The ‘copy and paste’ function has been in full flow this week with a series of ‘repeat’ selections.
Or in the case of Coronation Cup winner Antigua Sugar, it is more a case of ‘yes it is her – again!’. Amanda Jeal’s completed a seven-timer on Friday and is the definition of a ‘win machine’. Whether she leads, or has to battle, she never lets down her supporters. Consistent too, her last four wins have been within 9 spots of each other. (More about Droopys Good to follow)
But from a kennel that has dominated the Romford six bend trip over the last two decades, Sugar would surely make an Imperial Kennel Select Stakes?. . Aayamza Express, Adageo Bob, Antigua Romeo, Antigua Rum, Bombers Bullet, Eye Onthe Veto, Patchys Kerry, Reel Trickone,Top Power Now you only have to leave out four!
On the subject of Romford’s 575 metres, it is 17 months since Night Time Danny landed a first career Cat One win for Steve Rayner when taking the Champion Stakes. On Friday night, the pensioner looked to be in big trouble at the seventh bend as a whole gang of finishers threatened to mug him on the run-in. But the dark brindle dug deep and held on to win by a rapidly closing length.
Angie Kibble’s puppy Haverhill Lad has been making regular trips to Oxford and won on his last visit there. On Thursday he was in tougher company – the Swindon A1 where he completed a hat-trick with a 28.32 (-10) front running display. So how tough is the A1? Not for the first time, the clock was quicker than the 470 open on the same card.
The twists and turns of greyhound racing were emphasised with the victory of Bradys Bullet in the PGR Puppy Derby Final at Monmore on Saturday. But for Churchfield Syd’s injury in the semi finals, Belinda Green’s runner would probably not have made the final. Bullet’s win possibly falls into the ‘fortunate, but worthy’ category. The 27.87 first round winner came from last to first in a cleanly run race as the youngest in the field in just the sixth race of his career. Astonishing!
While the 2022 Juvenile Classic winner was doing the business at Romford, the 2021 winner Brookside Richie was the star of Newcastle’s Northern Flat first round with a 28.34 run. It was his first race of the year. Even if he only equals his best sectional in future rounds, that should take him under the 28.30 mark.
The Geordies were all over Sheffield too. The POW selection always looked destined to go to a canny lad with Darbys Delight going to traps at 4-6f in the Queen Mother Cup Final. But step forward a canny lass. . . Coolavanny Aunty had covered the same distance seven spots quicker half an hour earlier. What’s that saying about the longevity of class?
He might not have been quite so dominant last Monday, but Romeo Command couldn’t possibly be opposed after winning his eighth consecutive UK race in Monday’s British Breeders semi final. It is quite likely that that sequence will be stretch to nine in a few hours time. Assuming 2-7f qualifies as ‘quite likely’.
The only dog ahead of Romeo in the English Derby better, Fromposttopillar was made the 4-7f for Sunday afternoon’s ARC Kent Plate heat but was turned over by dual Cat One winner Hopes Paddington. Arkady landed the other semi in an identical time, but with four heat winners in the first semi, Mark Wallis’ runner gets the nod.
Last week Roll On Sydney was the Towcester selection following a FOY 43.50 run for the 712m. On Sunday afternoon, Callmesteve (PB 43.01 when winning the GAIN Challenge Trophy) was 11 spots slower though that was still plenty good enough to secure this week’s vote.
Most weeks, a puppy clocking 26.59 on -10 going at Harlow will probably be selected for this feature. But that would hardly be fair to reigning champ Black Eyed Razl who followed up last week’s 15.49 (-40) sprint open win with a 15.17 (-05) for a Jinks sprint open tricast. Razl is the fastest over the 238 metre course and distance with a 15.07 run following her FOY in 2022 with her PB of 14.90.
Hove staged opens over four different distances on Thursday which invariably leads to ‘contrast and compare’ discussions. The quickest winners were 285m-16.48 (-15), 500m-29.66 (-30), 515m-30.46 (-30) and 695m-42.15 (-45). On balance, and because he can play the ‘puppy’ card, the selection is Romford raider Bubbly Scorcher in just the fourth race of his career.
It was a similar story at Crayford on Saturday, opens over four distances including impressive wins for: Lenson Doolin (23.51-380mH) Bens Lad (33.72-540m) and Homestead Anna (45.43-714m). However, we would have to edge it to Tommy Batchelor’s Unleashthebridge with a FOY run for the 380m.
The easiest races to call are those where the highest grade winner also clocks the week’s fastest time. So big thanks to Glengar Daisy for easing the burden with a 23.81 A1 win at Suffolk Downs. That’s four wins and a short head second in her last five for Michelle Brown’s ex-Romford 23.94 winner.
Sister track Henlow have had some rescheduling this week with their meetings taking place on Thursday and Friday. The majority of the better runners are on the Friday where the ex-Nottingham refugee Peter Harnden sent out five winners. Pick of the bunch was puppy Salacres Blake whose 27.74 was quicker than the day’s A1 winner.
In terms of track records, Kinsley’s 26.95 (450) is three spots faster Henlow’s 26.98 (460), though the Yorkshire venue sees many fewer sub-28.00 runs. There were three on Sunday, headed by Highview Venture’s 27.89. But with the Gymcrack plans due to be announced imminently, we’ve gone for 18 month old Fearmore Delboy who was just a length slower when romping home in A3.
Whether 21 month old She Surprised Me lived up to her name at Sunderland on Sunday is debatable. Although beaten in her last four outings, she returned as an 11-10f when clocking the sixth fastest 450 of the year. Clearly not everyone was surprised!
While at neighbouring Pelaw Grange, most of the big names were absent this week, there was a single spot between the two fastest times of the week and it was recorded by A3 winner Ballyriggan Girl.
With Judgement Night on the horizon, Perry Barr might have missed a trick this week with no minor opens. The most impressive of the graders was A3 winner Hail The Chief in 28.77.
Last week’s selection Wee Fat Mac featured in another competitive Yarmouth A1 taking on dogs Conna Cuckoo and Droopys Sport who have all appeared in this feature. On this occasion, Sport came out in front clocking 281.4. However, later in the same meeting, kennelmate Del Shannon was made favourite in a separate top heat and bolted up in 27.95. Irene Barnard’s British bred is from the same litter as the track’s top two sprinters, Quagos Peggy and Quagos Jack.
There was a similar battle of A1s at Doncaster over the weekend with Sunday’s looking and proving to be the better. The defending champ Nolas Moment was in the line-up but was beaten on merit by puppy Bluey Boy with his third win in his last four outings. A worthy run too, 30.19 on -70 going.
