It’s the Towcester Challenge second leg with ‘the Big Lad’ Mark Pierrepont taking on the man who he dismisses as ‘the bluffer’, the Towcester RM Andy Lisemore.
The first leg took place a fortnight ago with the grader coming out on top 6-5. Game on.
Another star filled afternoon of quality greyhound racing at the sport’s premier venue this afternoon as six of the fastest sprinters in the UK line up for the Category One £10,000 to the winner Stadium Bookmakers Northamptonshire Sprint Final. The afternoon gets underway with 3 graded affairs but from that point onwards it’s open racing all the way.
Mark said: “it’s difficult to really see any of these progressing much further than this level. Sandra Clayton’s Yarmouth raider Dominance would be the fastest in the field and is a nice type on home soil, but he’s drawn much wider than is ideal here in trap 6. If she does get across then he’ll take all of the beating and though better when leading he’s also capable winning from just off the pace too. She’s likely to be short enough in the betting however so take a chance on Vicki Lea’s Leazes Fergus who could just get clear early and hang on. Kept sprinting for a good while after arriving at Towcester he trialled well over the 500m when recording 3003 calc in mid-January. That would likely win this race if he does get clear by the turn with those in behind unlikely to produce that kind of effort if led.”
Andy said: “Graded form points towards Mermaid or Leazes Fergus, with the former getting a narrow vote.”
Mark said: “John Mullins Miss Big Pants is a confident selection in both the win and place markets. She won a maiden here at the end of January and was an eye-catching loser behind Farneys Holly in standard company last time out. From a much better draw today she could be laying very handily by the time they head onto the back straight.
“Drawn in trap 3 with a debut pup who though promising hasn’t shown much in the way of early in trials and a dog in two who on all known form doesn’t do much early either she shouldn’t have too much trouble dominating the inside even though she’s far from rapid in the EP department herself. Bill Munden’s Savana Isabella would be the obvious danger after winning well in top grade here on her last start.
“She also sprinted well in a trial last week. She’s another middle seed who is drawn way too far out in six but in the context of this race shouldn’t have too much trouble securing middle ground early enough. That may still not be enough though as if Miss Big Pants has turned handy she will prove very tough to hold. Combining the pair in a reverse forecast wouldn’t be the worst bet in the world either.”
Andy said: “Savana Isabella packs an early punch and, drawn widest of all, is expected to get off to a ‘flyer’.”
Mark said: “Laurence Tuffin appears to have a nice pup on his hands in the shape of Romeo Trooper. He was well beaten on his sole start in Ireland around Clonmel in a novice race and his sprint trials around here though fair were not spectacular.
“Stepping up to 500m for the first-time last time out he stopped the clock in 2998 (-20) when winning a 3-dog trial by over 8 lengths. That’s some run for a raw youngster at this time of year and though in most races he might struggle at least at this stage to reproduce that he lines up here in a race lacking much in the way of early on the inside at least.
“He could well dominate the inside by the bend and if doing so he’ll take the beating. The two dogs drawn on the outside are interesting. Patrick Janssens Stamp Your Feet obviously has pace given he broke 16 calculated for the sprint trip on each of his first 3 appearances here at Towcester in trial efforts.
“His UK debut here over course and distance in a maiden a couple of weeks ago was a poor showing though and a trial at Nottingham since wasn’t any better. He went up well in a decent 4.98 in that but his overall 30.54 calc run was moderate. Mark Wallis’s Savana Iceman would have been bought to be a good dog with his last run in Ireland seeing him record a top-class 28.21 around Shelbourne.
“He’s not performed to anything like that level since arriving here in the UK and though it could only be a matter of time before he takes off (he should be winning a race like this doing handstands) you’d really need to be seeing a little bit more before parting with any hard earned. All things considered take a chance with Trooper to secure what could well be a very cheap lead on the inside of the track.”
Andy said: “Ohalabamaslama boasts a recent win in top-heat and will take some pegging back if breaking in best fashion.”
Mark said: “Frank Gray’s Alien Snogger can land this on her way to better things. This well-bred youngster comes into today’s race on the back of a graded hattrick with a facile five length success in A2 company last time out. Another middle seed drawn too far out here in six but with the majority of the field here all likely to be heading to the inside she can lay handy at worst before really opening up along the back straight.”
Andy said: “Coolavanny Arnie fluffed his lines at lids-up a fortnight ago but should soon be to the fore on this occasion.”
Mark said: I rate Patrick Janssens Crossfield Dusty as the fastest sprinter in the UK and though winning his first-round heat and finishing second to today’s fellow finalist Havana Class in the quarters I didn’t feel he was quite at his sharpest.
“He needed to improve heading into his semi-final last week but improve he did as though only getting the better of Signet Mafia by a head the winning time of 15.57 calc showed that Dusty is getting right back to his best.
“In the hands of Janssens it’s far from inconceivable to see him even sharper at the boxes and the crucial first few yards for today’s main event and from a good-looking draw he can make all.
“He’ll need to be at his best though with Liz McNair’s bang in form Havana Class well drawn on the inside he’s likely to be closing Dusty down in the very late stages and will need to have built up a decent early advantage in order to hold off the much stronger Class late.”
Andy said: “A mouth-watering decider in which serious cases can be made for most of the field. Crossfield Dusty oozes class though and has long been a personal favourite of mine.”
Mark said: “it will be extremely disappointing if Global Volcano can’t gain the first win of a so far very lightly raced career given she reached 3-year-old last week. This full sister of Space Jet and Antigua Lava was held up early in her career by injury.
“Patience shown by her hall of fame breeder Pat Dalton saw that she eventually returned to the track late in 2021 under her then trainer Pat Buckley to reach the final of the Shelbourne Marathon Open 1025 Final in mid-December. Though well beaten behind superstar Dana Point she gave the impression that she would be well capable of winning races here in the UK over stiff six and eight bend trips.
“Running with promise on UK debut a couple of weeks ago for new trainer Patrick Janssens she was in the process of running a big race last time out before hitting trouble at the second last bend. She was a little disappointing from that point home if the truth be known but she does strike me as a bitch though lacking pace in any one particular department will keep going if she’s able to build up her momentum.
“That should be the case today and the draw against the rail in one should aid her significantly. That’s exactly where she wants to be and in what is a very moderate race it will as I say be very disappointing if she can’t get up and running. She’s unlikely to be presented with a better winning opportunity than she has today at any time in the near future.”
Andy said: “In two starts Global Volcano is yet to make her presence fully felt on these shores, but has shown enough potential to hint she can make it third time lucky.”
Mark said: “John Mullins holds the key with his inside pairing of Knocknaseed Gem and Penny Oxo. Gem had rattled off a hattrick with his trial stakes victory followed up with success in both his heat and quarter final of the Northamptonshire Sprint.
“He was eliminated behind Havana Class in last week’s semi-final but should prove too good in a race of this nature from a good-looking draw against the rail. Kennel mate Pennys Oxo was an eye catcher in defeat from a poor draw out in trap 5 last time.
“He walked out and struggled for a run in the initial stages but once getting clear on the inside he really took off. Gem should win this but at the likely prices a small place bet on Oxo wouldn’t harm and include the pair in any cast bets.”
Andy said: “Knocknaseed Gem is drawn to perfection and should soon stamp his authority.”
Mark said: “The extra week Matt Dartnall has now had with Space Jet after last weeks no race won’t have done her any harm and from a nice-looking draw on the inside the 2021 St Leger Champion should take the beating and get her 2022 campaign up and running.
“There were a few concerns raised about the rails seeding of Ranchers Tigger given that at home venue Hove she’s a confirmed middle runner who appears regularly from traps 4 and 5. Prior to her demolition job over course and distance in a top class 43.33 calc a couple of weeks ago I also shared those concerns.
“It has to be said however that in that race she pretty much kept herself to lanes 2 maybe at times 3 throughout so the rails seeding would in my view just about be justified. That said this should still leave Space Jet with plenty of room to run.
“She’ll need to be sharp enough on her reappearance though as with Antigua Lava , Burgess Elite and Aayamza Royale in the line-up this will be no walk in the park. Any trouble upfront would significantly improve the chances of Royale in particular who will be coming home with a rattle.”
Andy said: “An intriguing contest, but Aayamza Royale seems to be coming back to the boil nicely ahead of the £10,000 Marathon Competition here. (Starts March 6th)”
Mark said: “despite being a little bit of a fortunate winner in last week’s course and distance maiden Diane Henry’s Savana Spartacus can follow up. This isn’t the greatest of standard affairs and he’s definitely fell into a winnable division.
“John Mullins Nightingale Don has been running well in better class whilst Laurence Tuffin’s Romeo Riot won well last week over the marathon trip although the 18-length success was as much to do with the opposition as his own performance. That said he shouldn’t be too far away again today and is worth including in any combination bets.”
Andy said: “Savana Spartacus took an instant shine to the 712m trip when stepped up in distance and can continue to make a name for himself by doubling up.”
Mark said: “Patrick Janssens Lautaro looks to follow up on last week’s hugely impressive success. He made good class opposition look moderate whilst posting a top drawer 2915 off the back of a rapid 4.12 split.
“At this time of year that was some effort and finally saw him finding the kind of form that looked inevitable after his course and distance maiden debut back in November when he ran out a 12 1/4 length winner in 29.38. He struggled a little when stepped into the Puppy Derby in December but given his large 37 kilo plus frame he was always going to benefit from a bit of time to mature.
“He’s a greyhound who could well become a leading player in the Derby this year and whilst again facing decent opposition today he looks a greyhound right out of the top drawer who with a start can win again.”
Andy said: “Clock watchers have been drooling over Lautaro for the past week. Expect him to prove that 29.15 effort was no fluke.”
Mark said: “When Lautaro won on debut back in November Patrick Janssens also had another young greyhound winning in maiden company on debut on the same day. That greyhound was Oneforthelake and he can win today after a short spell off the track ‘off colour’.
“He’s not the class of Lautaro but he’s a fair dog all the same and is a dog who though might always fall a little bit short of the very top class should win more than his fair share in decent company over stiff four and short six bend trips.
“He might just need the run today but this is a winnable opportunity so take a chance he’s right enough and can get himself into a fair position heading onto the back straight.”
Andy said: “Oneforthelake posted 29.69 when making a winning debut last November and can send punters home happy.”
