After four weeks of racing, it has come down to one race to decide who wins this year’s Greyhound Derby. Last year taught us any of the six can win it and the final remains wide open. It is the supporting card however that receives my attention tonight – writes Rob Abrey.
On the supporting card there are some greyhounds making their Nottingham debuts and some running over a different distance for the first time. In keeping with what regular readers expect in Rob’s Romford Round Up, I have endeavoured to find out more about some of them for this one-off Nottingham round up. With such brilliant racing taking place – it seemed rude not to.
Towcester trainer Simon Harms is at Nottingham tonight with two of his charges fresh after winning the Kent St Leger at Crayford last week. First up is Loggies Lito in the Sprint Trophy over 305 metres at 6.41pm. The son of Droopys Jet and Ballymac Galtee looks the real deal and could be a big player for sprinter of the year next year. The July ’18 whelp looks an out and out sprinter and with three wins from only five starts on these shores could make waves in the sprint scene. In the recent Greene King IPA sprint final at Yarmouth over 285 metres he finished second by only half a length to sprint star Shrewd Call. The two go into battle again tonight with him looking to reverse that result. In a recent spin over C&D he clocked a very good time of 17.56 showing all is well.
Simon on him said “I have only raced him five times but I can say already he is the best greyhound I’ve put a lead on as a trainer. The dog is an absolute machine and has come from a superstar litter. My son Logan done a lot of homework on him and we had to work hard to get him.
“When he came over we took him to Central Park blind and he was only 1 ½ lengths off the track record. He won he next race there as well to win the category three comp.
“We gave him a trial two weeks ago and his time was very good so thought we would give him two weeks off.
“The run up at Nottingham should suit him as long as he doesn’t do anything wrong at the cans. He is a real sprinter so anything over 310 metres will be a real test for him.
“The draw in five is fine but ideally I would have liked him inside Shrewd Call. It is a very good sprint race though.
“All being well we should be back for the National Sprint in December.”
Loggies Lito is generally available at 11/4 to win the sprint trophy tonight.
Next up for ‘team Harms’ is Droopys Bird. For those who follow the open scene ‘down sarf’ will know the daughter of Droopys Roddick and Droopys Force won the Kent St Leger last week at Crayford over 714 metres. The October ’17 whelp stormed to five length victory after taking control of the race at the third bend. Tonight she is racing at Nottingham for the first time in the Champion Stayers trophy over 730 metres at 7.51pm. She has run over further once before with a tilt at Romford over 925 metres where she finished fourth after finding trouble at the first and fifth bends.
Simon on her said: “She will get 730 metres, it may well prove to be her distance. She didn’t appear to stay at Romford but may not of liked the track. She loves galloping tracks and is great at Hove. That’s what made victory at Crayford last week even more special as that is not her ideal style of track.
“She is a railer and has learnt to run away from the rails a bit these days and is not so reliant on trap one, although that trap proved vital for her last week. Trap two is fine for her but would have preferred the one box.
“We gave her a look around Nottingham over 500 metres as she has been doing so much running lately we didn’t want to give her a six bend trial.
“We may give her a look around at Perry Barr for the St Leger but the track may not suit her. The chances are we will give her a month off as she has been doing so much running.”
Corals, Ladbrokes and Skybet are top price 5/2 for her to take the spoils tonight.
It’s brilliant that the Dorando marathon still takes place every year on Derby finals night even though it’s not at White City anymore, the scene of athlete Dorando Pietri 1908 Olympic exploits. It’s a yearly tradition that I for one love and hopes it will continue for years to come.
Our Supreme Sue, trained by Doncaster’s Kelly Tobin will be trying to add her name to the long list of former Dorando winners at 9.26pm. The daughter of Droopys Nidge and Leamaneigh Breda attempts 905 metres for the first time tonight with 692 metres at Henlow her furthest distance to date. The April ’18 whelp did win over that distance so has six bend winning form to her name.
She has had a recent spin over 500 and 680 metres at Nottingham so has some track knowledge. Over 680 metres was in race conditions and was against very good greyhounds where she finished fourth. A longer trip may suit her a lot better.
Assistant trainer Mick Foley on her said: “I think she will get the trip. I’m quite confident she will.
“Last week the going was against her [-60] and the distance was a bit short. She doesn’t start running until six bends.
“She is a bang railer and sticks to the rails like glue. On Saturday she has trap two but is not the best of trappers so will hopefully get on the rails.
“It is great to have a runner in the Dorando, especially for Alan Hutson and Alan Wood, the two owners who are brilliant.”
Skybet are top price 80/1 for Our Supreme Sue to spring a surprise and take the spoils.
