We are into the second round of the Ladbrokes Easter Cup on Saturday and I don’t mind admitting to being a bit baffled.
When they found themselves short of runners for the first round, and were determined to keep the competition to four runs, who came up with the solution for three second round heats? Surely, with only five first round heats, you qualify the first four and the four fastest fifths? That gives you four second round heats, two semis and a final.
We will now have the first four through from the second round. At a time when there is a lack of top dogs at Shelbourne a race has been lost.
Our two have had mixed fortunes in the first heat. Newinn Lester is the only wide runner and should get a clear run on the outside. He was still tying up in the first round but should come on a bit more for that run. As most people would be aware, Wolfe would ideally be better on the rail. But unlike some who would dart across to the rail, I would expect him to hold his line to the bend and on a decent break, he would have enough early pace to be well placed by the bend. Bottom line, I would be very hopeful of them both qualifying.
This looks a tricky one because of the way the draw has come out. The fly in the ointment is Boylesport Xtra who will dive to the inside from trap three. To avoid becoming the meat in the sandwich, Murts Boher will have to trap in front. He ran very well in the first round but will need to be at his best again.
Ballydoyle Valor has been a revelation since his short break and I would expect him to go well here. He has an English Derby winner on his inside, though Priceless Blake’s Shelbourne form probably doesn’t match what he did at Nottingham. The other one with an obvious chance is Cabra Firmino who should get a decent run again from six.
We have two in the puppy final at Limerick and both come into the race in good form having won their semi finals. Romeo Speedy is a very decent young dog. It doesn’t take a genius though to realise that the spotlight will be on Newinn Taylor who is looking to make it eight wins from eight races.
I would have to say that at this stage of his career, he is as good as any pup I have handled. His early pace is nothing short of sensational. To put it into perspective, while most of the field were doing 16.50s to the third bend, Taylor clocked 16.05.
At this stage, he looks a complete ‘525 dog’. Will he eventually strengthen up to get the 550? You really can’t tell.
On Monday, we make our first trip over in preparation for the English Derby with trialists and Clonbrien Prince and Lenson Blinder in trialstakes, plus Lenson Bocko and Lenson Austin having trials.
As far as the trialists are concerned, it is just part of the learning experience. Lenson Bocko in particular is a very young dog. It is one thing spending a couple of hours in the van to Shelbourne; it is something else coming over to England. As previously, the dogs will be spending a few hours at Dave Firmager’s kennel and basically just familiarising themselves with the routine.
We will play it by ear in terms of how many trials the younger dogs will have. If they adapt particularly well it might only be the one, more likely, two. At the end of the day though, getting beat in a trialstake isn’t the end of the world, you just don’t want it to go wrong in the first round.
I will be interested to see the new traps. I don’t know whether the extra ram will make any difference, but I am in the camp that says that there was a problem with the old ones. When you have a consistent dog like Magical Bale not trapping from one, you need to check it out.
(To be fair, on the basis of career performances, red hasn’t ever necessarily been his favourite box – Ed)
I think it was even worse for the trap six runner. In my view, it is very difficult to win on the outside unless you are leading to the bend, and if trap six isn’t good for trapping, then you will struggle.
I also think the third and fourth bends are quite tricky. The dogs take them in Indian file, before a final burst along the homestraight. It is almost as if you need a railer for the first two bends and a middle to wide runner for the third bend.
But with new traps and work having been done on the banking, they are clearly trying to give dogs the best possible chance and we are looking forward to taking part.
