Betting ‘in play’ would seem to have its limitations in greyhound racing, but if you would like an example of how it can work, look no further than the feature race at Nottingham on Monday night.
It was staged over 730m and the players to look out for are T1) Fearsome Phantom (8-11f), T3 Vera Vang (10-1), T4 Borna Mindy (3-1) and T6 Lowgate Ginny (14-1). This is how it unfurled. . . .
The winner was indeed former TV Trophy heroine Borna Mindy (Westmead Hawk-Borna Client, Jul 13) who beat her paternal half brother Fearsome Phantom by a length in a moderate 45.38 (+40). At her best and with a clear run, Diane Henry’s black had 44.77 winning form over course and distance.
There was consolation for Pat Rosney when The Other Bear (Razldazl Jayfkay-The Other Peach, Jul 15) landed the £400 maiden puppy decider in 28.90 (+30). An ‘Other’ brother of Reg, Billy and Rocco, Bear found a calculated 22 spots on his heat win. Odds on favourite Roxholme Nidge, a 28.48 heat winner was KO’d.
The final of the sprint open went entirely as expected – with a blanket finish. There had been less than a length between the three heat winners and the layers went 5-4f and 2-1 respectively about the joint fastest winners Mac Foiche and Blakes Flyer (Godsend-Ballymac Razl, Apr 15) and it was the latter who came out on top. Dave Pruhs’ red jacketed blue made it five wins from his last seven over c&d with a head win over the favourite in 18.07. Viking Jimmy was a close up third with the entire field covered by two and a half lengths (20 spots).
With Sheffield returning to top gear with the Tuesday night opens, there were fewer visitors to Doncaster on Monday. One of the exceptions was Mexican Peso (Kinloch Brae-Trionas Soprano, Jun 14) who continued his love affair with the Stainforth 661m trip. The Elaine Parker trained brindle clocked 41.16 (+30), a time bettered only once in the last six years – Ruby’s Rascal’s 41.10 in last year’s Doncaster Leger Final.
