GRAND Warrior has opened betting as the overwhelming favourite to win the Grade One Castle Tankard with bookmakers placing the runner at 1/1.
The Debra Swanson-trained horse will be coming from gate 10 carrying a comfortable 53 kgs in the race to be run over 2 000 metres on May 6.
Also in the race is 2022 winner True Beauty who opened at 8/1 but will this time be ridden by Francois Heroldt instead of Dennis Schwartz and will come from gate four.
The outsider in the contest is Citrusdal from the Bridget Stidolph stable who opened at 33/1 and will be ridden by Morgan Nyamagwete, but has a good draw of three.
Betting opened yesterday with Delta Beverages’ acting general manager Lagers, Rod Baloyi placing his money on Grand Warrior who has won all his races at Borrowdale Park racecourse.
In fact, those who place their bets early tend to benefit heavily in case of a win because odds tend to change as the race moves closer.
All in all, the race has attracted a classy field of 15 including the likes of Three To Tango, Dindingwe, Burgatti Blue, Only Him, Mr Greenlight, Holy Land and Wantage who have Borrowdale Park racecourse experience.
Trainer Debra Swanson has the highest number of runners in the race of seven, but fancies Three To Tango to surprise the racing public.
- Grand Warrior tipped to snatch Castle Tankard
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Three To Tango will be ridden by Borrowdale Park race course regular and favourite Kevin Derere.
Swanson, however, thinks True Beauty from the Thomas Mason yard remains a danger despite not being placed among the favourites.
The winning horse will take $30 000 of the $50 000 stake money. The second placed runner will carry home 12 000 with the horse that comes third guaranteed of $7 000.
There is $5 000 for the taking for the third placed runner in the 64th edition and the oldest sponsored horse racing event in Africa.
