Murrow Inkosi quickest in East Anglian Derby semis
Local runner for Richard Fitch sets the standard ahead of next Wednesday’s final.
It was a brave display from the June 22 son of Pestana, regaining the lead from Getme Up Son after being headed. A 5.21 sectional was also the quickest of any of the qualifiers last night. The second-named also made the final for the Carol Weatherall team.
Swift Depot has returned to four bends with a bang in the East Anglian Derby. He was unfortunate not to make the Summer Stayers final at Monmore, producing a flying semi-final sectional but missing out on a place in the decider by a head behind Coonough Crow and eventual winner Droopys Clue. The John Mullins-trained runner picked up Kevin Cobbald’s Trumpers Bobcat late on.
The second semi went to Druids Say Go who is now the red-hot competition favourite. Tipped up at 12/1 ante post by Joe, she has won both her heat and semi for Patrick Janssens from the red jacket. She will start from the inside again next Wednesday. Nowhere To Go chased her home for Sally Johnston.
East Anglian Derby Final betting
4/6 Druids Say Go 9/2 Murrow Inkosi, Swift Depot 8/1 Getup Me Son 20/1 Nowhere To Go, Trumpers Bobcat
Semi-final 1 – 1st Swift Depot (t6) – 2nd Trumpers Bobcat (t3) – Bramble Linton (t2)
Semi-final 2 – 1st Druids Say Go (t1) – 2nd Nowhere To Go (t5) – 3rd Gary The Arb (t3)
Semi-final 3 – Murrows Inkosi (t4) – 2nd Getup Me Son (t5) – 3rd Ballymac John (t2)
Joe’s Thursday Tips
A clean sweep on Wednesday takes us into Thursday full of confidence with the two semi finals of the 78th British Bred Produce Stakes at Swindon.
Semi-final one at 8.28 is a wide open five dog affair where I am hoping we can get Coppice Ronnie in the first three having put him up ante post at 25/1 each way. However, I am going to be with Romeo Cypher on the inside in trap one. He ran well to qualify last week behind Union Rebel and being drawn in one can see him get first run on Coppice Ronnie. If he manages to do that he should go onto catch him and win. Keefill Goose can also qualify and Southfield Poppy needs to trap lively to clear plenty of early pace around her.
Semi-final two at 8.44psees two unbeaten rivals at the top of the betting go head to head both trained by Kevin Hutton, Union Rebel and Coppice Ella. I am going to be with the latter who is a true professional and knows how to wins competitions having landed the British Bred Oaks Final at Oxford last month. She starts and stays and although Union Rebel should lead, I would fancy Coppice Ella to get to Union Rebel late on with Coffee Time Guys making it through to next weeks final staying on strongly.
There are other opens on the card where Eze is the nap of the evening in the Blunsdon Standard at 9.20.
There are also opens at Newcastle and Hove where Lightfoot Clark looks the best bet of the evening at Newcastle in the Arena Racing Company Stayers at 8.19. Brunswick Bullet is the best bet of the Hove card in the Coral Thursday Night 515 Maiden at 8.59.
All smiles on Sunday at Towcester
BALEMEOUT CORAL (pictured) proved a popular winner at Towcester last Sunday, landing her first open-race success when running out a 29.72sec victor in a 500m maiden.
Owned and trained by Glenn Hockings, the August 20 daughter of Magical Bale won at the third time of asking at the Northamptonshire track, making all for a brilliant seven-length success.
Bred and reared to ten months by John Mullins before being taken on by her owners, Balemeout Coral started her career at Yarmouth and is trained at the Suffolk home of Hockings and his family.
bet365 report strong Empress trade
Towcester Category One proving popular with punters
Pat Cooney from the sponsors said “We’ve been delighted with the interest in our bet365 Empress Stakes. Turnover levels for both heats and semi-finals have been on a par with the recent Greyhound Derby.
“Five odds on winners in the six opening round heats certainly pleased the punters, and added to the build up to last week’s semi-finals which saw the brilliant Avongate Venus equal the track record thanks to a flying 3.95 sectional.
“She’s now a worthy odds on favourite to win on Sunday, and finding a flaw in her make up has been difficult. However, she’s been in trap six three times in her career and lost all three.
“That was in Ireland though, and anyway, if she breaks as well as last week, it won’t be an issue! Ante Post favourites in the bet365 Empress Stakes have two wins from two starts, Fabulous Azurra and Crafty Shivoo were both well backed, and it’s now up to Avongate Venus to make it three in a row. There’s plenty on at our opening show at 4/1, we’ll see on Sunday!”
Coral Puppy Cup Ante Post prices
The Category One competition gets underway tomorrow. Prices from the sponsors below.
2/1 Fire And Ice 6/1 Newinn Souly, Untold Rufiyaa 8/1 Easy Player 10/1 Fabulous Livia, On The Banks 14/1 Swift Underwater 16/1 Droopys Maybe 20/1 Call It Off, Fabulous Aria, Rapido Ali 22/1 Amys Gem 25/1 Ritz To Rubble 33/1 Gingers Prince 40/1 Savana Robbie 50/1 Droopys Lost, Golden Bullet, Hong Kong Kate, Lindas Yes Baby, Magical Becca, Not So Clever, Vixons Hope, Vixons Promise 66/1 Droopys Dreamy, Droopys Faidh, Piemans Angel, Roanna Mamba, Young Bucks 80/1 Droopys Ma, Fahee Biddy, Swift United 100/1 Bramble Harvey, Droopys Tootsie, Golden Acre, Lostrig Mack 150/1 Romeo Showtime
Another sensational Hove trial session tonight
Once more, the trials this evening look set to be hugely interesting.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it is another list of top dogs having a spin before racing. The Liz McNair team are regular visitors on a Thursday night, sending three down this evening.
Oxford 450m track record holder El Tortillo is also in action as well as Derby finalist and recent Ladbrokes Gold Cup winner Churchfield Syd.
If you are planning to go to Hove tonight for the open action, get there early for the trials.
Stats
- Noirs News – 6.08 Hove – 5/7 from the orange jacket.
- Never Say No – 8.41 Hove – 8/13 record in open class races at Hove
- Robbie Be Slick – 9.15 Enniscorthy – Is 4/4 in A1 grade.
Opens
Thursday: Swindon
Friday: Romford
Saturday: Perry Barr
Sunday: Crayford ♦Sheffield
