In 2018 Lenson Wilson reached the Springbok final unbeaten and duly obliged by nine lengths at 2-9f.
In 2017 Sober Call went into the final on a seven timer including a 28.97 track record before being beaten at 1-3f by Yassoo Martin (8-1).
In 2016 eventual winner Ballymac Manix and Razldazl Raidio (5th) both reached the final unbeaten and went to traps at 2-1 and 10-11f respectively.
In 2015 Reculver Ozzie completed a four-timer when winning the final at 8-11f.
The previous three finals all went to winning favourites.
The outstanding novice hurdler doesn’t always win the Springbok Final, but they usually dominate the betting. To have two outstanding candidates such as Manix and Raidio was very much the exception to the rule.
Following Sunday night’s Cearnsport Springbok first round, the biggest question is surely – how many outstanding candidates are there?
What we learned from the first round!
Heat 1 set the tone as Irish National winner Lightfoot Prince (T1 1-2f) took full advantage of his additional experience and inside draw to beat the novice Droopys Trawler (T2 9-4) and Jumeirah Boss (T4 33-1): Time 29.75 (-30) 1, 11/4
LIGHTFOOT PRINCE on his way to win the opening heat from Droopys Trawler Photo: © Steve Nash
Heat 2 saw Mane Mane (T5 2-11f) confirm that he is surely one of the finds of the event, and frank previous form with Lightfoot Prince with a flawless win over the novicey Starburst (T2 5-1) and Gemini Wonder (T4 40-1) Time 29.47 (-30) 4 3/4, 4
MANE MANE – looking anything but a novice in heat two Photo: © Steve Nash
Heat 3 was supposedly the battle between the top two in the market, though both were given a hurdling lesson by Piemans Bullet (T1 11-8). Runner-up King Nelson (T3 11-10f) was exposed for his lack of jumping experience and generally looked very novicey (he appeared to ‘look in’ on the run-in without actually causing any interference). However his flat speed was awesome. Fastest qualifier Droopys Denny (T5 5-2) ran on well but looked vulnerable after a slow break.Time 29.73 (-30) hd, 3
PIEMANS BULLET (pursued by King Nelson t3) Photo: © Steve Nash
Heat 4 winner Burgess Brandy (T1 1-1f) emulated Mane Mane with a flawless front running performance. He looked way too good for Emiles Eske (T2 6-1) and Noelles Phelco (T 6-1), both of whom he is due to meet again in the semi finals. Time 29.45 (-30) 7, 1 3/4
Latest betting 3-1 Mane Mane, 7-2 King Nelson, 9-2 Burgess Brandy, 6-1 Piemans Bullet, 7-1 Droopys Denny, 8-1 Lightfoot Prince, 14-1 Droopys Trawler, 25-1 Starburst, 50-1 Emiles Eske, Noelles Phelpso, 66-1 Jumeirah Boss, 100-1 Gemini Wonder
