Tonight Oxford feature the opening round of the bet365 Hunt Cup plus seven supporting opens.
The individual races are previewed below, however in terms of the outright betting, the market is headed by track record holder Lively Lauren at a best priced 11-2 with Coral. Then: 7-1 Havana Lover, 8-1 Low Pressure, King Ezra, 12-1 Crokers Brandy, Havana Top Note.
But prices vary to an unusual degree between the major firms so it is worth shopping around.
Blastout Wilma is a decent graded runner who woulcd be expected to clock around the 27.50 mark and it would be hard to make a case for the debutant baby Maree Master. But Dave Lewis’ runner clearly has some ability and in a four-runner field might just get the chance to show it.
6-4
In a race featuring a number of ‘would be’ sprinters or dogs with limited form over course and distance, Minnies Kharkiv stands out as a local who hasn’t had great success but has been competing well with dogs who would start favourite in this company. The stripes will definitely have his supporters but three wide seeds in a sprint is complicated.
2-6-1
An incredibly difficult race to call – the most competitive of the four qualifiers – with a string of hard luck stories from the trialstakes. A lot will depend on who leads out of the first bend. If it’s Sweet Talker, how close with Crokers Brandy be and can he get a run? If it’s Low Pressure, it is game over. Amaze Me Seb also had a hard luck story last time out but there is no guarantee that this run will be any smoother. As for Havana Lover, she was never seen with a chance last week but oozes class with a near 50% strike rate. Expect her to come on for the run, and she looks a major threat to ‘win out’ but on balance and lay-out of the race, Paul Sallis’ blue is the narrow selection.
3-4-6
Plenty of good solid loal form for Distant Piper should see Richard Baker’s black with a decent chance in this company. At her best, Ballymac Ino would push her all the way.
4-3-5
If this race was over fours bends, Havana Top Note would start as favourite and on that basis alone it is hard to oppose him. He missed his break last week and showed tremendous early pace to lead up. Expect another bang-catch-me-if-you-can performance from the McNair runner though his stamina is slightly suspect. On known class, Minnie Bullet is the obvious danger and if she stays out of trouble – well possible on this draw – she will be hunting down the leader in the second half of the race.
1-2-4
Although he looked extremely novicey on debut, Rebel Diaz is clearly a youngster with bags of potential. Suspect supporters will know their fate within the first 20 metres.
2-1-3
This could be a race of two halves with the outside four likely to dominate early, with the powerful lads in red and blue likely to appear on the scene in the later stages. Last time out King Ezra got the better of Bombardier but Nic Jeal’s railer is showing signs of coming back to form and looks a threat from his favourite box. It is impossible not to imagine the dual Cat One winner Night Time Danny outside the tricast.
1-4-2
Only one run in six to date for Ballyard Shawny, but it was quite special, a 23.67 at Romford. Look further back at his Irish card and this lad has ability. But he will need to bring his ‘A’ game taking on a bunch of locals capable of producing low 27s themself.
2-1-4
Among all the hard luck stories last week, none was more glaring than that of track record holder Lively Lauren. She showed plenty of guts to get within a length of Untold Rupee, and although she has clearly upset the God of Trap Draws, she is a class act and should win this. On times, Meenamoynamona has a slight edge on last week’s form but she enjoyed a dream run. If she repeats the trapping performance and cuts across at the bends like last time, she could have team Wallis sweating. The bigger danger though may be on Lauren’s inside and Untold Rupee who seems to have a determined streak when challenged.
4-3-6
Super competitive open this one with tons of proven open class form. On balance though, we’ll edge to the Gold Cup finalist Twolengthstoogud who loves the track and doesn’t appear to be too far from his best form. It is no easier to pick the two biggest dangers. On the draw, you would have to give Swindon’s no.1 hound Ballymac Conti a squeak with local experience making Mustang Sam a contender? Unusually, you could actually make a case for all six.
3-1-5
Wouldn’t have a clue how the layers would price this one up. With one and three likely to be the outsiders, Angie Kibble’s Ballymac Zeela can take full advantage. Her Swindon form would give her an excellent chance in this company. The danger appears to be Coolavanny Finn who definitely has ability but so far has failed to deliver on it. Could be his night?
2-5-6
