Draw can swing it in Hee Haws Sheriff’s favour
Ian Reilly’s runners set the stake alight last weekend and they go head to head from traps three and four tonight. With little to separate them the advantage of being closer to the rails swings the verdict in favour of Hee Haws Sheriff.
The Select Stakes winner was running in a sprint for just the second time in his career when posting 17.43 in the first round, and looks capable of improving as the stake unfolds.
There’s no room for error here but this professional trapper seldom errs at the break and, if he can hold his position against the early attention of Quietly, it’ll be on surprise if he also wrests the track record from his kennelmate.
Ballymac Sexton finished second behind Quietly last time, but should bounce back to winning ways in heat two.
The lightly raced tracker was an impressive winner here two weeks ago, and has plenty of scope for improvement. A repeat of either of those last two outings should suffice.
The prolific Ballymac Bigmike has obvious claims in the third heat, while Toolmaker Scot could do with brushing up on his trapping but is marginally preferred to Nickys Assassin in the final heat.
Six opening-round heats of the Ladbrokes Easter Cup take place at Shelbourne Park, where Jaytee Jet can supplement last week’s impressive return with victory in the last of the sextet.
Paul Hennessy’s dog won the Derby Consolation in 2015 and promises to be even better this year. Last week’s 29.61 victory was a positive portent, and he looks a major player for outright honours.
Sidarian Vega looks set to lead all the way in the first heat.
Graham Holland’s dog was a beaten finalist in the Gold Cup final, but this looks a much easier assignment for the Champion Stakes winner, and he can be expected to dominate from start to finish.
