This afternoon Towcester stage the four rescheduled second round heats of the £10,000 to the winner category one RPGTV English Puppy Derby.  The afternoon is further supported by a trial stakes for the forthcoming Blue Riband.  Mark Pierrepont previews –
The competition is still wide open and gets underway with heat one at 1.57pm.  David Mullins Romeo Hotshot was simply sensational when winning his first-round heat in a fastest of the first round 29.41.  After missing his break badly he looked in an unpromising early position in behind the well supported Irish raider Undulation.  He showed phenomenal early and middle gears though and taking full advantage of a gap left rails side as they headed along the back straight he soon had matters fully in control. 
The move to trap 4 today from last week’s trap 5 will be beneficial but there has to be serious concerns about him clearing the early paced Frank Gray duo of Makeit The Bear and Makeitkingsydney drawn in traps 1 and 3 respectively.  In my view this is a race to watch and enjoy with Hotshot looking like being one of the most promising pups in the UK but at the likely price and with such pace inside him it’s a race I’d rather let him win that get involved in from a financial point of view.
The aforementioned UNDULATION trained by the Newry maestro Brendan Matthews lines up in heat two at 2.12pm.  It was initially a little disappointing to see her beaten once leading up in last week’s first round but there were two major points of note that marked the performance up.  The time was the major factor in that she was beaten just 3 ¼ lengths behind the afternoon’s fastest performer of the day in Romeo Hotshot but the second factor being that she left most of the distance on the track on what was her first look at the circuit.  This isn’t an easy race by any means with amongst others Angie Kibble’s hugely talented Ballymac Mags in opposition.  Undulation is once again well drawn however and a similar break this week from her trap 3 berth should see her leading up and an anticipated improvement in her bend running should see that turned into a lead which isn’t relinquished.
 
Patrick Janssens ROMEO COMMAND made it 3 wins from 3 UK starts when just about getting up to take his first-round heat last week.  After a slow start and initially not finding any kind of stride early he then took off into the first bend before encountering crowding.  Showing fair balance for a young dog he got himself into a lovely position heading onto the back straight in behind Seamus Cahill’s My Girl Mia. 
In honesty he made fairly heavy work of reeling in that rival but he did so in a more than decent 29.54.  He looks all set to turn in a similar position today to the same rival and the result can be a similar one.  Command to win and a small bet on the forecast in heat 3 at 2.32pm.
 
The fourth and final heat of the second round at 2.52pm can go to Rob Holt’s TRICKYS WHIST who looks housed to perfection in trap 3 and can make full use of the now vacant trap to his left to pop out and make all.  This trip does stretch his stamina at this stage of his career at least but I fancy he can secure enough of a lead with some good early and back straight running to hang on just in a thrilling finish from the Liz McNair trained King Ezra.

Sharon Thompson’s MASTER TEN TEN hasn’t been seen in competitive action since being soundly beaten in an Oxford open in mid November however he trialled back well here over the sprint trip and might just benefit from coming into what is an eminently winnable race fresh.  From a good make up in trap 3 Ten Ten who acts well around here should take all the beating and looks a solid bet in both the win and even in the place market for those looking for a solid short priced wager to end the day at 5.44pm.