Todd's Tips - 2022 Howard Ashton Final
It's that time of year again when one of SA's brightest up and coming greyhounds lands a pretty decent pay day for themselves and their connections. I'm ofcourse talking about the 2022 GROUP 3 Howard Ashton Final worth a massive $25K to the winner.
A great race named after a top bloke who'd be over the moon with the calibre of runners involved in this years series.
The market is up and we have a super short priced fav drawn the cherry in HE'S ALL PURPOSE for Timmy Richards currently quoted at $1.28. Can he win? Of course but no thank you at those odds!
I like the 3 dog here SPRINGVALE REX for Gavin Harris on a each way or place heavy basis at the $8 quote currently.
There's just enough speed here early in the 4,5 and 8 to serve it up to the fav on the first turn and in the semi just having to do that little bit of work early got him beat and that could very well happen again here.
SPRINGVALE REX will be mid-field at the start, but with the slowest beginner in #2 ARCHMAN drawn inside him and a wide runner in #4 MY MUMS VALUE I think he finds the fence on the first turn and runs a bold race, his last section is his best.
HE'S ALL PURPOSE in for 2nd, has to be really, should be the fav but not this short and will drift to a more realistic price by start time. Gets a soft lead, can't be beat, gets pressured early, he doesn't spit it but does become vulnerable to the run on types.
ARCHMAN in for 3rd, he will be last to the post and around the home turn but his last section is amazing, open grade calibre and if any funny business happens he will be storming home late. At $23 he isn't the worse each way chance. Green as grass in a field but solo, he'd be as fast as any of these.
SPRINGVALE MAX rounds out the first 4 at $5.5. Ability wise no worries, but I'm just not sure how this race maps out for him in the run to that first turn. The runners in 7 and 8 will be carving across and the 4 will be scouting wide and the 5 AIR PUMPA also has pace. He's the worse drawn of the favoured runners but he's tough, he will try to push through, if he does, then watch out. You'll know your fate early with this smart youngster.
So in summary I'd rather be on the 3 each way, place heavy or even place only rather then take the shorts the fav in 1. With a few run on types to fill the multiples.
FINAL NUMBERS – 3-1-2-6
Great race in-bound, good luck to all runners and connections involved and to those having a play on the punt. Make sure to gamble responsibly.
Giddy up!
(Odds provided by the TAB)