2015 Warrnambool Cup heats – tips, form and betting preview
EIGHT heats of the Group 2 Warrnambool Cup will be held on Wednesday night over 450-metre trip, featuring some of the best greyhounds from around Victoria.
The winner of each race will qualify for the lucrative final which is set to be run on May 6 and will offer a $45,000 winner’s cheque.
Australian Racing Greyhound‘s Brad Bugeja has extensively previewed each heat to bring you his top four selections to ensure you back plenty of winners throughout the night.
To take full advantage of Brad’s hard work, open an account with William Hill for up to $700 in bonus bets to place upon the series.
1st: $5,000 2nd: $1,500 3rd: $750.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Very tough race to kick off the series but the speedy Allkel To Excel is absolutely faultless early and he should prove hard to reel in. He owns the 390-metre track record here and he appears to be fully wound up after scoring two brilliant Ballarat wins over 450-metres in recent weeks. This is clearly his toughest test to date but he should look the winner for a long way.
Azza Azza Azza is the reigning Shepparton Cup champ and he has scored some breathtaking wins on the provincial circuit in recent months. If he steps away cleanly he should be winning, however he can miss the kick and he will need a lot to go his way from the awkward draw.
Dewana Hitman was a little disappointing here last week but that was only his second run back from a spell and he should show improvement. He has the speed to match the two early and if he turns for home within a couple of lengths he will prove hard to hold out.
Samus Allen is likely to be over the odds, she has the class to match any chaser in this event and she will just need a clear passage in the first 40-metres or so.
Top Four: 2 – 5 – 1 – 4
1st: $5,000 2nd: $1,500 3rd: $750.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Dyna Villa just continues to do everything right in the big races and he looked ultra impressive when winning the Queensland Derby last week. He has drawn well in the red tonight and he should be winning at a very short quote with William Hill.
Ultima Bale is an underrated chaser and he destroyed his rivals when winning at Ballarat in a sizzling 24.96. With a quick beginner drawn directly underneath, he should get a nice cart into the race and he should fill the quinella spot.
Fratelli Fresh is a strong type and she has won six of her past eight starts, this is a big rise in class but she must be included in your exotic bets.
Crackerjack Max can be hard to follow but he can ping the lids on his night and if he does he could cause some trouble for the favourite.
Top Four: 1 – 7 – 5 – 3
1st: $5,000 2nd: $1,500 3rd: $750.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Dawkins Bale is all class and he is drawn to make a big impact. He is probably better suited to a longer journey but he does have high speed and he has scored some very fast provincial wins in his career to date. He will be tested by the two in the early stages but I’m expecting him to prove too strong.
Armed And Ready is likely to lead and he will make the red work hard for victory. Two starts back he scored a powerful 25.37 Shepparton win and he should have a great match race with the red.
Quantum Bale is a strong chaser and he will be hitting the line hard, I dont think he can win this event but he could sneak into third spot at good odds.
Gracias King has been flying for the Thompson kennel in recent weeks and he will be in the mix for a long way, however this is a big rise in class and he will find the going tough in the last 50-metres.
Top Four: 1 – 2 – 4 – 3
1st: $5,000 2nd: $1,500 3rd: $750.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Luca Neveelk is one of the most reliable chasers in training and he has already surpassed $500k in prize money. There is very little speed drawn around him tonight so he should be able to roll to the early lead and he should be winning with considerable ease. If you can get around the $1.80 mark with William Hill that is pinching money and it will be worth anchoring him in your multiple bets.
Kayda Shae is the new kid on the block and he will capture a Group 1 event in the future. Last time out he blew away a quality lineup when posting a blistering 24.89 at Ballarat and a repeat of that will see him match motors with the favourite for a long way. I think Luca Neveelk will have his measure tonight but he is a star in the making.
Deadly Vane is much better than his recent form reads and he looks well placed in the pink draw. He has a scorching 24.94 PB over this journey and if he can reproduce that type of effort he could cause a minor upset.
Top Four: 3 – 5 – 8 – 2
1st: $5,000 2nd: $1,500 3rd: $750.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Ivy Bale returned to form at The Meadows on the weekend and from the red draw she should make an impact again. She can be a little risky at box rise but she has the benefit of a slow beginner drawn directly outside so she should get every chance to drive through in the run to the first corner.
Midnight Ride is blessed with enormous talent and he will be suited to the wide draw. He has won at Ballarat in a breathtaking 24.84 and if he produced a similar effort here that would equate to a near record run.
Boxhead is unbeaten in three runs here and he should be in the mix for a long way, his last 30-metres can be a worry but if he finds the top early he may just steal the event.
Whodat Knockin’ is better suited to a longer trip but he is all class and he is drawn to get the gun run. I dont think he will win tonight but he should finish in the top three.
Top Four: 1 – 7 – 6 – 2
1st: $5,000 2nd: $1,500 3rd: $750.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Ride The Rails has a terrific record at this track and he excels over this distance range. He recently returned to form with a sizzling 29.90 Meadows win and on that occasion he showed brilliant mid race dash. The pace drawn on his outside is a concern but if he can balance up in the top three he should prove too strong.
Dee Plane Wayne is the likely leader and he has scored some brilliant 390-metre wins of late, this is a big step up in class for him but he should look the winner for a long way.
Dyna Alchemist is a classy chaser and he should be in the mix for most of the trip, last time out he powered to the line when winning at Shepparton in 25.47 and he could be the value in this event.
Xtreme Knocka is probably better suited to a longer trip but he is well drawn out wide and he is a must for your exotic bets.
Top Four: 6 – 2 – 7 – 8
1st: $5,000 2nd: $1,500 3rd: $750.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Ronray Spirit is the reigning Warragul Cup winer and he was a recent finalist in the Group One Golden Easter Egg. He is having his first look at the track tonight but he has slow beginners drawn on either side so with a clean getaway he should be able to drive to the early lead and that should be the end of the section.
Allen Malik is likely to be big odds with William Hill and he could be the value. He was placed in the Shepparton Cup Final earlier in the year and he should get a nice cart across from the favourite in the early stages.
Access is armed with early speed and he should match motors with or sit just behind Ronray Spirit early, I dont think he can reel him in but he should be able to hang on for a place.
Gaelic Peter is the interesting runner, he is blessed with explosive speed but he is probably better suited to a wider draw.
Top Four: 5 – 6 – 3 – 1
1st: $5,000 2nd: $1,500 3rd: $750.
No.NameFormBestTrainer
Great race to end the night and this is probably the strongest heat with at least six winning chances. I’m going with the classy Caustic Bale. He is probably the fastest chaser in the series and from the red he should begin a lot better and that should allow him to push through an assume control. If he leads tonight he should be running around the 24.80 mark and I can’t see them reeling him in.
Bills Back is well drawn in the pink and he should be in the mix for a long way, he has won 21 of 34 starts and he excels over this distance range.
Narralee was desperately unlucky here last week and she should make amends. She has the speed to lead and if she does cross the red she will prove hard to get past.
Lunar Eclipse and Secret Spell must also be respected, both have the talent to win a race like this but they will need luck from their awkward draws.
Top Four: 1 – 7 – 8 – 6