PGR Classic – Opening round
Joe has four tips in the heats this evening.
7.59
8.17
8.56
9.14
Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate
There are eight heats of the Derby Plate at Shelbourne.
Heat three at 8.57 is perhaps the heat of the night. Tribal Syd takes on Clona Duke and Carmac King with the first two both opening round winners in the Irish Derby before exiting the competition in the second round.
Knockeen Dazzler got a hefty whack in his second round heat which saw him exit behind De Lahdedah. The Kirby winner has a tough enough lineup against him in heat four at 9.12. Scooby The Boss clocked 29.52 when behind Bockos Diamond in the second round, the same time Bockos Crystal produced behind Undulation in the opening one.
Patrick Guilfoyle had no luck with Magical Sapphire either who goes in heat five. She finished last in her second round heat but was only beaten two and a half lengths by the winner after an early bump cost her the chance of qualifying.
Runners from the Irish Laurels final had a torrid time in the Derby. High Trend contested that final alongside Crafty Shivoo and Romeo Taylor with all three exiting in the opening round at Shelbourne. High Trend is in heat seven tonight with Coosane Pickles in opposition.
Derby Plate ante-post prices from Boylesports
8/1 Clona Duke, Coosane Pickles, Knockeen Dazzler, Tribal Syd 12/1 Carmac King, High Trend, Magical Sapphire 14/1 Miami King 16/1 Ballymac Gizmo, Faypoint Harvey, Phoenix Memphis, Rushy Meadows 20/1 bar
A Hove four-timer for Derek Knight
Candolim Monsoon produced his second sub 29-second time of the year.
The veteran has shown off Knight’s legendary talent this year. We all know the story by now but it’s one of the best we’ve had in 2024. Tea For Me, Moustows Muttley and Fleadh Cailin were Knight’s other three winners on the night. A fifth might have been expected but Newinn Benni was beaten by Heather Dimmock’s Droopys Extragud.
Burrows Eclipse got to stretch his legs over 695m for Jason Heath. A three and a half length runner-up to Tuono Charlie in the T.P. Weadick Open Final at Kilkenny in April, he relished the stiffest stamina test set for him since arriving in the UK. A 39.36 (the second fastest of the year) over 695m was 15 spots quicker than the Regency Final back in July.
Saint Maga won for Patrick Browne over the shorter six bend trip while Tuono Bella landed the longer 740m open for Paul Donovan. The Hunt Cup runner-up is in great heart at present, last night’s win notching her up a hat-trick.
Other winners on the card were Blueisthecolour (June Harvey), Rolo Dakota (Sally Johnson), Bluejig Baron (Derek Lee) and Miami Sapphire for Belinda Green.
Just two opens at Newcastle
With a hare stopped in the interest of safely, the card had just a pair of opens.
Clodcar Rosie took the stayers contest for Tom Heilbron in 39.31. She had some solid staying form in Ireland before coming over with stamina her biggest asset. Delvin Cat produced the goods for Stephen Caile in the 480m open. The Northern Flat finalist produced a career-best 3.50 split to set himself up for a 28.55 success.
Kevin Hutton with a Swindon double
Two of the four Thursday night opens go to the Burford handler.
Coppice Warrior and Southfield Petal were the scorers for Hutton, the first turning over the favourite Droopys Suprstar in 28.33. Petal won in 28.67, getting her head in front right on the line. The first four home were separate by three short heads!
Alright Gordy won the stayers contest for David Lewis. That’s his fourth win to go along with six seconds in his last 11 starts. Remarkable consistency!
Gurtnara Paddy was the final open race winner on the night. Angie Kibble’s dog was flying around in May, winning four times that month. This was his first win since, clocking 28.41.
Topgun Fields released
The Meadows start the Dream Chasers Festival on November 9 with The Topgun.
We will have to wait form Monday until the trap draw but the eight runners for both the 525m ‘sprint’ and 730m Stayers have been announced. There is more than $3.5 million in prize money on offer across the six weeks as both The Meadows and Sandown Park host some of the top racing of the year.
Topgun Sprint
Blue Termano, Excavation, Explicit, Flying Zulu, Good Odds Cobber, Hector Fawley, Morton and Zipping Megatron are the final eight. Tim Zoo and Miss Envy are the reserves.
Jason Thomson’s Explicit is the one to beat on paper. The winner of 24 of his 33 career starts, the only recent blot on his record was finishing last in the Million Dollar Chase. That Wentworth event was won by Blue Termano for Joshua Formosa with Jason Magri’s Zipping Megatron in second. The winner was an 18/1 shock that day and is the 25/1 outsider in the early market from bet365.
Topgun Stayers
Aunt Virginia, Drill Sergeant, Ella’s Babe, Ethanol Water, Exploded, Red Dirt Road, Ritza Pepper and Valpolicella will line up.Tanya All Class and Canya Amy are reserves.
This looks a wide open contest which will hopefully be made clearer come the draw next week. Ethanol Water (Thomas Dailly), Exploded (Amana Tullllio), Ella’s Babe (Brooke Ennis) and Valpolicella (Anthony Zammit) all have the potential to be sent off as the favourite.
Stats
- Jacktavern Alan – 3.01 Crayford – 6/11 at the track.
- Moanteen Federer – 3.44 Kinsley – 7/10 at D1 level.
- Airlie Luna – 3.57 Crayford – 5/10 from trap two.
- Newinn Luna – 8.24 Hove – 6/11 in A3 grade.
- Laughil Larry – 8.56 Sunderland – 7/9 from the striped jacket.
- Carmac King – 8.57 Shelbourne – 7/10 from trap five.
- Peteles Express – 9.50 Galway – 5/6 in A3 grade.
Opens
Friday: Romford♦ Sunderland
Saturday: Central Park
