Resonate is Hunt Cup favourite after setting semi-final standard

RESONATE is 5/2 favourite with the sponsor for next Saturday's £10,000 final of the Category One bet365 Hunt Cup after setting the semi-final standard.

Kevin Hutton's bitch was just struggling to hold her pitch in the second of the eliminators as odds-on kennelate Venetian Mick sped to the turn only to run into trouble which Resonate missed.

Quickly clear, she was always in control afterwards and came home a length to the good of a gallant Java Joan in clocking 39.45sec (-20) for the 650m course with Remember Betty staying on to claim the third qualifying position.

Seamus Cahill's Powerhouse Duke again made a less-than-stellar start in the opening semi but still justified the support that propelled him into favouritism, pacing up to lead at the first bend.

He built a tidy advantage but had to battle hard to hold on, as in the heats, with always prominent Ballymac Madgie closing to within a head at the line and The Other Winx only a length away in third. The winning time was 39.69sec.

bet365 (Hunt Cup final): T1 Java Joan 6/1, T2 Powerhouse Duke 11/4, T3 Ballymac Madgie 10/3, T4 Remember Betty 33/1, T5 The Other Winx 3/1, T6 Resonate 5/2.

Saturday's bet365 Hunt Cup final draw and form