Tasracing

Heats of the H.G.R.C Easter Cup, Carlton Draught Easter Plate and O’Driscoll Easter Purse headline Thursday night’s program at Ladbrokes Park in Hobart where trainer Blake Pursell has a big team engaged in the series.

2020 saw the cancellation of all three series due to the COVID-19 enforced shutdown of racing.

Easter Cup heats

The H.G.R.C Easter Cup has 16 of the state’s best sprinters engaged including the in-form duo of Amy Cora and Rio Valiente both vying for supremacy in a bid to reach next week’s prestigious $3,335-to-the-winner final.

Sprint Gordon, winner of the Tasmanian Gold Cup for Blake Pursell, returns to the 461-metre trip in a bid to recapture his winning form having not tasted success since a victory in Launceston on 11 January when beating Savage Victor.

Tasmanian Hall of Fame breeder Barry Heawood races Sprint Gordon having notched up 17 wins from 45 starts.

The son of Spring Gun has raced in top company during his last four starts having come up against Wynburn Sheean. His runner-up effort to Wynburn Sheean in the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup Final was a bold career best effort.

Blake Pursell reports that his chaser has bounced back soundly from a serious race fall at his last start in Devonport.

“Sprint Gordon has checked out well since the fall and has been working great at home,” the trainer commented.

Corporate bookmakers have installed the Eric Haldane-trained Rio Valiente as $2.70 favourite drawing box 8 to take out the second heat, the final leg of the quaddie, with Sprint Gordon next best at $3.60 jumping from box 2.

“Sprint Gordon looks to of came up with his best draw (box 2) in a while,” Pursell said of his star sprinter.

“Though the dog has a big challenge ahead taking on Rio Valiente, who has been brilliant at his last two starts. We also have Social Distance (box 7) stepping up to his first go in a Free-For-All who has been racing in great form recently.”

Amy Cora winning the Maiden Thousand in Hobart last year.

In the first heat Amy Cora, trained by Debbie Cannan for owner Ian Sowell, will go around as second favourite from box 3, having won the Custom Resources Distance Championship Final over 580 metres in Devonport on Tuesday.

The Ted Medhurst-trained Fabulous Baroque (box 4) is the $2.90 favourite ahead of Amy Cora and Green Machine.

Pursell is confident that his charge Green Machine can make it three victories in succession jumping from box 8.

“Green Machine has drawn his box again out in box 8 where he wants to be, it’s a pretty even race,” Blake added.

“With Fabulous Baroque in the race and Amy Cora who is racing in brilliant form, I’m just hoping Green Machine can be right up near the lead in the first 50 to 100 meters to get himself in the race; he did trial well there last week.”

Easter Plate heats

Five heats of the Carlton Draught Easter Plate will be run this Thursday night over the 461-metre sprint trip.

Pursell will line up two runners for the Grade 4/5 series with Freddie Fox Trot drawing the rails box in race five.

The son of Bella Infrared and Bella Shima will start the $1.80 favourite ahead of Attitude Plus at $3.

“Freddie Fox Trot comes up with a race that looks to suit him; he can be sitting on the speed around the turn. Has The Power (box 5), I think the draw suits him with not a lot of speed on his outside so it can use a bit of the track.”

Easter Purse heats

Two heats of the O’Driscoll Easter Purse will be the first series to kick off a big night of greyhound racing in Hobart.

In-form newcomer Tipsy Mermaid (box 2) has the respect of favourite punters for it to make a promising debut.

The Debbie Cannan-trained daughter of Cosmic Rumble and Little Nangar began its career under trainer Matthew Bourke in Queensland having won a Maiden heat and final at Albion Park in great style over the 520-metre trip.

Zurhaar (box 3) along with Not So Cashless (box 4) and Over The Anvil (box 7) are all next in betting at $5.50.

Thursday night’s Hobart greyhound meeting will commence at 19.37 with Races 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6 broadcast on Sky Racing 2 with Races 5, 7, 8, 9 & 10 on Sky Racing 1. All races will be live streamed on TasracingTV.

Watch Sprint Gordon (box 4) score his last recorded victory in Launceston on 11 January.