A full 14 race open card at Towcester this afternoon with the first 8 of those races being heats of the £10,000 to the winner category one RPGTV English Puppy Derby.  The competition offers some of the leading pups around on both sides of the Irish sea the opportunity to gain valuable competition experience around the home of the English Greyhound Derby.  Mark Pierrepont previews –
Brendan Matthews doesn’t send many across the Irish sea that either aren’t already or don’t go on to become real nice types.  UNDULATION looks another in the afternoon’s opener at 157pm with her talent already highlighted in no uncertain terms with a number of stunning performances around Shelbourne Park non least her 9-length winning effort in 2824 in the final of the €5000 to the winner Paddy Merriman Memorial.  She does lack a look around but if she can pop out and get in front early this looks a race where she could very feasibly leave a few lengths on the track and still run out a good winner.
Seamus Cahill’s MY GIRL BELLA (NAP) is well proven around here and looks well housed to smash out and make all from her trap 3 berth in heat 4 at 252pm.  She’s not usually the fastest from the traps but has a fair degree of early pace once her paws hit the floor and she should need just an average break in order to see herself firmly in control as they head onto the back straight.  Brendan Matthews Coordination looks an interesting type on career debut and though his Shelbourne trials have been decent enough without being spectacular there is surely plenty to come from this strapping 86lb son of Love Island.  He’ll definitely be one to keep an eye on for future reference but My Girl Bella should prove too sharp and too experienced at least at this stage.
Patrick Janssens ROMEO COMMAND (NB) heads into the competition as clear ante post favourite having won both of his UK starts to date when landing heat and final of a £3000 to the winner maiden competition at Monmore.  Prior to that however he was noted flying around Towcester in a solo trial in 2935 (-10).  Prior to arriving in England he’d shown plenty of pace on Irish soil but that was usually in defeat for Graham Holland as his winning record over there of 1 from 11 highlights.  It will be interesting to see quite how he handles the possibility of giving some decent dogs a start and a beating now he steps up in class but he should have little trouble in getting his puppy derby campaign off to a winning start in the eighth and final heat at 408pm.
Away from the main event itself Patrick Janssens DROOPYS POINTER looks to have a good opportunity to get his UK career up and running in the Stadium Bookmakers Maiden at 508pm.  He was ultra-impressive when landing the final of a €2000 to the winner novice open stake around Shelbourne Park early in October in 2813.  A simply sensational run from a young pup and he was soon on his way over to England.  He showed plenty of pace in heat and final of the Monmore maiden competition won by kennel mate Romeo Control and though he’ll need to tread carefully from a not ideal draw in trap 4 he should have far too much for rivals whom he should soon be leaving way behind.