Eight opens at Towcester racecourse this afternoon for enthusiasts to enjoy and a few decent bets for punters to get stuck into. The pre meeting trial session sees numerous high-class sorts including last year’s English Derby winner Thorn Falcon showcasing their talents. With the Maiden Derby , now sponsored by Matchbook and the Star Sports Bookmakers English Greyhound Derby fast approaching the calibre of greyhound appearing at the track will be stepping up with each passing week.
All eight opens this afternoon are sponsored by TRC Events & Leisure and we get underway at 157pm with a sprint over 270m. Kevin Hutton’s Signet Goofy spent February off the track but he made a perfect return to action this month by running out an impressive winner of both heat and final of the BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint at Nottingham over the past couple of weeks. He’s perfectly drawn here and if hitting the lead at any stage it should be race over. It’s not to be forgotten he’s far from just a sprinter as a 2967 winning effort here in December highlighted. Jim Hayton’s Kirabilly Kathy is pacey and last week’s well beaten effort can be forgiven with it being a ‘badly stumbled start’ which left her with no chance after just a couple of yards. She’d rate a danger if Goofy doesn’t bring his A game first time back at Towcester but with a break Hutton’s greyhound can prove too sharp and too good.
Next up at 212pm is a standard affair over 500m. After a number of misses with their own brood bitches the McNair team had to change tactics a little and bought in some readymade top-class greyhounds. Feora Noel is one that comes into that category. A 2843 winning effort on debut at Tralee last June marked Noel out as a pup of huge potential and subsequent runs including a 2819 trial around Limerick backed that up. His runs around Central Park have been top class and though he didn’t quite appear at home in recent outings at Monmore he can get back to winning ways here with an always led performance on Towcester debut. He’ll need to be away and gone though in order to get clear sight of his new surroundings but most of his rivals are better known for their finishing power rather than searing early so that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Another 500m standard at 232pm and can go the way of Richard Yeates classy veteran Faughan Rebel. He’s been a grand servant to connections and despite heading towards his 5th birthday later this year appears to retain most of his ability. He’s well drawn here and though he will very likely be priced accordingly is difficult to get away from in regards selection purposes. One greyhound who does very much deserve mentioning and is likely to be well over priced is Connor Smith’s Perry Barr raider Billis Hurricane. He left every inch and possibly more than the 3 1/2 lengths he was beat behind Chelms Fred here in 2973 last week on the track in the first half of the race. Though it’s likely that will once again be the case as he’s far from certain to secure a clear run early it will be very difficult to keep him out of the frame. He deserves serious consideration in the place markets.
A very interesting 500m standard at 252pm which maybe one to watch rather than get actively involved in from a punting perspective. Sharon Thompson’s Master Ten Ten is a youngster heading the right way and he’s potentially well drawn here but he faces some very classy rivals who will prove more than dangerous with a run. Connor Smith’s Hazelhill Hare won a maiden here in December in 2961 with that run also coming without a previous look around. He also won here in standard company last week in a top class 2945. This is a step up in class but he’s a very talented sort. Gymstar Elusive has proven himself to be a high-class greyhound on numerous occasions both when initially under the guidance of Chris Akers and subsequently with John Mullins. The suspicion based on his recent performances however would have to be that he’ll struggle against today’s opposition. Liz McNair’s Warzone Tom is a high-class sort and prior to Bockos Belly’s 2903 effort held the track record at 2908. He returned to the venue last week with a facile trial success in 2954. Carol Weatherall’s Candy Man is a greyhound of immense pace. The 2021 Birmingham Cup winner was 5 spots inside the 2793 Perry Barr track record of the Carla Hendy trained Drumkeen Oyster set way back in 2015 when he trialled over the 480m trip there a couple of weeks ago. Very difficult to keep out of the first 3 in any field there would be worse each way bets for the Derby itself. Whilst Mark Wallis’s Antigua Bigun is a dog really heading in the right direction this year. He looked a fair dog at the back end of last year but his form since returning after a short spell off with the cough this year has been a huge step forward. He comes into this race looking to complete a five timer having seen back-to-back A1 victories followed up with an open race double. It’s a really intriguing race to watch which should provide plenty of clues for the coming weeks and months.
Maiden action over 500m at 311pm and Jason Bloomfield’s Savana Camino can follow up his heavily punted success in A3 company from last time out. He had to battle hard for what was eventually an easy enough success on that occasion but might just find things a little easier today. Frank Gray’s Perfecto String has plenty of pace but does just struggle with this trip in the latter stages. He should once again lead and may well do so by a fair few lengths but if Camino has managed to clear the inside pair then the writing could well be on the wall from an early stage even if the result isn’t confirmed until Camino collars String late on.
Standard company once more over 500m at 328pm and Carol Weatherall can see her Trumps Benefit run out a convincing winner. Another greyhound from the kennel who though he lacks a yard of early really motors in the second half of his races. The make up of todays race should see him turning very close to the pace and he can turn on the after burners along the back straight and have this race sewn up by the third bend.
A competitive 500m standard at 348pm can go to Seamus Gaughan’s Unlikely Rocket. Despite having reached 3yo last month Rocket is still improving and put up a career best effort with a 2986 winning effort here last time out off the back of a superb 413 split. A similar break should see him lead round once again and he can win in standard open company for the first time having landed a maiden here over course and distance in February.
The final open race of the day is a 500m maiden at 408pm. It’s a race that won’t take too much winning and Lee Fields Droopys Sunset may well be the answer. She was punted on the earlies as though defeat was out of the question on Towcester debut in a D3 sprint last week and though taking a little bit of a drift on the show she showed the early money to be informed money. Despite missing the break she paced up well showing bravery at the bend and once taking the lead round the last the result wasn’t in any doubt. She won in A2 whilst at Monmore over 480m and wouldn’t likely have to do too much more to win this race today.
