Wretched, abject, pitiable, forlorn. No check as many thesaurus (thesauri ?) as you like and nothing quite sums up the Monday night tipping quite as accurately as ‘poo’.
Don’t even ask about last week!
Of course its okay for old Honey Tonsils, sitting in a studio somewhere away from the flak. But spare a thought for Big Mark. There is no place to hide in the Nottingham paddock. Or in the words of Bricktop – he is hardly incon-fucking-spicuous is he?
Best of luck lads 🙂
Five graded races at Nottingham’s Colwick Park stadium are followed by seven opens all of which are sponsored in some form or other via the moniker Watch Nottingham Dogs On Sky Sports Racing. Hopefully that is the case as although the HD footage of the racing has been a very welcome addition to the sport of late the coverage on Sky Racing has been somewhat inconsistent to say the least. If the channel is to attract a regular viewership then the viewer must be confident that the racing which they are told they’ll be able to watch will actually be shown.
An A3 to get the evening underway at 6.26pm and I’m siding with Jane White’s Brickhill Lulu to gain the first win of her UK career at the third time of asking. Purchased out of Galway in Ireland Lulu has some fair runs around that venue and based on her performances so far in both trials and races here at Nottingham she won’t be too long in winning. Despite not hitting the lids last time out she paced up well to gain a narrow lead although not quite enough to clear the turn and she was then shuffled back before hitting further trouble at the third bend. There’s no doubt in my mind had she cleared the bend last week she’d have already been off the mark. Anything around the excellent 498 split she has on her card in a trial here will be enough to lead and if doing so it should then be a race against the clock. Jaxx Jurassic is down in grade for Alec Stone and he can run on strongly for second and would rate a big danger if the selection didn’t gain the required first bend lead.
A2 company at 6.41pm and this is a big step down in class for Alec Stone’s homebred Tele Lad. He’s been competing in some fair opens of late and though well beaten in top grade A1 last time out this race is a different proposition altogether. The key to the race is clearing Helens Beauty to his inside and though she’s not paceless to the turn Lad would have to rate short odds to do so. Riley Ray returns to the track after an absence and though he’s a really nice staying type he possesses nothing in the way of early to trouble the selection though he can run on strongly to fill the forecast spot.
Another A2 at 6.59pm and a race which can go the way of Peter Harnden’s Salacres Greegsy. Well beaten in A1 last time out he’s back to a level where he can compete. This well-bred son of Toms Delight can lead by the time they head onto the back straight and won’t be easily passed if doing so. Jason Gray’s Borna Bass is never far away in his races and can keep on for second.
Almond Eye can win yet another A3 for trainer Colin Wilton at 7.16pm. Eye never goes too long without winning at this level and often at more than decent prices too. She must have made some healthy contributions to Colin’s pension pot in recent weeks where she’s obliged at odds of 9/1 and 13/2. Looking all set to lead once again she can hold off some stronger runners in the latter stages including Billis Starlet who will be finishing well on the rail and can claim second spot.
A4 company at 7.34pm and it will be extremely disappointing if the extremely well bred and potential brood bitch of the future Ballymac Roksana can’t gain the second win of her career. Although Roksana will never have the track ability of her superstar sister Ballymac Ariel she is more than capable of winning this and last week’s run in A3 when returning to the track from lameness can have sharpened her up nicely. Roksana is facing rivals that she really should be leaving comfortably behind over the coming weeks.
Open racing all the way from now on home and we start with a 480m race that can go to Barry Denby’s Penniment Milo. He possesses wicked early pace and regularly breaks the 5 second barrier for the 500m split here. If gaining a first bend lead here he’ll prove very difficult to back run and gain the second open race success of his career.
Stepping up to 500m at 8.06pm and a race which looks set to revolve around the runners drawn top and bottom. Carol Weatherall’s Darbys Treasure looks a pup with a bright future but based on what I saw of him last week that will be with the wide seed removed sooner rather than later. He was looking for ground much nearer the inside than out from his trap 6 draw last week when running an eye-catching race behind one of the fastest bitches currently in training in the shape of Kevin Boon’s Bettys Book. He could never really get into stride on that occasion but finished with some strength and might be one that will be looking for a step up in trip before too long. He can’t safely be ruled out in this but the selection is Colin Wilton’s Kilara Yeates who may not possess the scope of Treasure but on this occasion at least he does have a big advantage on the draw and knows the track like the back of his hand. It will be disappointing if he’s not to take this golden opportunity to land his maiden open success as he’s unlikely to get many better opportunities to do so.
It’s the turn of the stayers at 8.21pm over 680m. Jason Gray’s Ferndale Nidge is in super form here at Nottingham winning his last two over 500m in A1 and open class company respectively. Nidge often pops out nicely before lacking a little in the early pace department and dogs like that often thrive with this short run to the turn. Nidge can ping out making the bend in front and in a race like this he can never be headed on the way to a comfortable success. Alex Hopkins Kilara Chorus rates the main danger and can follow him home for second.
The 480m at 8.36pm can go to Barry Denby’s Joes Jet. He’d prefer a draw off the fence a little but he can trap well and hold off the similarly early paced Waltham Blue Boy to the turn. If going round in front that should be enough to see him home in a race that given the draw concerns stakes should be kept small.
Plaza Lep has won 3 of his last 5 for local trainer Lynn Cook and looks to complete a treble here over 480m at 8.52pm. He’d prefer a draw a little nearer the rail but as showcased a couple of weeks ago when overcoming a poor draw out in trap 5 he’s more than capable of a smash break to soon get himself into whichever position he chooses. Look Like Power can run on for second for Newcastle’s Jimmy Fenwick.
A competitive maiden stayers event over 680m at 9.11pm in which a number can lay claims. Jimmy Fenwick’s Skywalker Bonnie is the selection however and can put her experience of the venue in a 500m open here last week to good use. Bonnie was already poorly housed out in trap 4 and subsequently also badly crowded on the run up with Nutts Corner cutting wildly across her path from trap 5. Much better drawn here against the rail in trap 1 she can get out well and make all. Carl Perry’s Geelo Love returns to the track after a short spell off but has trialled well at Sheffield in recent weeks and is more than capable of playing a part.
See above
