Big team in for Donnelly tonight

Arna Donnelly has an army of runners to contest tonight’s meeting at Cambridge Raceway.

“It’s been a good team effort to get them all there and going good,” said Donnelly who has a total of eight runners spread across the 8-race programme.

The first three of her charges go head-to-head in Race 1, the Mid-Winter Christmas at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace.

Ragnar Lothbrok faces a step up in grade to compete against stablemates Beta Prepare and Red Rackham.

Of the three Donnelly is of the opinion that Red Rackham could be the dark horse.

“I’m actually really happy with him,” she said, “his form line probably doesn’t read as good as he’s going, he got home super his last two starts and he’s pretty fit now, so I think he’d be one to throw in the mix.”

Red Rackham is currently at $14FF, while Beta Prepare, who has won his last two races, will start favourite ($2.70)and Ragnar Lothbrok is at $5.50.

Race 2, the Gavelhouse.com Mobile Trot, will see the return of Keep It Classy who has been off the scene since September last year.

“It’s her first run back for a wee while, we will probably just have to drive her for luck,” Donnelly said of the trotter drawn the outside of the arm but noted that she “was definitely one to follow.”

She’s currently at $14FF, with Paramount Lady a $2 favourite for trainer Mark Jones and driver Monika Ranger.

In Race 6, the Dunstan Horsefeed Northern Region Pacers Final, much like race 1, it’s a three-way stablemate affair again.

Rough and Ready ($14FF), is set to face up against The Surfer ($4.60FF) and Little Spike ($3.50Ff) who both find a decent step back in grade.

“He’s just the greatest old warhorse,” Donnelly said of Rough and Ready, “he never goes a bad one and never lets you down. He steps pretty good, and he could make it a little tricky for those back markers with the way he’s going.”

The Surfer steps back from some hot Auckland company for tonight’s assignment.

“He’s really racing in a great vein of form this guy, but 30 metres makes it a little tricky,” said Donnelly, “he actually heads south on Tuesday for the Country Cups final next Friday at Addington.”

Her other runner sure to appreciate the ease in class is the promising son of Terror To Love in Little Spike.

“Big drop in grade for him this week again, he’s just been unlucky being so high rated and having to go up against the big guns.”

To tail off the team for the evening Sky’s Legacy hits the track for Race 7, the Friday Steak Night at the Clubhouse Mobile Pace.

“The trip to Palmy has made him grow up and it’s done him the world of good, he’s got a tidy draw, and I think he should handle the step up in grade well.”

Racing starts tonight at 5.14pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jordyn Bublitz for Harness Racing New Zealand