Rob Abrey
Tonight is the opening round of the the Coral sponsored Olympic and George Curtis/Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove.
Huge thanks to Hove Racing Mananger ‘Romford Rob’ Abrey for his thoughts on the two competitions and selections for all the heats.
Ante post:
Olympic: 3-1 Hollow Man, 4-1 King Memphis, 5-1 Newinn Sid, 10-1 Hesoneofourown, Queen Shakira, 16-1 Wasted Money, 20-1 King Combs, Ower Mystery, Untold Zloty, 28-1 Ballymac John, Watch The Limo, 33-1 Ballymac Diana, Lightfoot Falcon, Never Say No, Untold Paanga, 40-1 Queen Georgia, 50-1 Getup Me Boy, 66-1 Beggers Bullet, Betsys Bullet, Blarney Boy, Eire Buckle, Low Pressure, Ninja Kerry, Queen Leona, Uncle Freddie, 80-1 Ashwood Bocko, Clairekeith Remy, Four From Two, 100-1 Johnny Rocker, 125-1 Bluejig Jane, Brinkleys Syd, Chasing tommytee, Kilara Show, Selsey Bullet, 150-1 Burrows Sapphire, Links Hard Deck.
Curtis/Ballyregan Mem: 11-8 Droopys Clue, 3-1 Ower Smasher, 10-1 Bradys Bullet, 12-1 Haka Carlo, Savana Heross, 16-1 Millridge Tanic, 20-1 Clongeel Ozzie, Blacktavern Magic, 22-1 Savana Jazz, 25-1 Pomba Jake, 28-1 Droppys Flotilla, 33-1 Swiper, 40-1 Droopys Senorita, 66-1 Barley Locket, Baywatch Bullet, Beloved Bullet, Sporting Pegasus, Tommys Dove, 80-1 Beach Babe, 100-1 Lamorna Amaze, Mrs Doyle, 125-1 Tata Komodi, 150/1 Bombay Zorba, Glenwood Thelma
Top Note takes record
When Havana Top Note went to the Oxford 650m traps on Friday night he had six races and five sectional times on his card. They ranged from 15.27 to 15.51.
For the second week in a row he trapped last. But on this occasion, nothing moved across him on the run to the bend and he accelerated into empty space. After crossing the sectional in a flying 15.03, he covered the remaining 407 metres in 24.26 seconds to set a new track record of 39.29 with the MWD’s Mad For Sterling second.
The former track record holder Havana Lover went to traps in the night’s most intriguing race, taking on the bitch who had beaten Top Note by four lengths last time out, New Destiny. Punters might have expected the Wallis trained favourite to dominate from the front. In fact, she missed the break and was 20 spots adrift of Lover with a circuit to run. The natural assumption might have been that the 2022 St. Leger winner would then pull away. Wrong! The Mark Wallis trained hound set after the Hunt Cup winner and had clawed back all but half a length at the winning line.
The pre-race billing for heat three was also an anticipated buckle between another former record holder, Lively Lauren and the recent Gold Collar finalist, Aayamza Sydney. In all honesty, it was less of a head-to-head than punters might have anticipated with Lauren producing a trademark front running performance. At the line though, the gap was only two and a half lengths and connections possibly suggesting that that gap would have been shorter with a better break and no traffic issues at bend three.
With an empty trap on her inside, Minnies Bullet seemed to be be running like a 4-9f should after taking an early lead in the weakest, and final heat. But after going well clear, she was beaten on merit by Kevin Boon’s Gutsy Jet who benefitted from a rare clear run to clock 39.70.
