Head says Ned for Gymcrack
While wise heads will urge caution in backing inexperienced puppies, the Jimmy Fenwick trained youngster is simply impossible to oppose – as a selection – to land the £17,500 Bresbet Gymcrack at Sheffield this afternoon.
Drawn between comparative slower breakers, his main opposition would appear to be the distant black and orange neighbours who will do well to avoid each other. In short, the 4/9f probably – on all known form – only needs to trap to win. (Though nobody mention that phrase to his trainer so soon after the British Breeders Stakes Final).
Should Ned fail to break – or go down on his nose as he did in the first round – Droopys Supply and Ellane Run – would dispute the title of ‘next most likely to’. Supply would seem to have the most potential to improve, given his comparative lack of experience of the circuit. Run’s edge might be the opposite.
Here are the thoughts of Racing Manager Andrew Mascarenhas following last week’s semi final.
Betting: 4/9 Wicky Ned, 6/1 Droopys Supply, Ellanne Run, 9/1 Droopys Extragud, 14/1 No Better Feelin, 20/1 Bramble Tango
Reminder of the semi finals – Ellanne Run – Wicky Ned – No Better Feelin
Towcester – Maiden Derby semis:
New ownership sees Ivy Hill Thunder become Bockos Thunder at the joint head of the KAB Maiden Derby ante post betting. Kevin Boon’s runner was second quickest on the clock having zipped up in the day’s fastest sectional in the first round.
Videos: Junctionfourteen – The Other Donny – Ivy Hill Thunder – Romeo Steel – Unanimous Leon – Miami Bullett
7/2 Bockos Thunder, The Other Donny, 5/1 Jaytee Craze, 6/1 Miami Bullet, 8/1 Untold Euro, 16/1 Coss Tokyo, Hawkfield Abbie, Romeo Steel, 20/1 Joes Sagar, 25/1 Unanimous Leon, 33/1 Garfiney Blake, Jaytee Etienne, Junctionfourteen, 50/1 Barefoot Awesome, 66/1 Glorious Tom,100/1 Ranchers Wolf, 150/1 Fatboyz Harvey
The 13 race all-open meeting also features four Derby trialstakes including the return of defending champ Gaytime Nemo plus an eight bend marathon featuring TV Trophy runner-up Ballymac Taylor
Laurels up for grabs
On what turned out to be a fabulous night for ‘Big Kev’ Hutton (see below), Jet Stream Angel moved to within one run of a second Perry Barr title.
The fact that Angel was awarded the Oaks title having finished half a length second to No Rush, has diverted attention from her outstandiing record. Saturday night’s ARC Laurels semi final was her fifth win in eight UK races and her winning time of 28.20 was the quickest on the night. The Oaks form has held up well!
‘Yorkshire Kevin’ Ferguson continues to pile on the Category One finalists and he will be double handed to add to his recent British Breeders forecast with Acomb’s Irene and Felix lining up again. Irene just held off Phill Barlow’s unlucky Wicky Hiker. The Doncaster handler also goes double handed into next week’s showdown with outsider Brickwork Ruck.
Like all good finals there will also be plenty of local interest with sole wide seed Kilwest Ranger producing his best run to date. When he goes to traps next Saturday, will he be chasing a family double, given sister Crafty Shivoo will have already raced at Hove?
Jet Stream Angel – Kilwest Ranger – Acomb Irene
Six brilliant Belles
It will be surprising if there is more quality in this year’s Oaks Final than next Saturday’s Coral Brighton Belle decider.
Quickest on the clock was three-time Category One winner Queen Joni bouncing back from a no-race to complete a six timer with a 29.88 run. The close railer has drawn black in the decider with kennelmate Queen Dusty in stripes.
Meanwhile Joni’s closest rival and ante post favourite Crafty Shivoo has been shunted from the middle to the inside box after overcoming a rough start to win in 30.06.
The third British bred in the decider Southfield Daisy continues to improve with every run and has emerged as a top class bitch in her own right. Kevin Hutton’s home bred was only five spots slower than Shivoo despite suffering her own issues.
Southfield Daisy – Crafty Shivoo – Queen Joni
The reputation of PGR Puppy Derby winner Untold Dollar continues to grow with every outing.
The least experienced runner at Monmore added a third win from just four races with a sizzling 29.18 run for the Hove 500m. He has drawn red for next week’s fiinal and will start at very short odds-on.
