Graham Banks – Assistant RM Crayford
The £10,000 winners prize for just the two runs has seen a high quality entry for this years Ladbrokes Cesarewitch.
As with the Gold Collar where the defending champion Warzone Tom lines up in the second semi final, the presence of last years winner, the Peter Harnden trained Salacres Pippy, making her first start since giving birth to a healthy litter of puppies, adds extra intrigue to this competition.
Add to this is the he fact that the Mark Wallis trained Blueberry Bullet heads the betting at 100/30 with the sponsors shows just what a competitive running it is.
From a competition point of view, it’s a shame that four of the top six in the betting for outright success have ended up in heat three and I’ve no doubt that connections of all six runners would have looked at the draw and would rather have been in either of the first two heats.
But on the flip side, all six will feel that if they can get through that test, then they would have serious claims of taking the prize next Saturday morning.
The main contenders have managed to have avoided being drawn in heat one, but it still looks to be a competitive affair, mainly because none of the six runners have raced over this distance.
But based on an impressive winning Crayford debut over 714m last Saturday, Savana Regera could be the one to beat as she wasn’t stopping and could lead these a merry dance for Diane Henry if hitting the front rounding the opening bends.
Two local runners could prove to be the main dangers, with the strong running Kilshannig Marie and lightly raced Patsys Me Daddy, trained by Julie Luckhurst and Tom Levers respectively looking to battle it out for the second qualifying position. Preference is given to Kilshannig Marie as she looks sure to be suited by this step up in distance based on her strong running finishes over eight bends
Ante-Post favourite Blueberry Bullet lines up in heat two and ought to prove a tough nut to crack based on an all the way success over 912m at Towcester, and then a battling performance in a quality field over course and distance here last week.
So if turning the opening bends unscathed, she could record a comfortable success for trainer Mark Wallis. However, as with the first heat, the final qualifying spot looks to be up for grabs.
There wasn’t much to separate the Pat Doocey trained Longacres Bullet and the Peter Harnden trained Hang On Mart over 714m last week, with both runners finding plenty of trouble in running but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see either runner going through with a clearer run here.
Local trainer Tom Levers has a couple of nice looking February 21 youngsters Calypso Blue and Beach Babe stepping up in class and distance. But they could turn out to be useful in time as their mother Beechgrove Bell was no stranger to these long distance races, and with Beach Babe moving well in a recent 714m trial, recording 45.44 in the process off the front, then she could be thereabouts at the finish.
The final heat is a real cracker and as I mentioned earlier, connections of all six runners would have seen this draw and wished they were in either of the previous two heats.
It sees the return of last years winner Salacres Pippy, who made all the running on that occasion and the Peter Harnden trained runner will be hoping to repeat those tactics again here and despite not having raced since February, she has put in several good performances in a variety of trials and if leading early, may hold on at the finish.
Antigua Lava and Savana Volcano have both been running well over several distances and tracks in recent weeks, including here last week when less than a length separated the Mark Wallis and Diane Henry trained runners when chasing home Blueberry Bullet over this distance
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see little separating both runners again here at the finish with slight preference given to Savana Volcano, purely because she will have the outside to herself and will look to swoop rounding the final bends.
Of the others, Loggies Sadie, trained by Simon Harms, is another sure to be staying on well in the later stages and with a decent trial over this distance to her name to add to good performances at Perry Barr over 915m, may not be far away at the finish.
Milton Pepe trapped well and made all the running over 714m last weeks for trainer Ian Langford and his chance of qualifying will increase if able to build up a decent advantage. While the same could be said about Longcroft Paddy, who was an impressive winner over 712m at Towcester at the end of October and trainer Chris Joyce will be hoping for a similar performance over this longer distance
As for an outright selection, I’m afraid I’m going to be boring and select Blueberry Bullet as she has avoided most of her main rivals and if winning this heat in style, could make the 100/30 on offer seem a good price in next weeks final.
But for those looking for a bit of each way value, I couldn’t put you off the local runner Kilshannig Marie at 33/1 with the chance of her qualifying for next weeks final and as we have seen before, anything can happen in a final.
Sponsor’s ante post: 10-3 Blueberry Bullet, 9-2 Antigua Lava, 5-1 Loggies Sadie, Savana Volcano, 6-1 Salacres Pippy, 7-1 Longacres Bullet, 10-1 Savana Regera, 16-1 Longcroft Paddy, 20-1 Beach Babe, 25-1 Milton Pepe, 33-1 Kilshannig Marie, 50-1 Patsys Me Daddy, 66-1 Silverspring Ria, 80-1 Hang On Mart, 100-1 Milton Mia, 125-1 Calypso Blue, 200-1 Peads Merc
