EXPECT MORE BRILLIANCE IN BRESBET EASTER CUP
Ian Fortune
Shelbourne Park will welcome the best in the business this evening with the Bresbet Easter Cup set to continue with four brilliant second round heats. Each of the four heats are stacked with quality and there is little room for error.
As fate would have it, the two joint fastest opening round scorers Hopes Teddy and Tarsna Maasai will meet in the first of this evening’s four heats. Both flew around in 29.46 last week and are expected to again make a bold bid.
Throw in the 600yd track record holder Da Bold Falcon, Laurels runner-up Hazelhill Bucko and the talented duo of Cheque For Cash and Ventry Faith and it really is a great way to set the tone for the action ahead.
Hopes Teddy has answered every question thrown at him in 2025 and there is no reason he can’t complete a four-timer. Blessed with superb trapping ability, the early speed to be a top sprinter and the all-round game to be a star over 550yds in the coming months, he is selected to again dominate for Pat Buckley and Ciaran O’Sullivan.
Geoff Parnaby’s Tarsna Maasai is admirably consistent and looks a serious threat from a wide draw, although he needs to lead his rival into the turn which is no easy task. Da Bold Falcon and Hazelhill Bucko will both fly from the second turn but may find themselves too far back if Hopes Teddy makes another flying exit.
TREATY SET TO FIRE
Few would doubt that Clonbrien Treaty needed the run in the opening round but he still did enough in defeat to suggest he will be back to winning ways in the very near future.
He has plenty in his favour in Heat 2 and is chosen to come home in front.
The defending champion has four classic wins to his name and he can get one step closer to a fifth by asserting in the early yards before going on to see off some hugely talented rivals including impressive opening round scorer Hawkfield Blue and the well-housed Riverside Scotch, who is a kennel companion to the favourite.
Barefoot On Song is also in top form at present but needs to be on her toes at traps, while Superfast Gorden still has a big engine but needs to find his trapping boots from trap five. Clonbrien Treaty fly up the outside of the track to take control before going on to see off Hawkfield Blue and Riverside Scotch.
KING CAN COME OUT ON TOP
Heat 3 is a really open affair with so many of those in the line up holding strong claims.
The two females in the line-up Hawkfield Abbie and Kilcolgan Whitney will be available at double figure odds and need a little bit of luck, although neither can be completely dismissed.
Instead, most will focus their attention on the remaining quartet. Randolph Scotts was superb in defeat last week, chasing home Tarsna Maasai and will certainly attract support from a favourable draw in two.
If he were to come away racing, he could quickly emerge as a serious player. Maireads Prince was impressive in each of his last two wins, turning close on both occasions before taking charge into the third turn. He is housed in six and certainly has the ability to make a bold bid, although turning close is a necessity.
That leaves Jaytee Craze and Carmac King. Both have yet to produce their very best form in 2025 but seem likely to improve for their latest starts. Jaytee Craze found traffic in the early yards last week but displayed plenty in defeat. He will be close at the finish if avoiding congestion.
Carmac King is ready to produce a big run after blowing away the cobwebs in the past fortnight and he gets the nod.
CALLAWAY TO WIN A WONDERFUL FINAL HEAT
With Untold Dollar withdrawn during the week, only five greyhounds will go to traps in the final heat but it is perhaps the most fascinating of the four.
For obvious reasons, De Lahdedah and Callaway Knegare will draw most of the attention on the inside of the track.
The two superstars both ran well in defeat in the opening round and are set to appreciate the extra room with Untold Dollar missing. If either receives a clear passage, they will be hard to stop with so much depending on which gets first run on the other.
Cushie The Best was brilliant in the opening round and is set to set a searching gallop but he would be vulnerable if either De Lahdedah or Callaway Knegare were to slip around in second. Yorkie Ollie and Mustang Fever complete the line-up and can’t be dismissed either.
Mustang Fever dead-heated in the opening round, showing all her many qualities and will look to go up fast from six, while Yorkie always gives the impression he is on the verge of producing a massive run.
It’s a truly fascinating contest but Callaway Knegare is chosen to get first run on De Lahdedah before going on to pick up Cushie The Best. De Lahdedah can come through for second.