Atticus to scout out another Romford win
ROMFORD takes centre stage again on the open-race scene tonight.
There are two finals – the Romford Friday Night 500 Maiden Final over 400m and the Romford Friday Night 500 Maiden Stayers Final over 575m.
Annual Atticus (8.54) catches the eye in the one-lap contest after running amok in last week’s heats. In only his second start, Paul Young’s July 22 whelp can again break well from the midfield and make every yard.
The Young kennel might also have the answer to the six-bend decider with Bubbly Athena (9.11) looking good given a plum red-jacket draw and every chance to boss proceedings inside to claim the prize.
The two finals are supported by a batch of supporting opens with Newinn Ranger (7.11) interesting stepped up in trip in a maiden 575m. Jason Bloomfield’s dog has raced against some good sorts on his travels and is a 29.00sec Towcester winner.
Fratton Bark (8.01) can get back on track in heat three of the Romford Friday Night 500 Standard. A 23.98sec winner over C&D in April, a faster start can see Gemma Evans’s dog resume winning ways given a cracking make-up tonight.
Catch all the action on the Premier Greyhound Racing service.
Ned still favourite for Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat
There was no lack of drama in the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat last night at Newcastle.
Five finalists will line up in the £12,500 decider next Thursday night. Delvin Cat was fastest on the night with a 28.42 success in the opening semi-final. The sole wide will start with a vacant trap inside him in the final.
That would have been Mickeys Tribute’s starting slot but he was disqualified in the final semi when challenging on the run-in. The surprise of the night was Wicky Ned getting turned over at 4/9. He is safely into next week’s final which will have been objective number one but is still to show his best at Newcastle.
11/8 Wicky Ned 10/3 Delvin Cat, Romeo Crossfire 5/1 Slingshot Sam 11/2 Tonelagee
Denby can dream of Arc Angel of the North
Leighas Dream set the standard in the Arc Angel of the North last night with a 28.08 for Barry Denby.
She heads the market for the £7,500 final next Thursday. Untold Ruble set the fastest sectional for local handler Tom Heilbron. Kevin Hutton will be the only trainer doubly represented in the final courtesy of Southfield Daisy and Coppice Ella.
9/4 Leighas Dream 11/4 Untold Ruble 7/2 Coolavanny Mercy 4/1 Coppice Ella 7/1 Wraysbury Katie 9/1 Southfield Daisy
Newcastle Enquiry
The Newcastle stewards are to hold a local inquiry following the withdrawal of Bramble Oreo from the 7.11 race by the track vet. Trainer Steve Anderson’s remaining runners were also withdrawn from the card.
Attwater starts new venture at Newbury
Former Poole trainer Paul Attwater will have his first runner as a racehorse trainer at Newbury this afternoon.
Those of a certain vintage will remember the Caloona prefix dogs trained by Paul’s father Harry at Poole. Paul took over after his father’s passing and had success with a homebred litter by Tullymurray Act out of Westmead Lola.
The 2018 Produce Stakes at Swindon saw that litter provide the first two home. Winner Zenas Zeus was with Jenny March while Attwater himself was looking after the runner-up Shoot The Bolt.
Attwater has prior experience in horse racing, as an assistant to Seamus Mullins and has been installed at Newlands Stables by owner Gary Gillies. It is a stable that has seen plenty of turnover since Brian Meehan left in 2006.
Just a few days after getting his license, Dunstan will be Attwater’s first runner in the 5.20 this afternoon. It would be a surprise winner if the market is anything to go by but we wish Paul luck in his new venture.
June Greyhound of the Month
De Lahdedah is the Time Greyhound Nutrition Greyhound of the Month for June.
The newly-crowned Liam Dowling-bred and trained Star Sports/TRC English Derby champion, owned by the Garsuns Syndicate, saw off a host of other top performers to become a rare Irish-trained winner of the monthly award, voted for by members of the Greyhound Writers’ Association. He succeeds May winner Coonough Crow.
Other nominations for the June prize were Aero Sacundai (Richie Taberner), Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees), Crafty Shivoo (Mark Wallis), King Memphis (Liz McNair), Magical Bluebear (Bill Russell), New Destiny (Mark Wallis), Romeo Command (Patrick Janssens) and Untold Ruble (Tom Heilbron).
Open Race Winners
15 wins: Different Speed
14 wins: Druids Say Go – Queen Joni
13 wins: Acomb Felix – Ballymac Taylor – Coonough Crow – Romeo To Victory
12 wins: Dashing Dude
10 wins: Bettys Jack – Garfiney Blaze – Queen Georgia – Rioja Maxi
Twitter change
The Greyhound Star Twitter feed will be moving at the end of this week. The old account will become inactive with @greyhound_star now the handle to follow.
Opens
Friday: Romford
Saturday: Central Park ♦ Hove ♦ Oxford ♦ Yarmouth
Sunday: Crayford ♦ Sheffield ♦ Towcester
