Monmore’s Tony Williamson is typical of racing managers throughout the country having spent a good many hours formulating his team for the next stage of the BAGS/SIS track Championship. The Wolverhampton track stage the first match of the fourth qualifying round, Western Division, on Monday and here is a quick view of his potential team sheet:
Juveniles – Fred the Shred and Monadreen Prince – Both improving also both won A1 races in 28.30.
Dogs/Standard – Suave Cougar, Droopys Brighton, Jaffer, Roy’s Boy. All A1 winners 28.30 regular clocks
Stayers – Poppadom Pedro and Stella’s Veekayee. Both strong stayers that have open race form and will have power packed finishes.
Bitches – Still to be decided
Sprint – Qualification race taking place on Thursday
Elite – Either Gowlane Puma or Droopys Turin need to assess the form and decide as very close between the two dogs but don’t want them in together as they want the same ground. So the second elite runner might be Fred The Shred a greyhound with great track craft that can run from any trap.
The final team sheet will be assembled on Friday morning, the runners are then sent to GBGB for the trap draw. The RM sounds cautious: “It’s going to be tough.With the going taken off, several of the other tracks dogs have trialled in around 28.30.”
Since its inception, the track championship, well organised and well funded, has grown in stature year on year. Organiser Scott Harvey said: “I think the new format of four groups of five has made it a lot more competitive. We are past halfway and there is everything to play for in most of the groups.”
Probably the only group that looks a foregone conclusion is the ‘Southern’ where Romford hold a 60 point lead over Hove and are quoted at 1-25 when they head to Poole on November 5. A phenomenal home leg saw Newcastle rally strongly to lead the Northern group by 21 points from Belle Vue with Sheffield some 39 behind the leader with their home leg to come at the end.
The Eastern group looks like a buckle between Nottingham and Peterborough with the former holding a seven and a half point lead. Tighter still is the Western group where Monmore are rated 11-10jf with reigning champs Towcester who hold a 29 points lead but have already benefitted from their home leg.
Harvey said: “Monmore don’t look a bad bet coming up to their home leg. In fact, looking at the points for the ‘best second places’ in the other legs, Towcester will probably need a good result to have any chance of reaching the final. Romford are on fire in their group but there could still be surprises in the other two.
“Peterborough traditionally do well at Yarmouth, so Nottingham will need to be at their best to take it to Henlow in the last leg. And the Northern group is far from settled. Ian Walton (Newcastle GM) wasn’t confident but the good home leg has put them in a strong position. But Sheffield will push them all the way and Belle Vue are far from out of it.”
