Any thoughts that Roxholme Nidge (Droopys Nidge-Silver Dollar, Nov 15) was a ‘small track’ runner were blown away at Doncaster on Monday night.
Defeats at the hands of Droopys Zephyr in the Northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle – only the second of his career (he was KO’d in the other) – had led some critics of Hayley Keightley’s brindle to suggest he was a ‘sprinty type’ following competition wins at Sunderland and Romford.
However – more serious students of form would have spotted that Nidge’s two and three quarter length defeat at Newcastle was almost totally attributable to a slow break and early trouble from a bad draw. (His sectional was back two lengths back on semi form).
There are few tougher, but fairer, tests than Doncaster’s 483m and Nidge was devastating with a 29.25 (-10), five length victory over Geelo Bullet. (By means of comparison King Eden’s 28.87 track record was recorded on going rated .20 fast).
It was a good night for the kennel with Roxholme Ray (Tyrur Big Mike-Lughill Sandra, Oct 15) winning a supporting open in 29.34. The kennel’s third runner on the night Ballydoyle Maura was unable to overcome significant trouble in another event and finished second beaten three quarters of a length by Forest Rita – 29.74 (-10)
