Braden Howlett holds a commanding lead after the first three heats of the 2013 BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series. The 19 year old Broadmarsh reinsman has won two of the three heats and accrued 39 points to be 13 clear of Lyarna Graham (26) with Adrian Collins and Matthew Howlett next on 25 points.
The BOTRA Claiming Novice Drivers Series was developed last season to provide another avenue for claiming novice drivers to develop their driving skills. The ten participants are the five leading junior drivers from 2011/12 and the remainder are those with the most wins this season.
Braden Howlett won the first heat at Devonport on 24 June after leading throughout on the Barrie Rattray trained Bymarjac. The second and third heats were at Launceston on Sunday night where Howlett gained valuable points from a fourth placing driving Gottalovefridays and a win behind the Chester Bullock trained Cardinal Art ($1.90 fav).
Adrian Collins won the other heat when he led on the Barrie Rattray trained Blue Pointer ($2.80 fav) and held off a determined challenge from Howcomewhynot (Lyarna Graham) to win by 0.7 metres.
The series concludes with the last two heats at TatersallsPark, Hobart tonight. Braden Howlett and Lyarna Graham will both miss the fourth heat and receive six points each, presenting an opportunity for the other eight participants to narrow the gap on the leaders.
Braden Howlett (Galeforce Grin) and Lyarna Graham (RealRiver) will pilot two of the leading contenders in the last heat.
A win by Braden Howlett would cap a stella year for the family after filling the quinella in the other series for young drivers, the Bullock Consulting Youngbloods, when Braden finished second to younger brother Matthew.
Points after heat three are:
39 Braden Howlett
26 Lyarna Graham
25 Adrian Collins, Matthew Howlett
21 Tim Yole
20 Justin Howlett
17 Nicholas Brockman, Troy Hillier
16 DamienSpring, Brady Woods