Romford tonight

*** 8.19 Romford – Essjay Syd (9/2 Coral)
** 8.54 Romford – Lookbackinanger (9/4 Coral)
*6.37 Romford – Nowitsmyturn (6/5 Coral)

A full open race card at Romford this evening sets us up nicely for another busy weekend of Category One action.

The nap of the evening is going to be the Frank Gray-trained Essjay Syd from trap two in the Ashwells Greyhound Retirement Home Maiden at 8.19. This is a trip that should suit his early pace. He finds the 500 metres at Towcester too much of a stretch and the sprint trip too sharp for him. If coming away, he can show his early pace to lead and if leading over 400 metres, it would be a big surprise to see him get caught.

The next best is trap two Lookbackinanger in the 8.54, Greyhounds Make Great Pets Maiden. Gingers Prince on his inside is an interesting runner but having his first start in the UK I am hoping Lookbackinanger can clear the newcomer to lead. If he does so, he’s another who should go on to dominate from a winning position.

The third bet of the evening is trap three Nowitsmyturn in the Foster A Greyhound Maiden Stayers at 6.37. He ran a big race in defeat last week stepping up in trip for the first time only to be denied a head by Getup Me Boy, but clocked an impressive 35.24 in defeat off a flying 13.34 sectional. A clean break this evening can see him lead early and although Droopys Rosie is a big danger to three, I would expect Nowitsmyturn to win at the second time of asking over the 575 metre trip this evening.

Yorkshire Derby & BGBF St Leger

September 14 is the opening round of both of these Doncaster competitions.

The Yorkshire Derby is an £8,000 to the winner Category Two over 483m, a 36 dog stake run over three consecutive Saturday evenings. There is also £1,000 to the runner-up, £500 to the third and £350 for others.

Over 661m, the £3,000 BGBF St Leger is for 24 dogs on the same nights with an ‘old-fashioned’ two semi-final set up which will be pleasing to some. On top of these, there are a string of £500 to the winner two-round Category Three competitions which start on September 21. These are over 275m, 450m, 483m and 661m.

After the recent successful sales at the track, Doncaster will also be running a 12-dog stake for any dogs purchased from Greyhound Trader. This is going to make September 28 a bumper finals night at the track and it should be a great occasion.

Entries for the two Category Two competitions close at midday on September 11. There are limited trial spaces but the track will do the best that they can to accommodate as many as possible. The track have requested they are booked ASAP, however.

For trials and competition entries phone the track on 01302 843710 or send an email to [email protected].

Towcester Racing Manager returns

Andy Lisemore is back in the Towcester racing office following a GBGB inquiry yesterday.

He was suspended from his position as racing manager on April 18 in what was described as alleged breaches of rule 160 (v11). It is understood to relate to the late kennelling of dogs for race and trial meetings.

The details of the inquiry will be made available in due course by the GBGB. Lisemore was unavailable for comment.

The issue seems to have come to a head following an incident involving King Memphis’s withdrawal from the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Championship.

Character references were supplied by trainers Patrick Janssens and John Mullins and assistant trainer Rab McNair.

McNair said: “I’ve had disagreements with Andy – he is a racing manager so it is going to happen. But the man has always tried to do his best to help the trainers and the greyhounds. I was sickened to hear that he had been suspended and delighted that he is back. In my view, he has the support of the vast majority of trainers and kennelstaff.”

Produce Stakes 2nd round

Union Rebel the quickest at Swindon in the Produce Stakes.

Kevin Hutton won two of the four heats last night, getting six of his eight runners into next Thursday’s semi-finals. Union Rebel clocked 28.35 (-30) in heat four with Coppice Ella picking up her kennel mate Southfield Poppy late on in heat two as she had done at Oxford when winning the British Bred Oaks. She won in 28.45.

Keefill Goose opened up the heats with a three-length win in 28.47 for Phil Milner. The other heat went to Heather Dimmock’s Coffee Time Guys in 28.86. Tom Heilbron saw Romeo Crusade, Romeo Cypher and Romeo Jackson all safely through to the final 12.

Elsewhere on the card, Dashing Duke continued his 262m dominance for Frank Bryce. He has 13 open races wins at Swindon as well as a pair at Towcester so far this year.

Loggies Knight produced a very smart 4.04 split given the conditions to land a 476m standard for Simon Harmes, producing a quickest of the night 28.31. The other division went to Deborah Pearce’s Distant Power in 28.54. Zebedee Cluasa won the 476m maiden for Nathan Hunt. He clocked 28.70.

You can see the draw for the Produce semis on this link.

Hove review

It was a full slate of opens at Hove last night.

Burrows Trigger made it four wins on the bounce and five from seven at the track for Jason Heath, taking the final of the Coral 500 Maiden Trophy. His 29.64 (-10) was the top time over the 500m trip on the evening. Heath was also on the mark with Burrows Swift in a maiden sprint.

Derek Knight was out of luck with Candolim Monsoon but landed a treble on the night. Moustows Muttley won a 285m standard, Deacon Pee Wee a 500m maiden and Hotel Whiskey a 695m maiden for a hat-trick at different distances.

Local handler David Dark picked up a double courtesy of Droopys Velocity and Lucky Sevens. 515m contests went to Uncle Freddie for Richard Rees and Bluejig Baron for Dave Lee. Other winners on the evening were Outdoor Cracker for Tony Collett, Pocket Gun for Patrick Browne and Asbo Lenny for Paul Donovan.

Newcastle Trials

A couple of interesting trials at Newcastle last night.

The 2023 Arc Classic winner Jonny Whiskers had a sprint, clocking the fastest 290m on the session on a slow track. The Angel of the North winner Untold Ruble was also in action.

Stats

  • Greencroft Gerry – 4/4 when running in A7 from trap two.
  • Headford Dame – 7.42 Harlow – 5/6 so far at the track.
  • Over Easy – 7.58 Harlow – 10/13 from trap six.
  • Tullymurry Dylan – 8.36 Romford – 7/9 record in open class at the track.
  • Kapuka Warrior – 9.10 Kilkenny – 5/6 in A1 class.

Opens

Friday: Romford
Saturday: Doncaster ♦ Perry Barr
Sunday: Crayford♦ Sheffield ♦ Towcester