Cahill's Duke looks set to power to Hunt Cup semi-final victory
POWERHOUSE DUKE was more impressive in heat victory than a narrow winning margin suggests and Seamus Cahill's charge makes plenty of appeal in the opening semi-final of the bet365 Hunt Cup over 650m at Oxford (7.51).
Cahill landed the Category One competition with Hogans Hawk last year and has decent claims again this time around especially as the selection can start better than he did seven days ago.
Indeed, his previous runaway six-bend Hove victory saw him race clear early in the manner of a sprinter and it is worth noting that his sectional was a length quicker than that of The Other Winx who absolutely smashed out.
The enigmatic Malcolm Bosh could be suited should a speed battle ensue and did beat Powerhouse Duke at Monmore last month although that was an occasion when the Cahill dog did not get to the front.
Ante-post favourite Venetian Mick is the only heat winner in the second semi at 8.26 and will be very short as a result but is not cast-iron given he only just gets the trip.
As a result, Cahill's Ivy Hill Cherry is suggested as an each-way play at double-figure odds given that she seems to be running back into form and has a potentially great draw inside Java Joan who ran off at the second bend last week.
Jonathan Kay
There is real current and future star quality on view at Limerick which has the 13 first round heats in the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial over 525 yards in which every race in every round is live on sisracing.tv through to the €80,000 final on Saturday 18th April.
Liam Dowling's Ballymac Setanta is the hot favourite and should get off to a winning start in heat ten at 9.24 while other fancies from this quarter are Michael O'Donovan's Ballycowen Frank (7.02), Graham Holland's Ballydoyle Tina (7.34) and Paul Hennessy's Lennies Dynamic (8.48) while Ian Fortune has full heat-by-head analysis below.
Jonathan Kay
Doncaster has a full evening open card with Phil Milner's Keefill Goose fancied to regain the winning thread in a 483m contest at 7.42, while Jimmy Gaskin's On The Wall appeals in a top grade B1 over 450m at the early meeting there.
There is also morning action at Thurles where the syndicate-owned Lanespark Girl (10.48) is an early fancy then Kim Taylor's Whirl (1.19) can score later, while Youghal holds the afternoon fort where the Ger Gubbins-trained Hollyhill Capri would be an appropriate winner of the opening heat of the Ger Gubbins Construction Ltd A3/A4 Stake at 2.44.
Powerhouse Duke (nap)
T2 Oxford 7.51
Minimum trainer strike rate requirement - 10 runners during the previous 14 days.
