Open racing may have been suspended for the time being but Newcastle, as always, offers a graded card rich in quality and with punting opportunities throughout writes Mark Pierrepont.
The P1 puppy race at 6.55pm is potentially one of the best puppy graded races I’ve seen in a long time and looks almost certain to contain a number of novices who should progress into becoming fully fledged and successful open racers.
In trap 1 is Bedlington Boy for Steve Anderson, he was an impressive winner of his first two career races, winning well on debut in a handicap and following that up with a comfortable A3 success.
Though subsequently beaten in P1 and A2 company he was far from disgraced and connections set about starting off his puppy open career, defeats at Sunderland and Monmore have come in those events but the experience of travelling to new places can often help a pup to mature and the experiences are sure to serve him well now back on home soil
Jimmy Fenwicks Severiano runs from trap 2 and though winless in four efforts at Newcastle, he is a winner of three when known as Ketch Up Blonde on Irish soil. They were an A4 success at Enniscorthy followed up with heat (525yrd) and semi final (550yrd) success in a Waterford tri-distance stake before being beaten into fifth in the final over 575yrds.
I suspect we’ve far from seen the best of this youngster in competitive action as yet, his pace being highlighted by a 28.93 (normal) course and distance trial on the 26th February.
Droopys Becks is an extremely interesting recruit for the Alnwick kennel of Angela Harrison and Jimmy Wright. Becks mother is a dam that many will recognise. Droopys Dorothy has produced plenty of open race offspring to date and the likes of Droopys Reel and Carat need no introduction. Though sent over from the Droopys establishment in Ireland without an official mark on his card, his talent will not have been unknown and he’s shown he is a pup destined for a high level with two faultless winning trials over course and distance 29.40 and 29.25 calculated respectively.
Jimmy Fenwick’s Skywalker Bonnie runs from trap 4. Though unraced and officially untrialled when known as Im Justelectric in Ireland, her UK career has gotten off to an excellent start.
Beaten on debut in A2 after some excellent qualifying trials, Bonnie quickly put that experience to good use when running away with an A3 on her second start in 29.11 (-10). Sure to have a successful career she looks as if she could quickly progress to open racing and looks tailor made for ‘female confined’ events in the coming months.
One eye may already be on a future career as a brood bitch however, for she is a younger half sister to Greyhound of the Year, Ice On Fire.
Debbie Calvert’s Fane Enya runs from trap 5. Though she may lack some of the illustrious family relatives of some of tonight’s rivals, she’s obviously a highly talented bitch in her own right.
Winless in two Irish races over Drumbo Park’s 335yrd sprint trip, even her best line of form when in Ireland, a 29.66 trial around Shelbourne Park didn’t give too much indication to Enya’s talent.
Though she took a tumble on her UK debut, a handicap event at Sunderland, she soon put that behind her when winning in 27.57 (+10) over the track’s 450m trip.
That was the last time Enya was to see Sunderland, for now at least. She impressively at Newcastle and won well on track debut in 29.25 (-20) in A3 class.
She missed the break on that occasion but paced up extremely well and really opened up along the back straight. An excellent bend runner, she looks sure to win plenty more races both on home soil and again maybe in Oaks events.
Gary Carmichael always keeps a nice class of greyhound and his Freedom Whammy who runs from trap 6 fits that mould.
Again unraced and officially untrialled in Ireland, Whammy made his debut here in the UK in a Newcastle A5. Though beaten on his first two starts at that level he was soon on the winners podium after winning impressively in a handicap.
His sole victory since in a career so far of 12 races came when winning well in A4. Though beaten in A2 races lately, it’s his trapping rather than his pace which has let him down.
He regularly misses the break, a trait that will get him beaten in races which he should be winning. But if he can improve on his starting he will no doubt be winning plenty of races at a high level.
For me, the puppy race is one to watch and take notes for the future, however there are a few bets worth having on the card.
Stephen Caile looks to have the answer to the A4 at 8.29pm with his Curryhills Baile. Anything like a normal start from his October 2017 dog should soon see him skipping clear. It’s a long run in at Newcastle and supporters will have one eye on what’s in the background, but his rivals look far from certain to secure clear runs and he should have enough up his sleeve to hold on.
Tom Heilbron can supply the winner of the 8.44pm via his experienced March 2016 dog Target Chayd.
He’s a strong runner but importantly looks able to secure the rails pitch early from his rival drawn in red Geelo Rush. That is imperative to his chance but if doing so looks the dog to beat and can come through in the latter stages to pick off his earlier paced rivals drawn up the middle of the track.
Waltham Magic hasn’t found her best form since arriving at Angela Harrisions kennel from Monmore’s Ben McBride.
Beaten in A2 and twice in A3 since arriving in the North East, she will have been gaining fitness and experience of the venue in races where she’s not been beaten far despite suffering troubled passages.
Magic looks much better drawn for a run tonight, the move inwards from trap 5 to 4 should suit, she should come off the second bend in a very handy pitch and open up from there on in all the way home.
All of tonights racing from Newcastle and indeed at Yarmouth can be caught on Racing Post TV sky channel 175.
