Young Ben hopeful of more easter chocolates at Mot

Easter Monday will see the final harness racing meeting until the Spring for the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club, which will draw the curtain on a cracking six months of grass track racing with a 10-race programme beginning at 12:25 pm.

Having secured his share of the chocolates at Addington on Easter Saturday, an in-form Ben Hope will take the reins behind three runners for his parents Greg & Nina Hope with an outside drive for Don Burrows for good measure.

It’s a track Hope and his parents have had a fair bit of success on in the past and each of their runners look to be major players for their assignments.

Hope’s first opportunity comes in the second on the card behind a runner whose ability probably belies his formline.

Sweetazz (Sweet Lou) has been to the trials since a last start ninth on the track at Motukarara and after being caught wide early, showing some grit to stick on for fourth after being parked for the majority of his 2000m heat at Rangiora.

He’s drawn to get a soft trip on the markers in the second on the card having secured the pole and providing he doesn’t get too far back, Hope thinks the son of Sweet Lou is a good each-way chance.

“To be fair his first couple of starts were a shade disappointing. He went to the trials last week with the thought being if he went well we would push on with him and if not reassess things and the fact he is there Monday tells you we were happy with what he put forth. From the draw I expect him to be not a bad chance and a good each way bet I think,” said Hope.

SWEETAZZ TRIAL

Greg & Nina Hope line up a pair of maiden mares in the the third on the card for the non-winners of the fairer sex. Both have shown enough to suggest they wont be in maidens for long and were both runners up a fortnight ago on course which is an encouraging sign for Monday afternoon’s assignment.

“Wishful Thinking (Sweet Lou) should be a nice chance and it was a great first up run. She has a nice draw to work with and I’d say Ricky will use it where he should be able to get to the markers and get a soft run with a bit of luck.

“Shine All Over Me (Sunshine Beach) has got a wide draw so is going to need a bit of luck from out there, but she is another one who wont be too long in the maidens I would have thought. With her lack of gate speed it’s probably not as much of a hindrance, she will just need a good tempo and to get a good drag into it,” he said.

The fifth on the card see’s Hope with his only outside drive for the day, taking the reins once again behind the flashy grey son of Majestic Son in Silver Linings for Don Burrows.

Hope was thinking this runner could be a value bet for punters for reasons he explains below, but the TAB bookies haven’t offered much of a carrot ($4.50) for a horse who hasn’t finished better than 5th in his last 10 race day appearances!

“I give him a bit of a chance. He’s not a bad trotter and its taken him a while to get fit, but his last few runs for me, it’s galloped in the straight both times when I’ve felt he was going to be in the money.

“He’s off the unruly too which will be a big assist given the work he’s had to do from them stand in that regard of late. If he steps well I think he would be a great chance and not a bad roughie for the punters on the day if he does everything right,” he said.

Hope’s final drive for the day comes in the penultimate behind the enigmatic trotter, Westar Milly (Love You).

WESTAR MILLY REPLAY

The five-year-old mare is a winner of three races including her most recent start at Moutkarara on the 7th of January where she was too tough for them after being parked out the trip. Her last couple of races have seen her mixing her gait resulting in terminal errors, however if she was to bring her best behaviour, the daughter of Love You should have a class edge on most of her rivals.

“It’s her first run for a while but she has been working well and  if she brings her best form she will be a first four player as well,” he said.

For complete Motukarara fields, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink