March On Freddie is Shelbourne bound

It was announced last night that the Puppy Classic winner will head to Shelbourne next month.

Hove will be the next port of call for March On Freddie on Thursday. A two-round competition there will set him up perfectly for a trip to Ireland. He flew around Central Park at the weekend in a time well inside the current track record so it’s all systems go.

Without a doubt, he is one of the top dogs in England so his presence in an Irish Derby will be welcomed on both sides of the Irish Sea. He will add some serious extra intrigue to a Derby that is already dominated by young and unexposed dogs.

The George Watson-owned, David Mullins-trained son of Dorotas Wildcat is now the fourth favourite. The three ahead of him are his litter brother Bockos Diamond, Time Juvenile Derby winner Callaway Knegare and English Derby winner De Lahdedah.

Boylesports Irish Derby

11/2 Bockos Diamond, 7/1 Callaway Knegare 10/1 De Lahdedah 16/1 March On Freddie 20/1 Da Bold Falcon 25/1 Clonbrien Treaty, Seven Beach, Unanimouspanther 33/1 Bar

GB Skip Hire start sponsorship journey at Romford

Big sponsorship plans over the next three years start with a match race on Friday.

The eagle eyed amongst you on social media will have noticed recent posts from GB Skip Hire with a countdown. It all became clear last night with a match race announced at Romford on Friday night. Links Maverick against Not So Slow with £3,000 up for grabs. That’s some way to start a sponsorship!

The man behind it all is Patrick Huckle, one of the directors of GB Skip Hire. It is a “sponsorship deal we’re doing for three years, we’re a local company to Romford and we’ve decided to spend our advertising budget with them.” The company has its head office in Ilford but is very much a nationwide firm that has grown over more than 50 years in business.

Puppy Cup night is always one of the best at Romford but there will be a huge boost to the atmosphere. The company have taken over the whole pavilion on Friday with 90-100 staff in attendance. Let’s hope that they all fall in love with greyhound racing the way that Huckle has.

“I bought my first dog at 14 but was going to Walthamstow when I was 12.” It is a passion that has been reignited by trainer Nathan Hunt, “I’ve got 12 dogs with Nathan, he reinvented my enthusiasm for the sport just after Covid. If it wasn’t for him this wouldn’t be happening.”

Hunt is not the only trainer that Huckle is quick to praise. The race put together with the help of the connections of the dogs involved. “Tom (Heilbron) and Patrick (Janssens) were great, they’ve both been really good, very helpful. Both great to deal with.” 

But, why a match race? “I find it exciting, I like the Australian model, they’re ahead of us with the marketing side, the magnitude. The match race was my idea following the Australian model. I like it because a match generally should have the outcome of the best dog wins. I think it’s a better way of displaying the better dogs.” When it comes to the marketing side, the poster for the match race certainly has got that flair about it.

With a three year deal from a nationwide company in place, the long term plan is to have sponsorship at a number of different tracks in that time. Huckle is even looking into reviving a lost competition and has further ideas for 2025 and “it’s all because of my love of this sport.” Hopefully, it will be a huge success at the weekend and only the start of something bigger.

Gbskiphire.com Invitational Prices

4/6 Links Maverick 6/5 Not So Slow

Changes to the Perry Barr card

Some small changes to Saturday from the Perry Barr Racing Manager Martin Seal.

“There has been a change to the original running order to dovetail with anticipated horse racing fixture times, with the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup Final now occupying the race seven, 20:44 slot, and the PGR St Leger Final scheduled to go off at 21:20 which is race nine.

“There has been a handful of withdrawals from the original final card due to previous commitments, and where replacement greyhounds have been assigned, the trap draw for these races has been redrawn at the GBGB.
“We had advertised Trial Stakes for the forthcoming PGR Oaks (starts Sat 5/10) and ARC Scurry Gold Cup (starts Sat 12/10) for this Saturday, but now only have space for two Oaks Trial Stakes at the beginning of the meeting, so my apologies to all those connections who were hoping to take this path.”
John Mullins gave Aayamza Sydney a sprint trial at Yarmouth last night to keep his Birmingham Cup hopeful ticking over. He clocked 16.18, two spots off the quickest of the year so far.

Monday night at Nottingham

Jim Daly at the double on the card.

Faithful Friend won the Arc Ladies Standard Trophy Final last night for Daly in 30.08. That is six wins in her last seven starts, three at A2 level, an A1 and then her heat last week. Daly was also on target with Jaymir Lucy who gave the bookies some respite from a string of winning favourites in the sprint.

The Arc Gents Standard Trophy Final went to Catunda Ciaran for Stephen Naylor, producing a time of 30.14. Quickest on the night over 500m was Kevin Boon’s Bockos Thunder who clocked 29.93. Amazing Hulk won over 480m in 28.95 for Richie Taberner and Blackboy Lizzy notched a 500m win in 30.02 for Colin Wilton.

It was over 305m that the performance of the night came . Kylenoe Bilbo set a new fastest of the year over the trip with a 17.52. Lynn Cook’s charge is a hugely consistent type, not out of the first three in his last 16 starts, winning seven of those. An A2 winner over 500m at the track, the drop to sprinting has been the making of him.

Tuesday’s Graded Tips

***6.42 Crayford – Ministing
**8.47 Central Park – Boomerang Kray
*7.39 Central Park – Nuclear Textbook

A successful Monday sees us head into Tuesday with three graded bets.

The nap of the evening is at Crayford in the A2 at 6.42. Ministing runs from trap four in a four dog race and has been given the ideal opportunity to pick up his first UK victory. He was unlucky in a maiden race nine days ago when showing loads of pace but finding all sorts of trouble so this four dog race with nothing on his immediate inside or outside should see Ministing win well.

The next best is at Central Park in the A2 at 8.47. Trap six Boomerang Kray has been well fancied of late in the grade when beaten at short prices on his last two starts. There wouldn’t be too much early pace in the race this evening with Burnpark Twinkle expected to lead early. If Boomerang Kray can get a run at the leader early enough he should have too much late on and although the winning margin would be a short one, he should be too good for his rivals.

The value bet for the evening is in the 491m handicap at Central Park at 7.39. Nuclear Textbook runs from trap six off the back of the handicap and this scattered start could suit the strong running type who has been staying on well in A2 company so I fancy him to go well giving trap one Stophers Genie a 15 metre start.

Open Race winners

22 wins: Different Speed

18 wins: Druids Say Go

17 wins: Acomb Felix 

15 wins:  Dashing Dude – Queen Joni – Romeo To Victory

14 wins: Ballymac Taylor – Coonough Crow 

13 wins: Bellmore Ozzy – Queen Georgia 

12 wins: Alright Gordy – Asbo Lenny – Not So Slow – Yahoo Megan

Opens

Thursday: Newcastle♦Swindon
Friday: Romford 
Saturday: Perry Barr
Sunday: Crayford