Better Call Caul: Bobsleigh dreaming of St Leger glory
Bobsleigh Dream heads the market for this Saturday's Irish St Leger at Limerick, and she is bidding to give her excellent trainer, Pat Buckley, his third Leger success. Installed as the $2.25 favourite, Bobsleigh Dream will run from the red box on Saturday night and is sure to have her supporters.
Next in the betting is this year's English Derby champion, Romeo Magico, at $4.50. Magico has been running well in this year's event, but he still looks a couple of lengths off his peak. The early-paced trio of Mustang Jet ($5), Trinity Junior ($7) and Wi Can Dream ($8) are next in, followed by the outsider Annagh Bailey at $11.
The final will be live on Racing Post Greyhound TV this Saturday night. Let's look at the field.
2022 Irish St Leger Final field & box draw
- Bobsleigh Dream
- Wi Can Dream
- Trinity Junior
- Romeo Magico
- Annagh Bailey
- Mustang Jet
Bobsleigh Dream will go off a deserving favourite after her impressive recent runs around here. Powerful from halfway, Pat Buckley's charge has been going to the corner much better in recent weeks, and if she can secure a clean run around the opening bends, she will be hard to contain.
There is an abundance of early pace in the final with Mustang Jet, Trinity Junior and Wi Can Dream all capable of flying to the corner. I have been sweet on Trinity Junior for the last couple of weeks and I still feel there is a big run to come from him. If he can get to the front around the opening bend, I feel we will see an improved performance. He needs to clear Wi Can Dream in the early yards and hope that dog can hold up the favourite. Mustang Jet will be hoping to do the same — led round and hope for a little trouble in behind.
For me, Romeo Magico and Annagh Bailey face tricky draws surrounded by early pace. I'll take a chance Trinity Junior can lead up and make all at a big price. If he can lead, he should have a couple of early pacers in behind who may just hold up the strong runners around the bottom bends. Currently at $7 with , Trinity Junior represents good value.
Trinity Junior (3)Puppy Derby at Towcester
The second round of the Puppy Derby is one of the highlights of the weekend action in the UK. As expected, it has attracted a high-quality field.
Romeo Hotshot was the fastest first-round winner, and he lines up in the first of the four second round heats. I'll be taking him on in this; on the face of it he looks to have a tricky draw with plenty of early pace on either side. Makeitkingsydney ran well for a long way last week when caught close home, he has some good early pace and course knowledge. Similar comments apply to Fabulous Lynx in five; she too can go up strongly and has plenty of track experience. Makeit The Bear made all to beat the reopposing Team News last weekend but may struggle from trap one. I'll take on the favorite with Makeitkingsydney.
In the second heat, Irish raider Undulation brings plenty of appeal. From the magnificent Pestana x Unlock Unlock litter, she has some cracking form around Shelbourne Park recently and made a pleasing UK debut behind Romeo Hotshot last week. She is expected to improve for that outing and should go well in the second heat.
In the third heat, I'll side with Romeo Command to get the better of Lively Lauren. Lauren has run well at Oxford recently, but there looks to be much more to come from Romeo Command. He was an impressive winner from off the pace last week and there doesn't seem to be much early pace in this contest. I expect him to turn handy and prove difficult to beat.
The final heat will be a real burn-up early with most of the field having displayed real early pace in their brief careers thus far. It's far from a betting proposition and is a heat best avoided for punting purposes. Slight preference would be for Kilara Dazzler, but it's certainly a tricky heat.
All the Sunday action will be broadcast live on RPGTV, and it's a competition certain to throw up some future clues.
Semifinal double feature at Hove
The first semifinal of the Olympic is due off at 18:43 GMT, and the exciting youngster Fromposttopilar faces his toughest assignment to date in this. He was a fine winner over the trip last weekend but faces a much tougher task this weekend. Deelish Frankie was set to win his heat last week before hare malfunctions; he is well drawn on the fence and will look to make all. Hopes Paddington took a flier from boxes last week and was another to make all in a slick time; he will need to lead up Deelish Frankie to have a say. Make Noise was arguably a little unlucky last weekend as he was impeded at the first bend when looking set to go around in front, but he rallied well to close on eventual winner Goldies Perryman. Whatever leads in this will surely take plenty of beating. I'll side with Deelish Frankie to make the most of his drawn and make all.
Derrinasafa Boss ran well behind Fromposttopillar last weekend and can get the better of Lautaro in the second semifinal. The third and final heat looks to rest between Goldies Perryman and Havana Bale Out. Perryman went up strongly after a slow start last weekend, displaying plenty of determination in the process to see off Make Noise. Havana Bale Out is top class on her day and I fancy her to prove too strong for Goldies Perryman in the second half of this contest.
In the Memorial over 740m, Space Jet will be long odds-on to take the first semifinal. She has a lot in hand on the clock and looks impossible to oppose. Clongeel Ozzie may be worth a bet in the second semifinal; he set a searching gallop last weekend when picked up late by the re-opposing Droopys Senorita. I expect Ozzie to lead a long way this weekend, and any trouble in behind will aid his cause. He should go well at a decent price.
Weekend's best bets
Limerick Saturday
Greyhound
Trinity Junior
Bet Type
Win
Stake
1 unit
*Odds correct at time of publication
Hove Saturday
Greyhound
Clongeel Ozzie
Bet Type
Win
Stake
1 unit
*Odds correct at time of publication