Irish Tote extend 12.5% trial

GRI announce extension to Tote Takedown to 12.5% for Shelbourne Park for December & January
The Board of Greyhound Racing Ireland this morning (Friday) decided to continue its low 12.5% Tote retention rate for the months of December and January at its Shelbourne Park venue for Saturday nights racing.
This follows a positive response to its low retention initiative during the last three rounds of the highly successful BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby over the last three weeks. The continuation of this trial over an extended period will allow the Board to fully assess whether the model has a sustainable future.
Over the three-night Derby period, total investment into the Win and Place pools increased on the last three rounds over 2023. The GRI online Tote betting platform Barking Buzz, and existing international co-mingling partners, also reported increases in investment versus 2023.
UK Tote Group (who became a co-mingling partner this year) reported significant interest shown. Over the three derby rounds covered, the Tote dividend outperformed industry SP on 64% of races, while on Derby final night, that rose to 75% of the 12 race card where the Tote dividend outperformed the fixed odds SP.

11 Romford opens tonight

Yahoo Megan (t2) is in action at Romford tonight

Three heats of a standard competition headline the card.

Breaghmore Paudy has taken well to the London Road venue, overcoming what could have been a tricky draw last week with a smash break. Dan Brabon’s dog is in action at 8.36 in the third of those heats.

The second contains Puppy Cup finalist Gingers Prince for Patrick Browne at 8.19 while the first at 8.01 contains the back to form Cat Island for Mark Wallis taking on the fast starting Cairo King for Nathan Hunt.

Two lengths covers the six qualifiers for the 400m maiden final at 8.54 where David Mullins’s Fourfold was the fastest in the heats by a single spot.

A six-bend maiden at 9.11 saw a pair of wide-margin heat winners last week, Senahel Sydney for Ellie Field and Farneys Mate for Kevin Boon. Newinn Cloud was turned over at short odds behind the latter for Mark Wallis and should improve for his first look at London Road.

Elsewhere on the card, Yahoo Megan bids for open win 16 on the year for Patrick Janssens at 7.44. Janssens has Bockos Sapphire in the final race at 9.46 taking on Wrighty for John Mullins. That looks a race worth staying for.

National Sprint trial stakes at Nottingham

Two of the four opens at Nottingham tonight are trial stakes for December’s category two feature.

It might be a tough task for any dog to beat Rioja Oisin in the National Sprint this year. His demolition job in front of the Gone To The Dogs – Live! cameras on Monday was one of the most impressive performances seen over two bends this year.

Stonepark Hoffa is the most interesting of those in action tonight, running at 8.13 for Savva Roberts. He was exceptional in the opening round of the PGR Classic at Sunderland before getting run down in the semis. He missed an engagement in a Sunderland sprint 13 days back in a race won by tonight’s rival Laughil Flash, running over two bends for the first time since the second round of the Bar One Sprint at Dundalk.

The other trial stake lacks the same depth. Trubbys Star has kept better company than this for Patricia Cowdrill in recent weeks and can step up on a recent trial. He faces an interesting rival in Robert Short’s Necessary Evil. She clocked 23.48 in a Crayford win in September, chasing home Untold Euro there next time out in 23.58. Jill Llewellin’s Time Counts looks the best of the locals.

Food For Thought – The new GTTD podcast

Floyd Amphlett and Jonathan Hobbs join Dani Jackson to discuss Crayford’s potential closure and the Tote.

There were some interesting opinions discussed on the podcast this week. What hope is there for the survival of Crayford? There are contrasting opinions here but the success of the Tote during the latter round of the Irish Derby was unquestionable.

Popper Flenky is quickest at Newcastle

The 20/1 winner for George Stark clocks 28.62 in his All England Cup trial stakes success.

A strong-running type, it was two spots off a career-best for Popper Flenky, his peak coming in December 2022. He was a smart puppy, making both the Midland and Northern Puppy Derby finals. Better known as a top grader in recent times, it was a bounce back to his peak.

Tom Heilbron was successful in two of the four trial stakes. Silverhill Ben and Untold Euro produced winning times just a length apart, 28.67 and 28.75 respectively. The other trial stake went to the Paul Rutherford-trained Wraysbury Katie. It was her fifth open race win at the track since early September so she is finishing the year strongly.

Enniscorthy Unraced – Round Two

Left Corner Back sets a strong standard once more to make it 2/2 in his career.

The track was running slow last night with -40 the official line. Damien O’Connell’s dog produced a solid 29.04 before the going was taken off, more than four lengths quicker than any of the other three heats. Those three were all close with just five spots splitting the win times. Rockmount Stella clocked 29.38, Bushpark Rodney 29.41 and Texas Jack 29.43.

Coyote one spot off 2024 best at Swindon

27.94 from Frank Bryce’s Baggios Coyote on Thursday just misses the 27.93 top time this year.

That’s four wins in a row now for the October 22 son of Ballymac Bolger, a pair of A2s, an A1 and now an open. Track specialist Eze picked up his 11th open race win at the track in 28.25 for Angie Kibble. The third open on the evening also went to Kibble with Newinn Bliss clocking 28.44.

Churchfield Syd back in action tomorrow

The Richard Rees-trained dog has not been seen since September 21.

A solo trial ahead of an aborted Kent Derby defence was the last time that Derby finalist Churchfield Syd was seen on track. He trials at Hove tomorrow in the middle of three sprint trials.

Stats

  • Moanteen Federer – 3.26 Kinsley – 8/14 when running in a D1.
  • Phoenix Puma – 4.34 Crayford – 6/10 in A1 from trap four.
  • Savana Cheetahs – 5.21 Towcester – 5/8 in D3 grade.
  • Trapstyle Wee – 5.49 Crayford – 6/12 from the striped jacket.
  • Peteles Express – 9.35 Galway – 6/8 from trap six.

Opens

Friday: Romford 

Saturday: Central Park♦ Doncaster♦Hove♦ Perry Barr 

Sunday: Crayford ♦Sheffield ♦ Towcester