Trainers are reminded that the Mervyn Cross Memorial Bitches Invitation closes at lunchtime tomorrow and will be staged next Tuesday. It is an invitation race worth £1,500 for the winner plus a lot more besides. . .
Towcester Racing Manager Chris Page said: “The race is sponsored by Mervyn’s brother Ray who is an owner here. Apart from the prize money, which included £250 to the runner-up and £100 for others, there is £100 for the winning kennelhand and a lovely trophy worth £600. The Cross brothers always enjoyed a less formal kind of racing and Ray has invited the connections of the runners, and quite a few of the staff to come to the restaurant for a curry and a beer.”
Phil Simmonds retains a narrow lead in the £5,000 RPGTV Visiting Trainers Challenge with 39 points, though Jean Liles is chasing him down with 33 points with Richard Baker on 16 points.
Page said: “The idea seems to have been a great success, we had our biggest outside entry last night with eight winners from non-Towcester based kennels.”
Master Kelly (Forest Master-Light Foot Molly, Aug 14) has been nominated by the racing office as a promising youngster to follow. The Hazel Kemp trained black has won his three races to date A7, P6, A5 and has a calculated best time of 28.60.
Towcester expect their new racing distance of 500 metres to be in place by the end of April. Chris Page said: “The new traps arrived but we used the opportunity to replace the 480 boxes which needed renovation.”
