Sky Previews: Bockos looks the business in Bok

Sky Previews / Darrell Williams / 09 February 2010 / Leave a Comment

Stand by for some thrills, but hopefully no spills, as the novice hurdlers do battle in the Springbok final, live on Sky Sports, with Darrell Williams confident Bockos Bullet can justify his ante post confidence.

Written off as one of the poorest Springboks in recent years, readers of this column will have no qualms about the result should Bockos Bullet oblige this evening for local handler Tony Taylor.

Put up before the first round on grounds of his consistency, there's no reason why the former A1 flat runner cannot run his usual honest race again tonight and he holds more than realistic claims of taking the 'Novice Hurdlers Derby', the feature race on Wimbledon's Sky Sports televised card.

While trading out should be considered for those who got involved at the outset, the selection still appears a shade over-priced, given the fact that he beat favourite Royal Honcho in a pre competition Trial Stakes - he also has a verdict over three of the other runners - and more importantly looks well drawn outside rails favouring Rockview Crash.

If there is to be an upset, London Rhys might be the one to provide it. Another local, trained by Bernie Doyle, he came into the event a raw novice, making his hurdling debut in the first round, but cannot be faulted having reached this stage unbeaten. An S1 performer on the level, he is worthy of a small saver.
In typical Wimbledon fashion, the undercard has an exciting feel to it, with high class runners sprinkled through the various divisions.

The two runners I'm especially keen on run in the first two Sky races, Gilbeyhall Jake (19.40) and Ardbeg Kate (20.00), with the former looking to translate his excellent Swindon form, which saw him finish third in last week's Arc final, across to Wimbledon. While a trial would have been a bonus, few trainers have more success at the track than Seamus Cahill and I expect the selection to continue his progressive form.

It was a surprise Ardbeg Kate didn't do better in the Oaks, but having equalled the 460m track-record on the night of that final, she could do no more to confirm her liking for the circuit, and can oblige in the 'Ladies' race.

While I would have preferred her slightly off the fence, the presence of Oaks runner-up Freedom Emma next door should gift her plenty of running space to get to the bend in front. Layers might consider Klockwork Kyla, who despite an excellent runners-up spot in the Arc last week, has never really got to gripes with Wimbledon, where she is 0-5.

I'm probably asking for trouble, but the stats also suggest a lay of Raving Black (21.10) might be in order. I know that sounds like madness given a run that has seen him oblige in eight of his last nine starts, but the Cahill inmate remains winless in nine previous Wimbledon outings, and the combination of a trap five draw and the stamina testing 668m trip might make him vulnerable.

The other races, Platinumlancelot's hurdle race aside (20.15), look quite tricky. Lenson Bolt, for example, another fast dog over the 460m, looks a shade short in the 21.25, where Drink Up Zorro makes some appeal at a tasty price. Paul Sallis has his team in excellent form as last weeks Arc 1-2 confirms, and having had three weeks off since his Hall Green comeback victory, the Pall Mall winner would be a big player if trapping in front, which with 380 splits on his back card looks a distinct possibility.
King Lee has obvious claims in the 20.50, but don't write off progressive Stand Up at four times the odds, who looks well drawn as the lone wide seed.

Selections:
Gilbeyhall Jake 1 pt @ 3.0 19.40
Ardbeg Kate 1 pt @ 3.3 20.00
Raving Black (lay) 1 pt @ 2.2
Bockos Bullet (already advised) 1 pt @ 9.0