Irish luck is needed for Jimmy at Burnie

The $14,000 N.W.T.L.H.A Cup is the feature harness racing event on the eight-race program in Burnie on Friday night.

The 2500m standing start event has attracted a quality field, including the Rohan Hillier-trained and driven Jimmy The Irishman (Big Jim), who will start from a 10m handicap.

The winner of 11 of his 25 starts has had four starts back from a spell, including a win in the Metropolitan Cup last month.

“I was happy with his first three runs. A fortnight ago, I thought he was disappointing,” said Hillier about the effort behind Villacci on 15 October in Hobart.

“I did a blood, and there were a few little issues, but he seems well within himself, and this looks a good race for him, I thought,” the trainer-driver added.

Jimmy The Irishman starts off the 10m handicap on Friday beside Colby Sanz, with emergency Rick Reilly drawn between them.

“The track evens everything up at Burnie. It’s hard to come three-wide and win. He will still need luck off 10m, but obviously, he is the class runner of the field.

“(The tight track) won’t worry him, he is a really good pacer,” Hillier said.

The race includes last year’s winner, Rockandahardplace, who has drawn the second line off the front mark.

There are several options for Jimmy The Irishman in the future, and no doubt his northwest coast-based owners will have their eye on the Devonport Cup, which will be held again in Launceston in mid-January.

“The Golden Apple was his main target, that’s why we tipped him out, and when we brought him back, he was off the front, but he has earned a couple of points through running second and his win, so he is now off 20m, so I’m not sure if that race will be his go now, but a race like the Devonport Cup is a race we’re hopeful that he can stay sound for,” said Hillier.

Friday night’s Burnie meeting will be televised on Sky Racing 2, with the races to be shown either live or in replay form amongst the Launceston thoroughbred meeting on TasracingTV.

The first race is scheduled for 18:04.