Puppy Classic Semi Final Card Preview

Jimmy Fenwick’s LIGHTFOOT CLARK won well over course and distance last week and doesn’t look to have any more to do in heat one of the stayers at 7.51pm.  Those looking to add a little bit of juice to the returns could do worse than put Barry Denby’s locally trained Opelka in to fill the forecast slot.

Heat two of the stayers at 8.06pm is the weaker of the two but is the trickier to call of that there is little doubt.  At her best Jimmy Fenwick could have a double with Ice Of Diamonds however though she’s running well enough her best form is some way in the past now.  Kevin Boon’s LAST JEDI is selected as with a break he should win this but his breaks are hit and miss at best.  Take a chance he comes away but for small stakes only.  Colin Handford’s Sweet Daffodil is nicely drawn on the inside and as a result will have her supporters but she’d be running for second if Boon’s runner traps.

BALLYMAC JOHN trained by Mark Wallis was a somewhat fortunate winner of his first-round heat last week in a trouble marred race which saw a career ending injury to Frank Gray’s hugely promising Makeit For Terry.  John will have to be quicker into stride than he was last week but so long as he’s fairly away he should be able to hold his pitch around the opening two bends before opening up and landing semi-final one of the puppy classic at 821pm.  There are dangers throughout the field with any of these more than capable of winning this but one at what could be a price that’s fancied to go well is Lisa Stephenson’s Sandwood Ava.  This bitch stays really well and has a future over six bends but she’s one that will be finishing off to great effect and is well worth considering in the cast markets.

Graham Rankin’s GLENVALE BILL is trading at a general 7/4 for the competition outright with bits of 15/8 is you shop around and it’s easy to see why.  Majorly impressive in winning his heat last week he should win semi final two at 8.36pm comfortably with any kind of break.  Those looking at a forecast to boost the returns could possibly do worse than take a look at Peter Harnden’s Salacres Ellie.  Another who has a future over six bends once gaining a little more experience she can come through late and strong to claim second and with it a place in next week’s final. Coppice Kaiser‘s 29.43 Towcester form suggets he is also open to improvement.

Jimmy Fenwick’s COPPICE ROCKET was just picked up last week but he will be better once again this week and there is no Newinn Syd in opposition tonight.  He should be away and gone in the third semi final at 852pm and if that’s the case Michael Connolly’s lightly raced Sirdar can follow him round for the forecast.  He caught the eye behind Moyar Brow last week and can give the Pelaw Grange handler a finalist in one of the leading puppy events on the calendar.

Heat one of the sprint competition at 911pm and one of the worst sprint opens I’ve seen at the track in a good while.  Lynn Cook’s Magical Flash will likely line up as favourite and though he misses it more often than not the fact the race is so lacking in quality he would still have a chance.  Mark Wallis’s BALLYARD SHAWNY is another who is far from a regular breaker but given the likely odds he will likely represent value over Cook’s charge if little else.  A race to play in only for those who really feel they must.

Mark Wallis’s National Sprint Champion of 2022 GOUGANE JET is a dot on the card for heat two of the sprint at 9.26pm after an impressive return to Colwick last Monday.  He should win this comfortably and should do the same in next week’s final.