Sunderland Classic
18 entries missed out in an oversubscribed Category One competition but we have a corker in prospect.
With two litter brothers both in the third round of the Boylesports Irish Derby, eyes will be on ante-post favourite Brindle Bully as well as Aero Pattika to keep the family run going at Sunderland.
Links Maverick missed out on the Steel City Cup title by a short head. He leads a strong team for Tom Heilbron who has seven entries across the six heats. Romeo Cypher was behind his kennelmate at Sheffield and has plenty of early pace to clear in Romford Puppy Cup winner Fire And Ice on his immediate inside in heat one.
Pall Mall champion Aero Sacundai goes in heat three. Richie Taberner has been unfortunate to get his pair of entries in the same heat. Early money has been for Stonepark Hoffa who is now 8/1 after opening 11/1. Jonny Whiskers has been nibbled at from 40/1 into 33s.
We will have an ante-post preview from Joe and Hobbsy tomorrow so keep an eye open for that.
Ante-post prices
4/1 Brindle Bully 5/1 Links Maverick 9/1 Fire And Ice 10/1 Stonepark Hoffa 11/1 Acomb Felix 12/1 Cinderella Tell 14/1 Aero Sacundai, Coolavanny Mercy, Lion Heart, Untold Ruble 22/1 Acomb Irene, Bramble Linton, Droopys Manowar, Oscar The Grouch, Romeo Cypher, Unanimous Leon, Untold Euro 25/1 Madabout Peck 28/1 Romeo Crusade 33/1 Jonny Whiskers 40/1 Acomb Johnny, Aero Pattika 50/1 Jeakers Man, On The Nose, Swift Silly 66/1 Droopys Perfect, Getup Me Champ, Headford Sunny, Stormy News, Sunnyside Turmo, Swift Underwater, Tonelagee, Wraysbury Katie 80/1 Droopys Bucko, Laughil Larry, Tromora Supreme
Picture of the draw taken from the Sunderland X feed.
BGBF Future Stars Puppy Trophy
Sadly the British bred puppy Category Two competition didn’t fill.
Irish Derby current outright prices
With the third round draw in the books, the ante-post market has been updated.
5/2 Bockos Diamond 8/1 March On Freddie 10/1 Bombay Pat, De Lahdedah 14/1 Ballinabola Jim, Callaway Knegare, Cheap Sandwiches, Tuono Charlie 16/1 Boylesports Bob, Seven Beach 20/1 Da Bold Falcon 25/1 bar
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “Bockos Diamond put in another scintillating performance on Friday, clocking the second fastest 550-yard time ever at HQ and it’s no surprise punters are confident that he’s the dog to land the €125,000 prize.”
The latest Gone To The Dogs Podcast was released last night. Barry Caul is back to go through the third round heats as the competition really starts to heat up.
Joe’s Wednesday Tips
***6.48 Yarmouth – Merlins Mate
**8.54 Romford – Romeo Showtime
*7.11 Romford – Two Slip Jigs
One winner from three on Tuesday sees us head into another night of graded selections before the open race action starts again tomorrow.
The nap of the evening runs in the D1 at Yarmouth at 6.48pm. Merlins Mate was beat a long way by Downtown Man on Saturday evening but that doesn’t tell the story. Merlins Mate was out trapped by Downtown Man before showing more pace into the first bend where he found all sorts of trouble allowing Downtown Man to sneak up on the inside to go and win with trap four Our Boy Ben also in that race. If Merlins Mate can come away I would fancy him to go well at a big price if getting a clear run.
We head to Romford for the next best where Romeo Showtime runs from trap six in the A2 at 8.54pm. A January 2023 puppy who got it all wrong at the start last Friday when stumbling out the traps in the maiden final behind Breaghmore Paudy, he ran well to be beat under six lengths and if trapping on terms here I would fancy Romeo Showtime to lead and make all.
The value bet for the evening is also at Romford in A1 grade at 7.11pm. Trap two, Two Slip Jigs has been switching between Yarmouth and Romford in recent weeks and hasn’t shown what he is truly capable of producing. I am hoping this evening that he is able to do so with a good break from trap two clearing Droopys Saoirse on his inside and holding Drumdoit Matt and Pawtsmouth Pedro to lead round the first two bends where he can open up a big enough advantage to hold on.
Increased open money at Towcester and Oxford
There is an increase in prize money at both tracks this weekend. Sprint, standard and stayers opens are now worth £300 to the winner rather than £250. Maidens remain £250 to the winner with run money steady at £60.
It’s Halloween tomorrow and that means that Christmas is peaking around the corner. Towcester has a Christmas Fayre coming up in the middle of November with racing on the same day.
Stats
- Cashel Misty – 2.18 Kilkenny – 5/7 in A5 grade.
- Puckane Sydney – 7.22 Yarmouth – 5/10 from the blue jacket.
- Silver Bucks – 8.19 Romford – 5/9 from trap three.
- Its Paddy’s Wish – 9.20 Youghal – 6/9 at the track.
Opens
Friday: Romford
Saturday: Central Park
