Five graded races start the evening at Nottingham but it’s in the RPGTV Puppy Final at 8.07pm that I’ll be having my first interest.
Newinn Missile was tipped to make a successful comeback to the track in last weeks heat and he duly obliged, running out an impressive winner from Fawn Tango who ran a game race in second. That pair look to have it between them again in tonight’s final and the result looks set to be more of the same. Missile isn’t likely to represent any value in the win market but put in Tango to follow him home who looks extremely well drawn out wide in trap 6 and looks to have little in the way to prevent him following him home as runner up once more.
It’s not very often that I’d make a forecast bet the NAP of the night but on this occasion I’ll make an exception.
It’s the RPGTV Oaks Final at 8.22pm. There is a frightening amount of early pace on display here and it looks a simple case of whoever leads wins. I’m siding with the Carl Perry trained Geelo Zip. Perry is developing a reputation as a man who gets his greyhounds out the traps when it matters and he’ll need to work his magic yet again tonight. If doing so Zip should lead around the turn courtesy of the draw and that should be game set and match.
Bull Run Button has the pace to beat anything on her day and ran a game race to get up on the line in last weeks heat after stumbling not once but twice , she’s suffered badly in the draw though, drawn in trap 6 isn’t always the worst of draws in a field of railers but with so much early pace on show she will need to perform miracles to clear them by the bend.
It’s the Stadium Bookmakers Trophy over 680m at 837pm. Nanny Cakes is likely to start the race as favourite but she was turned over after being heavily backed last time out at Sheffield by Maysspecialtiara (NEXT BEST) and I envisage the result being the same again. Tiara is well drawn on the outside and she can bide her time before unleashing a powerful late surge to come through on the run in.
The Greyhound Media Group Maiden over 480m takes place at 851pm and i’m glad to see the Jim Hayton trained Alfredo Court stepping back up in trip from sprints. I personally don’t think sprinting is his game and he’s much more likely to find his best form over this kind of trip and at this kind of level. This isn’t a great maiden by Nottingham standards and with a fair break Alfredo Court can get on the bunny early and make every post a winning one. Laurence Tuffin’s Colston Havana looks a pup with a fair future and rates the main danger.
At 9.22pm it’s the second of the Greyhound Media Group 480m Maidens. Though on initial glance the step back in trip might look to be against the Pat Rosney trained Swift Melodic (TREBLE) , the shorter run to the bend may not allow the early paced dogs to get so far clear. If holding her pitch around the first two bends this definitely looks an opportunity to get off the mark at Colwick Park.
