With three Category One events to be decided, plus eight other supporting opens, Crayford’s lunchtime meeting is guaranteed to be the centre of racing attention this weekend. Our meeting preview includes a Cesarewitch run-down from Crayford’s Assistant Racing Manager Graham Banks (see below)
Four locals and two away runners of which former Hove D1 winner Nans Master would look the more likely. Ritzy Flyer, who stays six bends, is returning after a lay-off and produced a decent trial. But providing she breaks, Perfecto Vis would probably only need to reproduce her recent A1 win to secure this.
Not the highest quality puppy open you will ever see, though most of the field are lightly raced. The two principles would appear to be the recent arrival Aghaburren Danjo and Swift Magnitude. On the balance of slightly more experience and track knowledge, it looks more likely to be the latter.
Woodcocks Aria looks set to lead and it is far from certain that she will see out the trip. If she can’t, there are several contenders who might be good enough. They include Ragtime Summer who must be long overdue a clear run. But with only one wide seed – she is a genuine wide – and crowding guaranteed on the inner, stick with Nick Deans game little bitch to battle away.
There are three Springbok finalists in here including the winner Lenson Doolin. Ricky Holloway’s runner was also runner-up (2-5f) in the Champion Hurdle Final, behind Borna Rhythm. Doolin is the fastest hurdler in training with a better than 50% strike rate. If he doesn’t mess up the start, he wins. He is currently odds against in the betting. If he doesn’t trap – as in the semi finals – either red or stripes would most likely take full advantage.
It is almost three years ago that Fight The Power reached the Northern Puppy Derby Final. He has also contested a Sussex Cup decider. Although the oldest, he is the classiest in the field by some margin and it would be a huge surprise if he was to be turned over in here. Bet of the day.
By Crayford Assistant RM Graham Banks
When finishing my preview of the heats of the £10,000 to the winner Ladbrokes Cesarewitch last week, I put forward a couple of fancies for the competition, Blueberry Bullet at 100/30, and for an each way selection, I thought that Kilshanning Marie at 33/1 looked to be a big price. Fortunately both runners have made the final and both look to have solid claims of taking the honours in an open looking final.
Ante-post favourite Blueberry Bullet suffered a costly defeat in the heats at 2/7F, but found plenty of trouble rounding the opening bends, and despite finding trouble on a couple more occasions after, stayed on well as expected to finish runner up and it wouldn’t be a surprise should she go one place better here. She was able to follow kennelmate Antigua Lava round the opening bends here a couple of weeks ago and was able to pick her up on the run for home on that occasion if a similar scenario were to occur here, the outright success could be fought out between the Mark Wallis trained pair.
The winner of that heat was one of two heat winners for the local trainers, and on this occasion the Tom Levers trained Beach Babe was able to take up the running on the final lap and was able to hold off the late charge of the favourite to make a winning marathon debut and with the chance of more improvement to come from this February 21 youngster, may fall into the could be anything category and could get involved in this tougher contest.
The second local winner arrived courtesy of the Julie Luckhurst trained Kilshannig Marie, who was able to overcome one of her usual slow starts to work her way through the field before drawing clear in the later stages for a near ten length victory in her first start over this distance from Savana Regera. She had shown several times during the year that this step up in distance could suit her and having recorded the second fastest time in the heats, she may be able to cause a surprise.
Having made most of the running over 714m prior to the heats last week, the Diane Henry trained Savana Regera was unable to justify her position as 8/15F over 874m having been unable to build up an early lead and may find things tougher in this final if unable to hit the front again from a poor looking draw out In four, but Henry may have more luck with the strong running Savana Volcano, who recorded the fastest time of the heats when able to overcome slight crowding round the opening bends before drawing clear round the final bends, and based on that evidence, could take plenty of stopping again if able to gain a clear run in the early stages before putting her stamina to use again.
She drew clear from the Mark Wallis trained Antigua Lava, who although held on recent form by Blueberry Bullet and Savana Volcano, can’t be ruled out in this final and should she be able to build up an early lead as she did a couple of weeks ago before just being picked up by Blueberry Bullet, it wouldn’t be a surprise if she were to hold on this time especially if any of the strong finishers get held up in running.
As for a selection, I’ve got to stick with Blueberry Bullet. I think she can follow Antigua Lava round the opening bends before picking her up rounding the final bends before holding off the strong challenge from Savana Volcano close home, with the local runner Kilshannig Marie also staying on well to fill the trio spot. Hopefully we are set for a great final but of course, hopefully all six runners come off the track safe and sound
This might be a race to frighten off the toughest punter. Ritzy Spirit was a leading fancy for the Grand National until falling in the semi final as a short priced favourite. He has 13 races over hurdles, winning three but also has open race winning for over six bends on the flat. But anyone thinking of backing him would do well to watch that last defeat when he looked extremely novicey and swerved inwards from the traps. The kennel’s other runner Cloyne History should be better value.
On semi final running, Nipsey Hustle and Peejays Forever look likely to share the early running. The problem for both is that both had clear runs and have time to find on the clock. Savana Ruinart showed great first bend bravery to force her way though traffic and the empty box on her inside could work in her favour, paticularly if the Hustle goes clear and she can track him. Rule out Dapper Rodney at your peril – he is contesting his third Cat 1 final – while likely favourite Feora Noel will be running on if the early pacers get into strife. But Ruinart, who only missed out on a place in the Oaks Final by a short head, looks tremendous value with the sponsors at 9-4.
Iso Fantastic‘s 33.50 run dominates the formlines on show here but with three railled and three middles, this might be one of the those raises where a turn-up isn’t hard to imagine, particularly since railer Slapdash Tommy has various race comments suggesting rails to middle. However, there is cause to suggest that Barry O’Sullivan’s runner is also the best drawn of the sextet. His record for breaking from four is pretty good, it is almost a year to the day since he turned over Ballymac Cooper in a 600 yard event at Shelbourne while in the black jacket.
On paper, this looks a match between the two semi final winners Icaals Rocco and Adeles Duke. Diane Henry’s veteran is enjoying a fabulous autumn to his career and beat John Mullins’ hound two races ago. But Rocco was hampered at the boxes that day by the dog on his inside moving across at the boxes. Rocco himself will edge towards the centre going to the bend. The question then is, who has the plot spot at the bend? Probably Rocco who is the selection.
In some races it is a case of ‘if he breaks’ or ‘if she gets a clear run’, in the case of several of these it is more ‘which line of form are you about to reproduce?’. On that basis, the selection is Glenvale Tony, an enigmatic runner despite having the most form of the sextet. This is a dog with 27.20 form for 460m at Henlow and runs in A1 over 388m at Suffolk Downs. Can he do an extra lap? Well he led Troy Susieeq to the run in over 712m at Towcester, to be beaten just over two lengths. He ran a stormer over 540 a couple of races ago and should be a decent price. But there are plenty of other decent lines for other runners. Silverspring Ria led a Cesarewitch heat for seven bends, Patsys Me Daddy ran Burgess Hannah to four while Lulu You Go has clear potential.
A cracking competitive six bend bitches races for the last of the opens with plenty of attention likely to fall on the red and stripes. Dan Brabon’s Millbank Peach landed six consecutive A1s at Central Park in the summer but is now extending her knowledge elsewhere. She has sub-24 and sub-35 for four and six bends at Romford and looks well drawn in red, though she doesn’t appear draw dependent. Essex Vase third Sweet Pear – marked ‘awkward’ earlier in her career – is back over six bends following an unsuccessful Oaks attempt. But it is far from a buckle with Miss Big Pants improving with virtually every race.
