Thursday’s Hove selections
***8.59 Hove – Swift Jarvis (2/1) 4pts
**6.42 Hove – Clona Kody (6/4) 2pts
*7.16 Hove – Paradise Hailey (4/1) 1pt
A disappointing Wednesday at Romford sees us head into a card with plenty of open races at Hove this evening trying to get back on track.
Tonight’s Best Bet
The nap of the evening is trap two Swift Jarvis in the Coral Thursday Night 740 Super Stayers at 8.59pm. He was a massive eye-catcher over 695m last Thursday when beaten a length and a quarter by Saint Maga. That dog re-opposes this evening, but in a race with an extra 45 metres with very little early pace, Swift Jarvis could find himself in a winnable position earlier than expected. I feel this strong-running type can reverse the form with Saint Maga.
Thursday’s Next Best
The next best for the evening is trap five Clona Kody in the Coral Thursday Night 500 Standard at 6.42pm. Two impressive runs back on the card behind Uncle Freddie and Candolim Monsoon have set things up nicely for Clona Kody to dominate from an early stage this evening, with a trap to line victory expected. All Along in trap one would be the main danger to Clona Kody. However, if the pick comes away as well as he can, I would expect him to be far enough clear off the final bend to hold on from All Along.
Other selections
The Coral 500 Maiden Trophy Final at 8.07pm can go the way of trap four Unanimous Tasha. She can come on for last week’s run when finishing second to Blueisthecolor. Unanimous Tasha can lead and hold on this week. The Coral 500 Standard Trophy at 8.24pm can see trap five Bluejig Baron get first run on Candolim Monsoon and Droopys Extragud to land the spoils in a warm affair.
Other selections on the card include Paradise Hailey in the 695m heat at 7.16pm from trap four where there are questions marks over whether some of the field will stay the extended distance. Uncle Freddie in the Coral Thursday Night 515 at 8.41pm where I expect him to get the better of Birmingham Cup Star Rioja Bungle. In the final race of the evening, trap one Never Say No can use the draw to his advantage to land the Coral Thursday Night 500 Standard at 9.16pm.
Boylesports Irish Derby quarter-finals
The quarter-final stage of the Boylesports Irish Derby is on Saturday night at Shelbourne.
Down to 24 runners as the competition really hits the business end. A new track record highlighted a terrific third round last week. What does the race have in store for us on Saturday? Barry Caul sat down with the Gone To The Dogs Podcast once more this week to go over the four contests. We have heat prices and Barry’s thoughts on each quarter-final below the cards.
Outright prices from Boylesports
6/4 Bockos Diamond 8/1 Cheap Sandwiches 10/1 Bombay Pat 12/1 Callaway Knegare, De Lahdedah, March On Freddie 16/1 Ballinabola Jim, Boylesports Bob, Da Bold Falcon, Seven Beach 20/1 Carrick Aldo, Undulation 25/1 Untold Dollar 33/1 A Lucky Julie, Scooby Pacemaker 40/1 Hawkfield Blue, Short Grip, Superfast Gorden 50/1 Cheque For Cash, Singalong Dolly 66/1 Ballymac Briar, Extra Gain, Mustang Fever 150/1 Is She There
2/1 Bombay Pat 3/1 Ballinabola Jim, De Lahdedah 4/1 March On Freddie 10/1 Superfast Gorden 12/1 Cheque For Cash
4/6 Cheap Sandwiches 3/1 Untold Dollar 5/1 A Lucky Julie 8/1 Singalong Dolly 14/1 Ballymac Briar 25/1 Mustang Fever
13/8 Carrick Aldo 9/4 Boylesports Bob 3/1 Undulation 7/2 Da Bold Falcon 20/1 Extra Gain 33/1 Is She There
4/11 Bockos Diamond 4/1 Callaway Knegare 5/1 Seven Beach 14/1 Hawkfield Blue 16/1 Scooby Pacemaker 20/1 Short Grip
Terry O’Sullivan RIP
Terry O’Sullivan, father of Crayford and Central Park handler Barry and a former big-race winning trainer in his own right, died on Sunday after a long illness. He was 85.
Terry built the schooling track at Fawkham in Kent where many a champion has passed through, especially hurdlers.
Terry and his son Barry were well known for taking on flat racers and turning them into stars of the jumps scene, the pair schooling and handling many a champion hurdler – including a number trained by themselves.
The O’Sullivans won Springboks, Grand Nationals and Champion Hurdles . Only this year Barry sent out Nunhead Shiv to win the Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle and is represented in this weekend’s Ladbrokes Grand National heats.
Barry O’Sullivan sends out Jaxx Hells Angel, Traceys Sydney and Champion Hurdle winner Nunhead Shiv in Sunday’s heats of the jumps’ Classic at Crayford.
Danny Rayment, Crayford racing manager, said: “First off, I would like to pass on my and the track’s sincere condolences to Barry and the family. It is very sad news.
“Terry was very much a legend of the game and the O’Sullivan name is synonymous, particularly, with the best of hurdles racing over many, many years – especially here at Crayford.
“Their schooling track near Brands Hatch has served the sport brilliantly during that time – and still does. Just look at this year’s Champion Hurdle victory for the O’Sullivans with Nunhead Shiv.
“And, of course, so many other trainers have Terry to thank for schooling their runners before big-race success over the jumps.
“Terry always had a smile and funny story to tell whenever I saw him – and that’s how I’ll remember him, always cheerful.”
Stats
- Unleashthebridge – 2.23 Crayford – 6/7 in A4 grade.
- Elegant Elma – 3.38 Crayford – 9/18 from trap one.
- Leahs Best – 7.26 Enniscorthy – A perfect 5/5 from the orange jacket.
- Macaulies Storm – 7.39 Monmore – 5/10 when running in a D2.
- Tadghs Hero – 7.53 Swindon – 5/8 at D3 level from trap two.
- Bluejig Baron – 8.24 Hove – 7/9 in races at the the track.
- Quare Treasure – 8.52 Valley – 5/9 when running in an A2.
- Never Say No – 9.16 Hove – 7/12 in the red jacket at Hove.
- Make It Good – 9.20 Swindon – 10/13 in the blue jacket.
Opens
Friday: Romford ♦ Sunderland
Saturday: Oxford♦Perry Barr
