3 minute read
The East will be looking to replicate their Wolverhampton success in Thursday’s Racing League meeting at Chepstow.
The East team, captained by ITV Racing's Chris Hughes, secured five victories at the Wolverhampton leg of the Racing League, bring them one hundred points clear of the opposition after only two fixtures. It will be a tougher task for the squad, with only eight runners available to accumulate points through the seven-race card.
Team manager of the second-placed Wales & The West, Jamie Osborne is hopeful of taking advantage in their 'home' fixture, saying "There is an awful lot of chance in this game and The East were on the receiving end of some flukey results at Wolverhampton, but they look so weak at Chepstow that I would say they will struggle to hang on to their lead.
"There are no completely forlorn hopes in our team but I think we get stronger as the night goes on. To me, it looks like we will be at our best in the closing three races, so the aim is to hang in there in the first half of the card and then make our move.
"The 7.00pm is the only race in which we can play our 'home' joker, but if it turns out we are unable to play that joker this week, it should carry over to the remaining meetings. You cannot penalise a team for the other team managers' incompetence."
Despite a strong start, Ireland slipped down to third place in the pecking order after the Wolverhampton leg and team manager Kevin Blake is keen to get back on terms.
"The East were brilliant last week, you have to give it to them," he said.
"To have five winners on one Racing League night, I don't think that will ever be done again. From our point of view, I think we underperformed a little bit and it did not help that I fluffed the joker.
"In terms of this week, I think we are in much better shape. I know a lot of the managers really struggled to rouse entries and declarations, whereas that was not the case for us and I think we have good depth all the way through.
"This is a big week if we want to get back to being as competitive as we want to be, particularly with The East looking so weak. The rest of us have to capitalise as it may not happen again.
"I think we look especially strong in the 7.00pm with the David O'Meara pair of Alligator Alley and Star Of Lady M, who both come in on the back of victories. In the last race, Rahmi for Johnny Murtagh was a really good third in a big handicap at the Curragh, while Akkadian Thunder did well to overcome a bit of trouble last time – they both look to have nice chances."
Racing League standings after week two:
The East – 365pts
Wales & The West – 263.5pts
Ireland – 249pts
London & The South – 229pts
The North – 136pts
Scotland – 134.5pts
Yorkshire – 109pts
