Tonight’s meeting comes from Colwick Park in Nottingham, a sporting venue within a brisk walk of two football clubs and a test match cricket ground. The feature event is the Betfred Select Stakes supported by the Betfred Select Stayers.
In a sporting context, the ‘Select’ is the most high profile invitation race in the Calendar. Unlike most races, trainers don’t enter their dogs, they let it be known if they are available, and the industry press determine whether they are among the best six dogs currently in training. If so – they Select them.
Historically, this one-off race was held at the old Wembley Stadium, where they were particularly proud of their local greyhounds. While White City had the Derby, Wembley had ‘The Select’. The Wembley trainers enjoyed nothing more than inviting the English Derby to the twin towers stadium – and then giving them a thrashing. It became the ‘should have’ showpiece for those who felt their dogs should have won the Derby.
The Select could only ever be staged on a truly respected racing circuit and with Wembley’s closure, Nottingham’s magnificent oval was considered a worthy venue on which to take the great race forward.
Race 1 7.11 pm 305m – three quarters of a lap
The first race of the night is for the sprinters who will cover the 305 metre course in under 18 seconds. While all greyhounds can sprint, runners in these specialist events also need to be fast and consistent trappers. The likely favourite here is Roxholme Hat, a white and blue (grey) dog appropriately running from trap two. Hat has won five of his eight races to date but his starting price might put off a few armchair punters. Hat’s closest danger is his inside neighbour, Trapstyle Jet who has very good form at Nottingham, and his recent races suggest he is coming back to form. He will probably start somewhere between 2-1 and 3-1.
Favourite: Roxholme Hat (T2) Outsider: Tynwald Storm (T5) Guru Guide: Trapstyle Jet (T1)
Race 2 7.26pm 480m pups – a lap and a bit
This is a race for youngster and we have a particularly good one in Droopys Gold, who is based near Hove. The handsome blue has raced 11 times so far and has won six of them. While backing puppies is normally reckoned to be the way to the poor house, the track should suit him, he is the second most experienced dog in the race, and this is arguably a step down in class. The biggest danger is probably Ashbank Christy, trained by Julie Bateson who first made her name as a whippet handler before sending out a string of very good winners among their bigger cousins.
Favourite: Droopys Gold (T4) Outsider: Image Coches (T3) Guru Guide: Droopys Gold (T4)
Race 3 7.43pm 500m – a lap and a bit
Two Geordies have come all the way to Nottingham to battle this one out. Slippery Amigo and Ginas Lad are virtually inseparable at the top of the betting as they are back home at Newcastle. Neither have raced at this venue but they are seasoned campaigners who shouldn’t be fazed by their lack of local knowledge. So which one? You might as well toss a coin. Tails – its Ginas Lad.
Favourite: Ginas Lad (T3) Outsider: Lowgate Lucius (T6) Guru Guide: Ginas Lad (T3)
Race 4 7.59pm 480m – a lap and a bit
An injury that has kept Tynwald Baz off the track probably cost him a place in tonight’s big race finale. In fact, he hasn’t been the luckiest of hounds with second place in a string of big finals. But if there is a local hero, Baz is your boy. He is a fast starter and if he gets his head in front, it would be a big surprise if he was beaten. But, will that lack of match fitness go against him? Given the odds, The Guru is edging towards the stripes and the East Anglian raider Corrin Mall (3-1) who is in fine form and has already won over this course and distance.
Favourite: Tynwald Baz (T1) Outsider: The Other Bear (T2) Guru Guide: Corrin Mall (T6)
Race 5 8.16pm 680m – a lap and a half
The first of the longer distance races and it appears to be at the mercy of Cuba Libre with Goldies Seb as his biggest danger. The latter is tremendously experienced and well capable of winning, though the red jacketed Cuba, who has impressed since switching to the extra half lap races has particularly good form at Nottingham and should be expected to lead and then hold off the strong finishers. They would include Geelo Jenga who has all the qualities to make a very decent stayer. She must though avoid the crowding which seems inevitable here.
Favourite: Cuba Libre (T2) Outsider: Salacres Dollar (T5) Guru Guide: Cuba Libre (T2)
Race 6 8.33pm 500m – a lap and a bit
If you were going strictly on the formbook, then look no further than the young Dropzone who has won seven of his ten races including the last six in a row. Solihull based Danzey Expression on the other hand has ‘only’ won seven of his last 12 races, though they have been in particularly high class company. He looks ideally suited to trap one and can blast away for a ‘catch me if you can’ performance.
Favourite: Danzey Exception (T1) Outsider: Lowgate Sirius (T5) Guru Guide: Danzey Exception (T1)
Race 7 8.51pm 730m – a full lap and three quarters
The Betfred Select Stayers is for six of the best ‘lap and a half’ runners in training. Every runner in this field has some outstanding form in their back catalogue and none more so than Cloran Paddy who won the £15,000 William Hill Grand Prix last week. Paddy and the Geordie favourite Shellam Delano look set to dominate the betting but this not a contest where no runner can make a mistake and still expect to win. With that in mind, The Guru fancies a surprise and who better to spring it that Russelena Reggie who will start at around 6-1 to 7-1. He has the ability to slip clear early and hope for a bit of bumping among the chasing pack.
Favourite: Shellam Delano (T6) Outsider: Borna Mindy (T2) Guru Guide: Russelena Reggie (T3)
Race 8 9.08pm THE BETFRED SELECT STAKES 500m – a lap and a half
The big one. It is interesting to reflect that at one stage or another, half this field were favourite to win the English Derby. The one came closest, but furthest, was Dorotas Wildcat who went out of the Derby in the first round but then went unbeaten through a consolation competition. He is the selection based on his love of Nottingham, he won his first ever race there, and he loves the red jacket. But if either the blue or white coats exit the traps in their best fashion, anything could happen. Of course, if the three inside runners get in each other’s way, it is down to the wide boys. Wildcat’s brother Woo Hoo is a Scottish Derby winner, though he may be short of a race, Newinn Shadow loves Nottingham and was unlucky in the £25,000 William Hill Classic Final last week. While Murrays Act ran fourth in the English Derby Final and will finish like a train.
You really are dealing with six outstanding greyhounds.
Favourite: Dorotas Wildcat (T1) Outsider: Murrys Act (T4) Guru Guide: Dorotas Wildcat (T1)
