 GMT)
- Savana Regera
- Antigua Lava
- Clongeel Ozzie
- Space Jet
- Savana Volcano
- Droopys Senorita
Space Jet has now won her last six starts and has been installed as the $1.66 favourite to land the feature event. She has plenty in hand on her rivals on the clock, but she may well be worth taking on given her running style. Space Jet is expected to trail the field early on before unleashing her trademark big run just before halfway, however, the gaps may not appear as easily this weekend. Clonkeel Ozzie looks a certain leader and could benefit form any trouble in behind. On his early sectionals Ozzie should be clear passing the stands, he does struggle for stamina over this sort of trip but at $8 he makes plenty of appeal. Hopefully for our supporters Space Jet may be held up in her run and allow Clonkeel Ozzie to make all.
Greyhound
Clonkeel Ozzie
Bet Type
Win
Stake
1 unit
*Odds correct at time of publication
Olympic Final (20:54 GMT)
- Deelish Frankie
- Lautaro
- Havana Bale Out
- Fromposttopillar
- Droopys Mural
- Feora Noel
A couple of these really caught the eye in defeat last week most notably Havana Bale Out and the youngster Fromposttopillar. Havana Bale Out was left with an awful lot to do at halfway but absolutely flew home to get within a length and a half of Feora Noel. She does need to brush up on her starting but if she can get a run behind Deelish Frankie early she is a major player. The other eye-catcher from the weekend was Fromposttopillar who was another to move with real menace from halfway. His starting has been his Achilles heel, but he has some serious gears when he gets in the clear. Deelish Frankie looks the most likely leader, drawn to perfection on the fence he should easily lead up the inside and hope for some trouble in behind. He was fastest of these is the semi-finals but must hope the wrong one does not turn to close to him. I am going to take a chance that Havana Bale Out can make one of her better starts and track Frankie into the back straight, if she does, I think she could prove too strong in the second half of the contest. Currently available at $6.50, she appeals plenty.
Greyhound
Havana Bale Out
Bet Type
Win
Stake
1 unit
*Odds correct at time of publication
Challenge Cup semi-finals at Oxford
The Challenge Cup semi-finals will be run at Oxford on Friday night.
In the first semi, ante-post favourite Antigua Sugar looks well housed in six; she led for much of the journey last weekend before being caught late on by Chelms Club. Sugar needs to clear Gizmo Smasher in five and that will not be an easy task if Gizmo Smasher can come away like he did in the first round. Smasher has some top-class form over four bends, he missed the kick last week and did well to qualify in the circumstances, he is still available at $26 to win the event outright and that is a price worth taking.
The second semi looks wide open. Droopys Garden is unbeaten in the event, she is a strong stayer over this trip and has found her trapping boots in her past couple of runs. Chelms Cub was a good winner when coming from well off the pace last weekend, but I can see him turning no better than fourth this weekend, and around a tight track like Oxford with slightly better opposition I will be opposing him. Liquid Lunch and Chelms Chris ran well at massive odds last weekend, and I feel there may be a big performance at a big price from Chelms Chris this weekend.
Greyhound
Chelms Chris
Bet Type
Win
Stake
1 unit
*Odds correct at time of publication
2023 Dates to Note
Some of the major fixtures for the 2023 calendar were release late last week. A few you may be interested in are listed below.
Greyhound Derby at Towcester
First Round – May 25-27
Final – Saturday, July 1
Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park
First Round – July 28-29
Final – Saturday, September 2