While maiden opens are frequently a byword for ‘mediocrity’ or ‘desperation’, Nottingham continue to produce good competitive racing on a Monday night.
This week’s three heats of a 480 metre event featured a string of dogs of genuine minor open class ability.
The quickest of the qualifiers was won by Oscarsupreme (Head Bound-Milliessupreme, May 13), an A1/B1 winner at Peterborough with four second places in previous opens.
Richard Devenish’s black went to traps at 5-2 and clocked 28.64 (+30).
Locally trained Salacres Waltzer (Droopys Cain-Ballyregan Fifi, Jan 14) is an improving young dog who has already won A2 and was contesting his sixth race at the track. Pater Harnden’s black clocked 28.67 and was returned at 7-2.
Monmore 28.40 winner Droopys Orange started favourite for the third qualifier but found one too good in Barry Denby’s Freedom Boundary (Vans Escalade-Freedom State, Sep 13).
The 3-1 third favourite had two wins and a second in her last three A1s at Perry Barr and led all the way to clock 28.91.
Former Hall Green A1 runner Kilmessan King won his second open in three outings for Heather Dimmock when landing the fastest heat of the 500 metre stake in 29.97. The other two qualifiers went to Thirteen Bags (30.13) and Salacres Pele (30.14).
Mac Foiche (Ballymac Vic-Waspinajar, Feb 14) won for the fifth time in his last seven outings to take the £500 sprint final. Richard Devenish’s National Sprint fifth justified his 6-4SP with a neat two length win in 17.75.
