Mark Pierrepont has a couple of cast iron reasons why his tipping has been so ‘sub optimal’ in the last couple of weeks. He said something about ‘tough grading, blah blah’, ‘bad luck, blah blah’, and there were was something about ’30 people in the queues for the tills and there being no big boxes of washing powder’. . .or was that the missus moaning about Tescos? Either way, I had zoned out at that stage.
If anyone wants to listen to a whiney Scouser, I can send you a Youtube link. Best of luck guys – Ed
An equal mix of graded and open racing action covering Nottingham’s twelve race card this evening.
Moving up to A2 class at 6.41pm and Churchill Blaze can make it a quickfire double for Lynn Cook. A rapidly improving young pup he looks sure to lead up the middle of the track and he can soon wave these rivals goodbye. He’s a pup heading to top grade and open class company who possesses a huge amount of early and middle pace and though coming back to his rivals in the latter stages his stamina will be improving with each run at the present time.
Back to A3 class at 6.59pm and early pace can once again win the race with Anna Thompson’s Tickity Barney the selection. He’s not always the quickest away from traps but once his paws hit the floor he has great early pace at this level. Anything like one of his better starts and he should be away and gone from these rivals before the first bend. In the context of this race that should be enough.
Returning to A2 company at 716pm and the selection is Anna Thompson’s Kilara Loch in both the win and place markets. A few of these runners won’t particularly like not leading up but that can’t be said for the selection who will be finishing as fast as anything in the race and with a little luck to halfway can come through in the latter stages.
A5 class at 7.34pm and it’s a matter of when not if Barry Denby’s Ravenshill Anna just an October 2019 pup gets off the mark at this level. She’s had three runs so far and improved with each one. Desperately unlucky not to win last time out after missing the break she showed all of her pace to hit the front only to be collared on the finish line by Salacres Event. Anna will be improving beyond this grade at a rapid rate of knots.
The first open race of the evening see’s the runners head to the 255m start. This trip has begun to be used with a little more regularity than it ever has done before but I must say it’s not for me. It’s bookmakers distance plain and simple. A short run to the turn with dogs that have either no or little experience of running out of these boxes and in a lot of cases dogs that have no experience of the venue. If I had my arm forced up my back to have a bet then Salacres Gypsy running from trap 2 could go off a fair enough price. She’s usually reliably away and does know the track , if she can get round the bend she’d probably want some picking up. This trip is a great distance for schooling pups and bringing dogs back from injury and that’s all it should be used for in my opinion.
The final graded race of the evening with an A2 at 806pm but the selection is a greyhound who shouldn’t be hanging around in graded company for very long at all. Barry Denby has a high-class pup on his hands in the shape of Jumeirah Caesar. He’s raw as you like but possesses massive pace and looks like he’ll be well at home over staying trips in the future. Regardless of tonight’s result keep him onside he’s a classy sort.
A 500m open is next up at 8.21pm and Geelo Love can win on her first appearance since switching from the kennel of Carl Perry to Sarah Spillane. A good winner last week when running on strongly over 680m she has enough pace over four bends to take this. She looks a nice type for Sarah to have in the kennel and should be winning plenty of races over both four and six bends.
It’s the turn of the puppies at 8.36pm over 480m. Gavin Holman’s Easy Shot returns to the track after a rest and she can get back to winning ways immediately. Not ideally drawn out in trap 6 she’s aided by the fact that all of her rivals will be heading for the inside at trap rise. Her superior early pace can soon see her take command and though she’ll come on for the run she should have enough in hand to hold them off in the latter stages.
What I class as a proper sprint at 8.52pm but not a great race by any means. Take a chance with Ballymac Alfonse who despite reaching 5yo later this year can still pick up a race of this nature. Ideally housed in trap 3 he can ping out and make every post a winning one.
Maiden company over 500m at 9.06pm and Gavin Holman’s unraced pup Easy Warrior looks another nice type for the kennel. If Carlsberg did draws then this is what it would look like for Warrior on his career debut. Guaranteed a solo against the rail he can turn a close second at worst to Go Buddy Go who should lead on the outside. Warrior can have this race put to bed by the third bend.
A 500m standard open at 9.26pm which can go to Chris Fereday’s Music Tomy Ears. He went very well when recording 29.83 (+20) on what was his first look at the track early in March in a trial. A strong runner he’ll have to tread carefully to halfway but if avoiding too much crowding can come through late.
