Ace To Eclipse Rivals As Sprint Stars Get Underway

Paula Timmins local runner Mohort Bill has been running consistently well around Nottingham for some time now and though eliminated from the Eclipse at the first-round stage ‘Bill’ was soon back to winning ways with a stunning always led performance in his heat of this 480m competition last week.  Perfectly drawn here in the blue jacket ‘Bill’ can smash out and give his popular local handler a well-deserved victory in the final at 7.16pm.

Heat one of the National Sprint see’s the runners head to traps at 7.34pm.  Patrick Janssens has a potential superstar of the sprinting scene on his hands in the shape of Crossfield Dusty.  Unbeaten throughout the Scurry Gold Cup at Perry Barr ‘Dusty’ continued that form when winning heat and semi-final of the Sovereign Stakes at Towcester.  He could only manage third in the final of the Sovereign behind classy winner Shrewd Call however he remains a sprinter of the highest calibre and anything like a level break in this heat should see him winning comfortably and putting down an

immediate marker for his main competition rivals to aim at.

Heat two at 7.51pm can go to Paul Shore’s Towcester raider Dingys Glory.  A dog that has more trials than races but on his day he’s as fast as most around.  A stunning recent heat win in the Sovereign Stakes around his home track in 15.71 highlights perfectly the pace this dog possesses.  He’ll have to improve on previous course and distance form he’s more than capable of doing so and is selected to ping out and make all.  Angela Harrison’s Coolavanny Galviv looks a hugely pacey sort and posted a phenomenal 1749 (+20) in his first look at the track.  That kind of form would make him a danger to all but he’s opposed on value grounds given he’s not always the quickest into stride and that could become a problem quickly from a less than favourable draw tonight.

Heat three can go to Debbie Calvert’s Murlens Chica at 8.06pm.  ‘Chica’ won heat and final of a small sprint competition at Sunderland recently and is a little better than the bare form of a 17.87 (+20) trial over course and distance might suggest.  This is another heat that is eminently winnable by any sprinter with a degree of open race talent and in that respect the pin falls firmly on Calvert’s runner who looks well suited by these shorter two bend trips having earlier in her campaign shown plenty of early over four bends.

Heat four can go the way of David Mullins’ Matts Malibu.  Clearly the kennel second string when lining up in the final of the Sovereign Stakes last time out (won by kennelmate Shrewd Call) he lines up here in a race that’s a huge step down in class.  He lacks a recent look around but did win heat and final of a 255 / 305 dual distance competition in August.  He’s never been far away in some much better class races since then and reverting to a much more suitable level of opposition and running at a track which he’s proven can see him back on the winner’s podium at what could well be a fair enough price.

Heat five can go to another greyhound who was competing in the Sovereign Stakes recently in the shape of Nathan Hunt’s Scala Omeara.  A good winner of his heat of the Sovereign before being eliminated in last place albeit beaten only 3 1/2 lengths behind eventual competition winner Shrewd Call in his semi-final.  He trialled well enough here latest in 17.70 (+20) and wouldn’t need to find much if any improvement on that to take this.

Heat six should comfortably go the way of David Mullins Shrewd Call.  He’s been one of the country’s leading sprinters for some time now and comes into this competition in great form having run out an impressive winner of the Sovereign Stakes at Towcester in his latest race.  He’s not always the best away from traps but given the makeup of this race he could miss it slightly and should still comfortably lead by the bend.  He’ll be short odds but looks a leading player not only for his heat but the competition as a whole.