Heat one of the RPGTV National Sprint went the way of Gavin Holman’s Atarah King. He’s now three from three since stepping down in trip. His chances looked minimal as the greyhounds headed to the turn, Simon Harms ante post favourite Loggies Lito was averagely enough way from trap 3 but soon showed all of his early pace to hold a lead of the best part of a length as they hit the first bend, he didn’t run the second bend at all well though and allowed both Atarah King on his outside and Ian Walker’s Dark Magic on his inner to close up rapidly.
Though still just about in shot as the greyhounds came off the second turn, it does need to be noted that the hare was a fair bit further ahead of the greyhounds than it usually is. Atarah King came through for a two-length success over Lito in 17.79 with 1 1/4 back to Dark Magic. Shortly after the finish Lito stopped and turned around on the track, further examination of the video indicating that the hare was long gone to the pick up as the dogs crossed the line. Hopefully this doesn’t play on the mind of Lito moving forwards.
Heat two went to Carl Perry’s Geelo Coney. A talented sprinter who hasn’t been at his best coming away just lately but he made no mistake here. Trapping well from four he paced up well to lead the inside runners and hold off the challenge of the equally well away Swift Guard on his outside. Driving the bend well he forced the inside runners to check up and soon skipped clear for a five-length success over Lynn Cook’s Waltham Blue Boy in a fastest of the first round 17.74.
Blue Boy had half missed the kick as can be the case when switching sides, well supported during the day for both this heat and the competition outright he looked in danger of not qualifying at the turn until somehow avoiding the crowding in behind the runaway leader and coming through for second place, connections will be pleased to progress and with the run over the trip and from the traps under his belt a much better showing in his semi-final would be no surprise. Feather Breeze who had won so well in a trial stakes for Richard Joyce last week totally missed the break here, though himself caught up in the first bend trouble, he used his space on the outside wisely to skip through into the third and final qualifying position.
Heat three looked a match between Carl Perry’s Geelo Gold Dust drawn trap 4 and Derek Knight’s Carter Bar in one. Gold Dust put her middle draw to good use, so often an advantage to be drawn middle in Nottingham sprints she popped out and showed good pace to the bend, despite running wide off the second she won comfortably by 2 1/2 length in 17.78 from Carter Bar with just a short head back to Julie Bateson’s Glengar Ronan who battled well to claim the third qualifying place in next week’s semi-final. A nice double for the Geelo team, huge supporters of the sprinting scene and good to see their efforts being rewarded here.
Heat four went to Michelle Brown’s in form Signature Callum. Laying handy heading into the turn he tracked cleverly, always looking likely to qualify he took advantage of crowding between Kevin Hutton’s Ballydorgan Des and Paul Sallis’s Kelseys Phoenix. Skipping round the outside as that pair came together on the crown of the bend Callum ran away for a three-length success over Des in 17.89 with a head back to Phoenix.
