Departing Yarmouth racing manager Marcus Westgate reckons sponsors Bresbet have got in wrong in their ante post betting as he sides with 7-1 chance King Bruno over kennelmate and favourite Havana Class.

He said: “The most obvious thing about the draw is how it is so heavily weighted towards the first semi which includes four heat winners. I think Rab McNair was very shrewd in giving his dogs three looks at the track and they have benefited from it. Even in his trial I was impressed with how closely Havana Class railed and if I was grading them, with all his early pace, I would want him on the inside of Jon Jo.

“I included eight locals in the draw and five have made it through to the semi finals. There are two in here and of the pair, I think Adamant Taurus will get the best run of the three middle seeds. I’d be going 1-2-4.

BOCKOS JON JO (t3) takes early control of heat 6 from Bubbly Magnum (t6) and partly hidden Right Joe (t4) © Steve Nash

“The second semi final is the opposite to the first with no heat winners. I guess the fancy is probably Bubbly Magnum but Deadly Tornado has changed from a wide to a middle seed and I suspect he will still move inwards if he gets the chance. If this was a graded race, I would probably swap the three and the five around for a cleaner race. This is too close to call.”

ADAMANT TAURUS (t4) wins heat 3 for local trainer Jane Craske. Photo: © Steve Nash

“Given how competitive the first heat is, I think King Bruno has an excellent chance of winning the competition. I thought his first round run was exceptional. Look at his sectional – even quicker than Havana Class. Until the local dog Offshore Falcon broke the sectional record recently in 5.15, it was held by Affane Party in 5.18. It was the fastest time of the night, in the middle of other heats, so it wasn’t as though the track slowed up or got quicker. I was also considering giving it as -10.

“Blastoff Mason looks well drawn but I have to stick with Bruno. I just hope he doesn’t swing off at the second bend like he did in his trials and the heats.”

BresBet prices: 3 Havana Class, 5 Bockos Jon Jo, 7 Bubbly Magnum, King Bruno, 10 Antigua Storm, 12 Aussie Captain, 14 Blastoff Mason, 16 Churchill Holly, 20 Adamant Taurus, Deadly Tornado, 33 Billis Tudor, Dominance, Lylas Boy, Montrose, Swift Cope, 66 Right Joe, 80 Another Sod, 100 Glengar Hunter

Videos from the first round can be found on the Star’s Youtube channel