Nottingham Tips from Joe

*** 8.01 Nottingham – Fabulous Tempo
** 9.28 Nottingham – Pawtsmouth Pedro
*8.36 Nottingham – Skeard Josie

Three Semi-finals of the Jenningsbet Puppy Classic take place this evening at Nottingham with an odds-on favourite in each.

Semi-final one at 8.19 can see Brigadir Brindle take advantage of a good draw out wide to go well at 4/1.

Odds on favourite Missile One has a difficult draw to deal with being out in trap four with Swift Underwater and Droopys Extragud both full of early pace on his inside. As fast as Missile One is, I would want to take him on here at the prices available.

I was with Droopys Extragud at the start of the competition at 20/1 so let’s hope he can qualify for next week’s final.

Syd Zafiro has unfortunately been pulled out of semi-final two at 8.36 leaving Blackhouse Kim odds on from trap five to land the spoils.

However I am going to be with Skeard Josie, another ante post selection at 50/1, she completely missed the first bend out last week and ran well to qualify.

She has a good draw in trap one and if coming away level I would expect her to lead. That gives her every chance of making the final with Blackhouse Kim also qualifying.

Semi-final three at 8.54 is all about ante post favourite March On Freddie who barring a miracle will line up in next week’s £12,500 to the winner final.

He was as impressive as ever when dominating last week’s heat with a fastest of the round 29.69 calculated and it’s extremely difficult to look past him for the competition.

Fire And Ice was an impressive winner and can qualify back in second behind March On Freddie.

Other Open Races on the card see two heats of the Jenningsbet Stayers Trophy over 680m. One Day Scooby can come on for last week’s return to racing when finishing second at Sheffield to win heat one at 7.44. Fabulous Tempo has found herself in a more than winnable race in heat two at 8.01.

The card finishes with two heats of the Jenningsbet Sprint Trophy over 305m. Gemma Evans can make the long journey worthwhile by landing a quick-fire double with Pawtsmouth Pedro taking heat one at 9.28 and Fratton Bark winning heat two at 9.46.

Mini Eva wins for the dolls

A wider-than-usual draw proved no problem for Mini Eva at Crayford.

Dave Lee had all of the dolls’ side of the draw with his winner clad in the black jacket. Despite her first 11 wins at Crayford, all coming from traps one and two she was sent off the 5/2 favourite and delivered in style. A smash break took her to the front off a 3.49 split and from that point, it was all over bar the shouting. Lee also had All Along in third and Laughil Jess in sixth.

The winner of the guys’ final last week was Dan Brabon’s Dower Pat. A 3.56 split was his slowest in the competition, always facing an uphill battle after that. Slick Sabo was fourth for Ricky Holloway while fifth was Tim Heilbron’s Romeo To Victory who couldn’t take advantage of being the sole seeded runner after being slow to rise.

Heilbron had plenty to celebrate, however, with Madabout Peck setting a new track record of 22.77 over the 380m trip. He took a length off Brinkleys Poet’s old one which had stood since 2018. A Pall Mall finalist last month, he has proven well suited to a sharp four bends.

Fastest of the night over six bends was Holloway’s Razldazl Barkley with 33.51. Holloway would also pick up wins with Harlequin Ernie (380H) Signet Harper (540H) and Dazl Rolex (714m) for a four-timer on the night.

Sheffield/Towcester Review

Open class action was found elsewhere yesterday as well. 

Toddys Thunder produced a smart 39.03 to steal the show at Sheffield for Tom Heilbron. Only four dogs have gone quicker over the 660m trip in 2024 and he is six months and more younger than all of them.

Romeo Command produced another flying run for Patrick Janssens at Towcester. It is a track that has been a happy hunting ground for him and his 8/13 success was a formality once he trapped out smartly. Mark Wallis had a double on the afternoon courtesy of Druids Eclipse and Gun Slinger.

Swindon trials heating up

Coppice Ella was among the runners to trial before racing on Saturday.

With the opening round of the Produce Stakes looming large on August 29, potential candidates are starting to get a look at the Abbey Stadium. Key of those at the weekend was the new British Bred Oaks winner Coppice Ella. Kevin Hutton won the race with Signet Denver in 2022 when fielding four of the six finalists.

Interesting debut this evening

Half-brother to Derby winner makes UK debut at Kinsley

A D2 at Kinsley on a Monday night might not be the natural place to be looking for a half-brother to a Derby winner. Tonight, however, Ballymac Wolfe will make his race debut for Beverley Heaton in the 7.49. From a September 22 litter by Wolfe, his dam Ballymac Sarahjo threw De Lahdedah in her October 2021 litter.

One week until National Greyhound Week

A reminder that National Greyhound Week will begin next Monday, August 26.

Tracks across the country are preparing for their biggest crowds of the year next week. There is free entry into meetings, including the excellent Bank Holiday card to kick the week off at Nottingham on Monday.

With entertainment for all the family to go along with the action on the track, they are perfect for a late summer holiday day out.

Stats

  • Skywalker Tino – 4.07 Doncaster – 4/5 when running in top-grade sprints.
  • Slick Serenity – 6.31 Yarmouth – 4/5 in D1 grade.
  • Cappaneale Rocky – 9.46 Nottingham – A perfect 5/5 at this track.