Our regular Romford columnist ROB ABREY has been chatting to some of the trainers with runners in the Star Sports/Towcester Racecourse Greyhound Derby. We kick off with Patrick Janssens, Tony Taylor and Graham Holland.
You have not got your days confused. It is indeed Thursday and that means the start of the 2022 Greyhound Derby at Towcester from 6.35pm. To coincide with the showpiece competition, I have endeavoured to find out more about several greyhounds from each of the three days hosting the first round. Regular readers of ‘Rob’s Romford Round Up’ will know what that entails. Coverage at Romford will be back next week but as it’s Derby time it felt rude not to give the first round the ‘Round Up’ treatment.
What a perfect way to open up proceedings then start with the opening heat at 6.35pm which kick starts it all. Scooby Prince trained by Last year’s winning trainer Patrick Janssens will be looking to get the competition underway with a win. The March ’20 is not only making his Towcester debut but his race one on these shores as well. The son of Droopys Sydney and Whiting Gift although making his race debut over here he is no novice with proven form in Ireland. The classy greyhound won the IGOBF National Puppy 525 at Shelbourne Park over 480 metres. He then followed that up by reaching the final of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 final at Limerick in all aged company. To reach two finals clearly shows he has the consistency needed to go deep into competitions which bodes well. In two recent trials over C&D he clocked calculated time of 29.58 and 29.51 and that improvement will be expected to improve.
Patrick on him said: “He won the big puppy race at Shelbourne Park and is a very good dog. He did some very nice trials at Towcester and has 29.20 in his locker. In his first trial he did 29.38 before the +20 going.
“He has a tricky draw with our Aussie Captain on his inside. If he turns second to him at the first bend he is a massive runner. They could hit the bend together but hopefully they go around smoothly. Neither will move off. Fingers crossed.
“He is very good from half-way and there is no danger of him getting the trip. He has good early and is a strong running sort. He is a massive price to win it.”
On his other entrants Patrick said: “I’ve five good enough to win, Thorn Falcon, Lautaro, Deelish Frankie, Bockos Belly and Scooby Prince. I don’t mind being proved wrong by the others though! Thorn Falcon is the one as he absolutely loves Towcester.”
Scooby Prince is top price 11/4 with Corals and Ladbrokes to win the opening heat and 100/1 with Paddy Power, Corals and Ladbrokes to lift the coveted trophy on Saturday 25th June.
Moanteen Linford for Hove trainer Tony Taylor, like Scooby Prince is making his Towcester debut at the same time as his race one on these shores. Owned by darts connoisseur Gerwyn Price, the October ’20 whelp will be looking to checkout with a Derby win. The son of Droopys Buick and Moanteen Ellie does have Irish form though with winning form at Limerick over 480 metres. In heat five at 7.48pm, it is his first time over 500 metres at the Northamptonshire track. He has had one trial over 270 metres clocking a calculated time of 16.15.
Tony on him said: “In both his trials he got tangled up in both sprints and when he got clear at the second bend he did some running.
“He is a very nice pup. He is only a youngster and I’m very pleased with him. He’ll get the 500 metres Towcester trip and maybe further in time. He is pretty strong running. The puppy comp at Towcester is a target and maybe the Sussex Cup at Hove. We will see how he progresses.
“He is one to follow and one for the future. He still has plenty to learn but does have race experience in Ireland. He’ll need a bit of luck, especially first time up.
“He has trap six and that is okay for him. There is a lot of early in the race but hopefully he will qualify.”
Corals and Ladbrokes are top price 20/1 for him to hit Bullseye tonight while William Hills are top price 225/1 for him to take the outright spoils.
Irish based trainer Graham Holland is making the trip over the Irish Sea with eight of his charges. ‘Team Holland’ mean business. Tonight, he has just one runner in heat eight at 8.45pm. Bockos Leah is the sole runner on Thursday for Graham and will be looking to get the team off to winning ways. The December ’19 whelp is another making there Towcester race debut as well as their first one on these shores. The daughter of Kinloch Brae and Takeitonleah has winning form at three tracks in Ireland at Clonmel, Limerick and Shelbourne Park over 274, and 480 metres. The fact that she can win at several tracks shows her versatility which bodes well before tackling Towcester for the first time in race conditions. She has had two sprint trials over 270 metres clocking calculated times of 16.03 and 15.90.
Graham on her said: “She suits the track. She has had a couple of sprints as she is coming out of season.
“She is a decent bitch. She has done 27.99 at Shelbourne Park and stays very well. She did that time in the second round of the Christmas Oaks but jarred her wrist and came into season.
“We think a lot of her. She is only thirteen weeks out of season and that’s why we kept her to sprint trials which we were very happy with. We will take it race by race with her and hopefully get through the first couple of rounds. She is running on the Thursday so it gives her at least eight days until her next race if she qualifies.
“Shelbourne has a longer run to the bend than Towcester. The shorter run to the bend may suit her. I would imagine she will get further than 500. Up to 700. She is very strong.”
Boylesports are top price 5/2 for the classy bitch to win her heat at Towcester at the first time of asking while several firms are offering 50/1 for to take the outright spoils.
