The RPGTV National Sprint gets underway at Nottingham’s Colwick Park stadium on Monday evening with four first round heats.
The first open race of the evening however is a trial stake for the RPGTV Standard Trophy at 7.34pm. Lynn Cooks Plaza Lep will be all out in the final stages but he’s taken to have secured enough of an advantage by the run in to hang on. He’s perfectly housed in trap 3 and his main rival, Barry Denby’s locally trained Upton Legend, has a tricky draw to contend with out in an unfamiliar trap 6.
Next up at 7.51pm is a trial stake for the RPGTV Puppy Cup. This is a competitive race where stakes should be kept to a minimum however Michelle Brown’s Lemming Fly looks well drawn against the rail. He’s not the fastest in the early pace department but did show ability when recording 30.38 over course and distance in a trial in mid-October. He found things a little tough in competitive action both on English Derby semi-night and when well beaten behind Tenpin on final night itself. This is a huge step down on that kind of class though and with Kevin Hutton’s Feeling Classy lacking a look around drawn to his immediate outside in trap 2, he could find the door opening for him rounding the first two bends.
Back to standard company at 8.06pm and this race can go the way of Pat Rosney’s Moyar Hero. He showed plenty of pace when clocking 30.28 in a trial over course and distance in October but wasn’t seen to best effect when finishing in last place in a heat of the Westmead Legacy In Memory Of Natalie Savva on English Derby semi-final night. He’s run well in A1 company back at home track Perry Barr in the last couple of weeks though, including when coming from behind to win well last time out. Capable off the front of from behind, he can lead all the way here and hold off the strong late challenge of Lynn Cook’s Droopys Bargain.
The main event gets underway at 8.21pm and heat one of the RPGTV National Sprint can go to Simon Harms Loggies Lito. One of the fastest greyhounds I’ve ever clocked to the bend at Nottingham and in current form and given a level break he looks near on ‘unleadable’. (See my exclusive first bend sectionals)
He’ll have to be sharp at lid rise though, Kirsty Grayson’s Coolavanny Dylan is nobody’s fool, an extremely pacey sort who surprisingly makes his competitive Nottingham debut at 4 years of age.
Dylan comes into this race off the back of an open race five timer and will give the selection plenty to think about if not at his best. Atarah King has won his last two over this trip after stepping back down in trip, one for Kevin Boon and last time out for his new trainer Gavin Holman. This is a big step up in class for King who may find himself more at home over short four bend trips than in sprints against dogs of this calibre.
Heat two at 8.36pm can go the way of Richard Joyce’s Feather Breeze. All at sea on Nottingham debut a couple of weeks ago, he backed up the promise shown in some excellent Central Park trials when running out an emphatic 7 length winner of a trial stakes here last week in an excellent 17.54 (+20). From a good make up on the wide outside he can ping out and make all. Lynn Cook’s Waltham Blue Boy is an interesting contender stepping down in trip.
He’s been showing superb early and middle pace over 500m in recent starts and it looks a wise decision by connections to step down, at least for the time being. His halfway and third bend clocks in recent runs suggest he will go close if timing his break right, switching sides from recent runs that is an if though so the safe call is with Feather Breeze on this occasion.
Heat three can go the way of Carl Perry’s Geelo Gold Dust. A hugely pacey lady who recently rattled off an open race four timer over 400m at Romford.
She trialled well here last week in 17.70 (+10) and can get first run on probable main market rival, Derek Knight’s Carter Bar drawn in trap 1.
One isn’t the best of boxes to break from in sprints here at Nottingham however Carter should have plenty of space to run into in the early stages if he’s not too badly away.
Heat four can give Carl Perry a quickfire double courtesy of his Geelo Brezza. Brezza’s pace has never been in doubt, he always runs to a high standard but his trapping ability at times has let him down.
Given one of his better breaks here he can soon take command on the outside from his trap 5 draw.
Paul Sallis’s Kelseys Phoenix run well in defeat behind Loggies Lito last time out, he was in front shortly after the line in that race whilst John Mullins Fabulous Skylar is potentially well drawn and could go well with a break.
It’s back to standard 500m company for the final race on the card, a trial stake for the RPGTV Standard Trophy. Danny Gomersall’s Mohort Bill came into a maiden without the benefit of a look around last week, you’d not have known it though as he flew from trap 4 and made every post a winning one, stopping the clock in 29.59 (+50) off the back of a 499 split. He looks sure to be well suited by the move to one this evening and if he can break in similar fashion he can once again make all.
