With the Betfred Eclipse looming large, there was as much interest in the pre-race trials at NOTTINGHAM on Monday as there was in the racing – which was a pretty good card in its own right.
All England Cup winner Droopys Expert went fastest in the trial session in a superb 29.23 (+50) for the 500m course. To put the run into perspective, nothing has gone quicker since Swift Hoffman’s identical time in July 2015.
Others at the same session: 29.41-Bruisers Bullet, 29.44-Bubbly Bluebird, 29.49-Dorotas Vic, 29.50-The Other Reg & Knockard Spring, 29.73-Roswell Romanov, 29.74-Tynwald Baz, 29.76-Boomtown Actor.
Fastest over the sprint was Yarmouth track record holder Broadstrand Kiwi (17.54).
Onto the racing and four Eclipse trialstakes dominated the card. They included a double for Carol Weatherall’s Calico Ranger (Holdem Spy-Wont Fall Behind, Aug 15) and Calico Blackjack, who won in 29.65 and 29.52 (all +60) respectively. Excluding his Irish excursion Blackjack has now won his last five in a row.
The other Eclipse warm-ups went to Revilo Fox (Paradise Madision-Avas Castle, Nov 13) in 29.76 and Heroic Miss (Aero Majestic-Ruby Red, Sep 14) in 29.69.
The National Sprint gets underway in just over a month and the certain ante post favourite Roxholme Hat (Ballymac Vic-Emma Honey, May 15) improved on his own FOY with a 17.36 run for the 305m. It was his 11th win in only 16 races. What will he do if he hits the boxes at Nottingham like he did in the Scurry Final. . . .
*The Betfred Eclipse closes on THURSDAY at 11am with the first round next Monday. The £8,000 decider is set for Tuesday November 21.
