By Rob Abrey
It’s not Friday already. You haven’t lost four days, Rob’s Round Up is at Nottingham this week as well as Romford, a special treat of two in one week. As yours truly is on Racing Post TV tonight it seemed rude not to cover Nottingham at the same time.
As ever at the Nottinghamshire track, there are greyhounds making their debuts and true to form I’ve endeavoured to find out more about some of them.
Local handler Bob Hall sends his Creevy Girl straight into open race action tonight for her first race on these shores. Entered in a maiden trophy race over 480 metres at 8.08pm, the August ’16 whelp will be looking to shed her maiden tag at the first time of asking. Although making her race debut on these shores she has plenty of race experience in Ireland winning at Shelbourne Park over 480 metres in A2 graded company. The daughter of Superior Product and Creevy Charm had a tilt at the Irish Derby but was eliminated at the first round stage. She has had three trials at Nottingham with two being over C&D. The second trial showed improvement of fifteen spots and if continuing to improve should not be a maiden for very long.
Bob Hall said: “She was in the Irish Derby and other opens at Shelbourne. Since she came over she has had a few niggles and we took our time with her.
“She is shaping up well but is probably a couple of runs short of her best. She doesn’t want more than 480 metres, which is her limit. Her litter brother though runs further but she doesn’t want more than 480 metres.
“She did some nice trials and is improving with each trial. We decided to put her straight into a maiden as she probably would of gone straight in a B1 race. If she comes away and leads she has a chance.
“Trap one is where she wants to be and she can hit the lids. She has early pace but definitely needs to come away on Monday to have a chance.”
Trainer Hall has several other runners on the card tonight and was asked the cheeky question of who he thinks could go best tonight. To that he said: “Parkers Frank. He is only an April ’17 whelp and has been running at Nottingham for four or five months. He won really well last time out is showing his potential. He could go close.”
Skybet make Creevy Girl a 7/4 shot to win first time up at Nottingham while they make Parkers Frank in the 7.19pm an 8/1 poke.
Sheffield raider Coney McKenna is running away from his home track for only the second time of his seventy six race career. The first time was to Towcester back in June 2017 over 260 metres where he came last. Tonight the May ’15 whelp tackles Nottingham in a sprint open over 305 metres at 8.51pm for trainer Tony McKenna. The son of Paradise Madison and Kingsmill Honey has predominately run over the sprint trip of 280 metres at Sheffield winning opens and graded races. He has recently shown his versatility by winning over 480 metres in a B2 graded affair.
Tony said: “He wasn’t down to run at Sheffield over the weekend so thought we give him a run at Nottingham.
“He will get 305 metres. He has early pace and the track should suit him and should be fine first time around. The sprint trip at Nottingham is one of the longest and that should benefit him.
“He has early pace but has a tendency to either bomb out the traps or miss his break.”
Coney McKenna to win at the first time of asking at Nottingham is 6/ top price with Skybet.
Emze Dell for unattached trainer Alan Bellis is making her race debut on these shores. The June ’16 whelp although contesting in a maiden trophy race over 480 metres at 9.06pm is no novice. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Arsenal Lady has had twenty three races at Mullingar all over 480 metres winning nine including an open race. She has had four trials all over 305 metres at Nottingham but with her form at Mullingar, the trip tonight should not cause too many problems. Like Creevy Girl she should not be contesting maidens for very long.
Trainer Alan Bellis on Emze Dell said: “She is all fit and ready to go. She did some nice times at Mullingar. 28.92 around there is flying. I tried to buy her before her last race in a open race which she won. I had James Boy which won opens around Nottingham and she has faster times around Mullingar than he did.
“Her trials have been over the sprint trip but she is not a sprinter. We gave her those just to get her ready. We have high hopes for her. We hope she leads up and does the business.
“She trialled against good dogs although not a sprinter and led them up to the bend. In her first mixed trial she led Barnfield Bolt to the bend before being cut off. He won his next open race.
“At Mullingar she hasn’t had to lead to win and can do it both ways. I have eased her in as we have had some bad weather and took my time with her. She ideally needs trap one and we have it. It is the perfect draw for her. I bought her as a 500 metres bitch. She will get 480 metres and at Mullingar once nothing picks her up. She is as fit as I can get her.”
