Carnival kicking off with bang

THE Townsville Cup Carnival will get underway at the showgrounds on Tuesday with three heats of the time-honoured Judy Olsen Maiden over 380m and Binks and Marlene Walker 4/5th Grade over 498m.

The exciting 12-race card will also feature the Townsville Cup Prelude over 498m which will give the host of southern raiders their first look over the distance on the track before Cup heats on Friday.

Call Me Gibbs, who will jump from box three for Peter O’reilly, will be the early frontrunner in the Prelude.

He has the form on the board and has raced in Townsville before as a baby in last year’s maiden series.

His kennelmate Flying Jet (7) also raced here in last year’s Cup Carnival. This fellow can lead this field, and could prove hard to catch on the bunny.

Copper Canyon (4) for Robert Lound has fair box manners, a good acceleration midrace and a strong run home. He has each-way claims.

There will also be excitement for the punters in the Garrards Horse and Hound Open sprint over 380m.

What A Bomber (3) for Arthur Gosper has drawn well and with his early box speed, should lead this field.

Samshu (1), for Rhonda Essery, won here on Saturday from box six, she has been in good form and will be the big danger to the favourite.

High Suite (7), for Matthew Heilbronn, has good form on the board in Brisbane. He will be having his first look here so watch the market.

9am Cycling Road: Darren Hicks in men’s C2 time-trial; Emily Petricola and Meg Lemon in women’s C4 time-trial; Paige

Greco in women’s C1-3 time-trial; Stuart Tripp in men’s H5 time-trial; Grant Allen in men’s H4 time-trial; Alistair Donohoe in men’s C5 timetrial; David Nicholas in men’s C3 time-trial; Stuart Jones in men’s T1-2 time-trial; Carol Cooke in women’s T1-2 time-trial

10am Swimming: Ben Popham in men’s 400m freestyle S8; Braeden Jason in men’s 100m freestyle S12; Liam Schluter in men’s 200m individual medley SM14; Paige Leonhardt, Ashley van Rijswijk and Ruby Storm in women’s 200m individual medley SM14; Grant Patterson in men’s 50m breaststroke SB2; Matthew Levy in men’s 50m freestyle S7; Isabella Vincent in women’s 100m freestyle S7; Col Pearse in men’s 100m butterfly S10; Ashleigh Mcconnell, Emily Beecroft and Ellie Cole in women’s 100m Freestyle S9

10.30am Athletics: Jaryd Clifford and Sam Harding in men’s 1500m T13 final; James Turner in men’s 400m T36 final; Alissa Jordaan in women’s 100m T47

5pm Wheelchair Tennis: Quad singles semi-finals

6pm Swimming: Men’s 400m freestyle S8 final; men’s 100m freestyle S12 final; men’s 200m individual medley SM14 final; women’s 200m individual medley SM14 final; men’s 50m breaststroke SB2 final; men’s 50m freestyle S7 final; women’s 100m freestyle S7 final; men’s 100m butterfly S10 final; women’s 100m freestyle S9 final

8pm Athletics: Todd Hodgetts in men’s shot put F20 final; women’s 100m T47 final; women’s 1500m T54 final