The PGR Eclipse starts a week today and Team Janssens had two of their big hitters out in Friday’s Trialstakes. Quickest of the pair was Romeo Command with a 29.38 run. Eliminated when third in last year’s semis, the big brindle had four consecutive defeats over course and distance though he does have 29.12 form earlier in his career when going unbeaten through the British Breeders Stakes. Friday’s race was the 48th of his career of which he has won exactly two thirds.
Links Maverick, who finished one place in front of Command in the Eclipse at Nottingham, was back over a more comfortable 450m at Sunderland. It has taken a while for the 2023 Greyhound of the Year contender to hit his best form (he is different gravy to 28.90s Sheffield). But there were flashes of the old Maverick with the 26.65 first round run in the heats of the ARC Classic at Sunderland. But there is more to come. He has a 26.37 trial (TR 26.41) on his card for four bends and a 15.39 sprint (TR 15.30).
Millbank Boiler produced the fastest 480 of the week at Monmore on Saturday (28.23), but in terms of overall quality, Magical Luna has it for a 684m victory which involved her catching Millridge Tanic and holding off Coonough Crow and Mrs Doyle in what proved an exciting four-way photo finish. Although the trip isn’t regularly used, the 41.23 run held up well against the only hound to go quicker this year, Garfiney Blaze (41.02, 41.14).
Meanwhile over in Brum, there was another Magical performance from a Guilfoyle bred hound. 21 month old (at the time), Magical Lila recorded the joint fastest 480m run of the week for Phil Barlow, 28.65. It was only the second race of her career. Her more experienced kennelmate Inca Gerry won the A1 in identical time.
There were a stack of good times at Hove on Thursday and over five different distnaces: 285m-Miami Sapphire (16.32), 500m-Cadolim Monsoon (28.99), 515m-Fleadh Cailin (29.84) and 695m-Burrows Eclipse (41.36). But, with a 44.10 (+45) run, 46 spots quicker than last week, how can we oppose the defending POW Tuono Bella? Yes, the track was running fast but she finished in front of Ower Smasher and Westway Zoro for a second consecutive week.
Sticking with the subject of ‘stayers and perseverance, Alright Gordy had been a ‘nearly dog’ when finishing second in each of his previous performances – each time as favourite – when going to the Swindon 682m traps as the 8/13f, also on Thursday night. As game as they come, he turned over Ballymac Loca by almost five lengths in 41.49 (+15). He has been in the frame 11 times in his last 12 races.
The first name on the chart this week was Colliers Brynner following another faultless performance in the feature A1 event at Doncaster on Tuesday. Paul Prior’s defending POW went to traps as the 15/8fav which was made to look great value as he led up on the run-up and was never challenged. His 29.53 followed a 29.58 run as he gradually builds fitness. It was only his 14th race of the year. His 15th was on Saturday when he won again! This time in a flying 29.18, the third fastest time of the year.
Anything around the 27.50 mark would tend to be worthy of the Yarmouth selection. Last week, it was the 27.59 from Murrow Inkosi. This week it was a 27.50 (+10) run from Craig Morris’ Back To Black. It has taken seven months for the 34 kilo wide runners to rise from A4 to clock his new PB.
Home bred Blackhouse Kim produced the week’s exceptional performance at Newcastle. Stuart Ray’s wide runner, who finished fifth in the Puppy Classic final won by March On Freddie, collected her first race win as an adult, and stepped up on her PB of 28.57 (+10) with a flying 28.39. A mention too for Steve Caile’s Delvin Cat with a 28.55 (N) open win on Thursday.
The cream of the Kinsley A1 grade were missing this week. Quickest over four bends was Ballymac Wynett (a sister to Derby winner De Lahdedah) with a 27.76 run. But even the likes of Deelish Lucy would have struggled to deny Aikins Gift his rightful position. Following nine blanks, Ilijan Zivkovic’s black absolutely took off over the sprint and recorded the fastest time recorded at the track in more than four years, 15.84. It is just five spots outside Roxholme Hat’s track record.
Tax You Tonight had a 10 race losing streak on his card when she went to traps at Harlow on Friday night. Yet Di Jinks’ former Romford and Central Park grader clocked the fastest time of the year for the 415m course, 26.05 (+30). The veteran’s previous best was 26.27 and it was the 86th race of her UK career. Where did that come from?
Sticking with the golden oldies theme. . . it is two years and two days since the similarly aged Distant Puma won his first Sheffield A1 in 28.73. On Sunday, he recorded his best time since, 28.85 when demolishing A3 company by a nod under 10 lengths. Barrie Draper’s 37 kilo veteran, who has open race winning form over six bends, was going to traps for the 98th time of his career.
Not much to choose between the Friday night winners at Romford. Mad For Sterling’s 35.11 was quickest over the six bend course. But we’ve gone for the night’s quickest 400m winner Bacon Roll who completed a 271/1 treble with a career best 23.72 (+10) run. A bit quicker than her mum whose last race was at London Road having previously won four with two seconds (sh, sh) from her six races. She also finished runner-up to Bockos Jon Jo in the ’21 Golden Sprint Final.
Tracker Man (Valley) and Golden Palace (Romford) have both appeared as recent top performers at their respective tracks. On Saturday, Tracker Man was the quickest 450m open winner at Oxford (26.59), Golden Palace was best over the 650m trip (39.60). A tough call but we’ve gone with Michelle Brown’s runner as she turned over last week’s Oxford selection Gagas Merry by almost seven lengths. A mention too for 14.96 sprint winner Droopys Swag.
The second tightest call of the week is at Central Park and involves two kennelmates both winning A1 within one spot of each other. Paul Donovan’s Wonderful Abi was actually the quickest of the pair with a 29.19 run. But the selection remains the defending POW Tintreach Tulip in arguably the tougher of the two contests. It was her third consecutive A1 win and her third win in her last four races.
Tommys Lotto was almost three and a half before the Towcester A1 regular (29.22 best) attempted the 712m course for the first time. He was soundly beaten by Fabulous Dyna in 42.94. The pair met again on Sunday and the form was firmly reversed with a 42.74 run from the Carol Grasso trained black. That’s four wins from seven over course and distance.
No sign this week of Pelaw’s defending track champion Chippy Chase though the two who followed him home last week, Laughil Rex and Emilys Superstar were due to clash in the week’s top A2. The punters went for Rex (4/5f), but the honours went to Mark Bulmer’s 32 kilo brindle. In hindsight, 6/1 seems quite generous for a lady with a 25.51 on her card.
The Grand National and Gold Collar get underway at Crayford in six night’s time. Sunday night’s card featured trialstakes for both. The outstanding run on the night came from Signet Harper with a sensational 23.22 over hurdles, just 12 spots outside the track record. A special mention too for Noduff Grand who completed a four-timer in an identical time. It’s true that he didn’t have any obstacles in his way. Though it is worth mentioning that he has six wins and five wins in his last 11 races and is now five year old.
Former local grader Bolt Of Wisdom was between distances at Crayford where his best A2 was recorded at 23.35 and over six bends he stopped the clock in 33.85. Only three wins in 28 races though. Valley seems a much better fit and he recently followed up a 28.48 open race win with an even more impressive 28.25 in A1. That’s five wins and two seconds from his last 10 races. So hope his kennel name is Bernie – a corny joke for older readers only.
