Plum draw for Piercestown

The semi-finals of the Easter Cup headline proceedings at Shelbourne Park tonight and the second of the two heats should be particularly informative, with SIS Live Gold Cup champion Piercestown Sand taking on Derby champ Razldazl George and a seemingly resurgent Tyrur Big Mike, amongst others.

Let’s start with the latter, who is quoted at 2-1 in the early market. In terms of raw ability, he’s as good as any dog in training - and has been for a long time - but his marked tendency to race wide around the bends is very costly at this level.

Last weekend, however, he recorded the joint-fastest time of the round with a blistering display of early pace, which left some useful rivals toiling.