Pursell duo in the hunt
BETTING FOR BOTH FINALS
Sprint Championship Distance Championship
TALENTED young greyhound trainer Blake Pursell will be hoping at least one of his kennel tenants can rise to the occasion in Launceston tonight for the state finals of the National Sprint and Distance Championships.
Pursell’s stayer Dahlhaus has been installed the $2.15 favourite to win the state National Distance final over 720m and his speedster I Like Bill is second favourite at $3.50 to take out the state final of the National Sprint championship over 515m.
Both of Pursell’s finalists won their respective qualifying heats in Launceston last week, but they have both drawn box eight tonight. $2.50: Hello Rhonda (box 6). $3.50: Be Like Bill (box 8). $5: She’s A Princess (box 3). $6.50: Sacred Shadow (box 7). $8: Posh Amber (box 1). $12: Lenard’s Boy (box 4). $17: Breaker Upper (box 2). $19: Flash Comet (1st reserve). $21: Outlaw Teddy (2nd reserve). $41: Nitro Grace (box 5).
Pursell is not overly concerned with I Like Bill wearing the pink vest, but he says Dahlhaus must begin well if he is to be a winning chance.
“I Like Bill has won a few races from box eight because he runs mid-track in the early stages and that will hopefully help him miss the congestion on the first turn,” Pursell said.
“There’s plenty of speed in $2.15: Dahlhaus (box 8). $2.30: Bronelly Jacob (box 1). $8: Country Psycho (box 5). $10: Cripps Dusty (box 6). $11: Alarming Betty (box 7). $23: Major Mint (box 2). $26: Stylish Russell (box 4). $61: Tottenham Lass (1st reserve). $81: Walla Wuti (box 3). his final so I’m tipping there will be a jam-up at the first turn and my dog will either miss the trouble or get caught up in the scrimmage and be taken up the track and if that happens it will probably end his winning chances.”
Pursell believes Dahlhaus is a false favourite.
“Dahlhaus has done a great job to get to the state final but Anthony Bullock’s heat winner Bronelly Jacob was very impressive in leading in his heat to win and even though he appeared to be tiring at the very end in his heat, he will be improved by that outing.
“Dahlhaus is probably at his best up to 650m but the 720m tests him and that’s why I’m hoping he begins well and can either lead or camp on Bronelly Jacob and if that happens maybe my dog can pressure him [leader] mid-race.”
Pursell said it would be amazing to have a runner in a national final. “These are the races you want to be in because it is the best from all over Australia and to have a representative would be brilliant.”
In the sprint final tonight, Hello Rhonda is favourite at $2.50, but she would have been much shorter from an inside box draw.
Hello Rhonda’s trainer Robin Grubb is very happy with her condition going into tonight’s final.
She’s a Princess started favourite in last week’s heat won by I Like Bill but she had to settle for second and she appeared to have every chance to run the winner down and Posh Amber led in her heat, but she was overhauled late and that could be mirrored tonight.
Bronelly Jacob has been in great form since turning to distance events and should he lead from box one he’ll be very hard to run down.
The only other likely danger to the favourite and Dahlhaus is Alarming Betty, which has been very consistent and could end up in a good spot from box seven.