Henlow racing manager Paul Mellor believes California (Ballymac Vic-Silverhill Tina, Apr 14) is the one they all have to beat in the 2016 RPGTV Henlow Derby Final on Sunday.
Mark Wallis’ white and blue is one of three unbeaten semi finalist but it is his running style as much as his marginal advantage on the clock that gives him the edge.
Mellor said: “I don’t know whether a 3.59 sectional is a record, I think we might have had one other dog break 3.60 but it is exceptionally fast and California must be the one to beat. But it is a very very good final, an East Anglian Derby winner, Lenson Santi is flying, then there’s Peregrine Falcon, there isn’t a poor dog in there.”
Henlow’s runner shortage has been well documented with Saturday night’s carrying the brunt. However things have eased in a little in the last fortnight.
Mellor said: “We had some five and six-dog races this Saturday and Spencer Mavrias has just started to grade about a dozen with us and another trainer apparently planning to join us shortly too.”
