Joe’s Monmore Tips

*** 7.39 Monmore – Churchfield Syd (8/11 Ladbrokes)
**  7.56 Monmore – Savana Jackpot (4/1 Ladbrokes)
*8.13 Monmore – Beaming Panther (7/2 Ladbrokes)

The start of two fantastic competitions at Monmore Green this evening with the Ladbrokes Gold Cup over 480m and Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic over 630m getting underway. Joe and Hobbsy provided an ante post preview for the pair yesterday.

Saturday’s Nap

The Nap of the evening is ante post favourite Churchfield Syd in heat three of the Gold Cup at 7.39.

He comes into this competition off the back of a short break having finished fourth in the Greyhound Derby final at Towcester on June 29. The 16.11 sprint trial at Hove was pleasing before two 480m trials at Monmore where he improved significantly last week clocking 28.06 off a sharp 4.33 sectional.

Romeo Jackson in trap five should give Churchfield Syd plenty of room and if coming away level where  I would then expect to see Churchfield Syd in front at the bend and at this track he wouldn’t be for catching. The sponsors Ladbrokes went even money about Churchfield Syd on the opening show, no surprise to see that was snapped up.

Next Best

The Next Best is Savana Jackpot in the Summer Stayers Classic heat three running from trap five at 7.56.

He has only won two races for connections but those two victories were a 28.78 victory at Towcester over 500m and a track record-breaking run at the same track over 712m clocking a remarkable 42.02 so there is plenty of talent in the dog when he does it right.

The draw has worked out well with King Ezra in trap four moving across to the rail early, Ballymac Johnjo on his outside shouldn’t cause him too many problems and there is enough four-bend speed in Cochise, Droopys By Amile and Aero Arran to allow Savana Jackpot a run into the race where he can go on and land the spoils with 4/1 a reasonable price with the sponsors Ladbrokes.

Other Tips

The evening kicks off with a really competitive heat of the Gold Cup at 6.31 where recent Sussex Cup winner Newinn Benni can use the draw to his advantage in trap six (7/2 Ladbrokes). At 7.06 Long Fellow (3/1 Ladbrokes) can take heat two from a fast start to make all, Beaming Panther looks a good bet at 7/2 with the sponsors to win heat four from trap five at 8.13, Bramble Elvis (4/1 Ladbrokes) can follow up last weeks trial stake success by winning heat five at 8.47 and Ballymac John (9/2 Ladbrokes) can make the most of a good inside draw to take heat six at 9.23.

The first Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at 6.48 can go to local Trainer Kim Billingham with the strong running Magical Luna (11/4 Ladbrokes), Queen Georgia (9/4 Ladbrokes) can use the draw inside Regency winner Baywatch Bullet to win heat two at 7.22. Ante post favourite and 2023 Greyhound Of The Year Droopys Clue (4/9 Ladbrokes) can get his campaign underway in fine style by winning heat four at 8.31. Trickys Matilda (10/3 Ladbrokes) can go one better than last week’s trial stakes second to win heat five from trap one at 9.04 and ante post second favourite New Destiny (1/2 Ladbrokes) can take the last heat of the evening by continuing her fine form over C&D at 9.39.

Monmore Tips recap

Newinn Benni
Magical Luna
Long Fellow
Queen Georgia
Churchfield Syd ***
Savana Jackpot **
Beaming Panther *
Droopys Clue
Bramble Elvis
Trickys Matilda
Ballymac John
New Destiny

BGBF British Bred Oaks Final

The Category Two BGBF British Bred Oaks Final is at Oxford this evening.

Two heats last Saturday night set up a final where Kevin Hutton has all six runners. The Burford trainer sat down with Joe Conneely this week to go over his runners. Click here to listen to Kevin’s thoughts on the race.

Other Saturday Opens

Doncaster, Perry Barr and Yarmouth also have opens on their cards tonight. 

Towcester’s loss is Doncaster’s gain this evening with Phil Milner’s Avongate Venus staying closer to home this week. She is a perfect 3/3 at this track and jointly holds the quickest time of the year over 483m with 29.19. She takes on Leighas Dream, the Angel of the North runner-up, in the race of the night at 8.52.

Another dog with a switch this week is Kevin Ferguson’s Acomb Felix. He has been carrying all before him at Sheffield, winning his last five starts at the track. Instead, he is heading to Perry Barr to take on Darley Diglake over 480m at 7.36.

Unfortunately, one dog that will not be seen at Perry Barr this year is Tuono Charlie. We had previously mused that he might be a good fit for the St Leger but he will not be coming over to England for the contest.

Yarmouth is taking a page out of Vanessa Williams’ songbook and saving the best for last tonight. Their 10.00 contest has a string of excellent local performers who have 28 open race wins between them across seven different tracks. Bombay the Joker is a hugely talented sort when he puts it all together and might be the answer to a very competitive contest.

Puppy Classic starts on Monday

31 of the 36 slots were filled for the Puppy Classic but it looks a strong competition nonetheless.

Nottingham will have some very smart pups on show on Monday as the Puppy Classic gets underway with six heats. March On Freddie is the current favourite for David Mullins after setting the two fastest times of the year over 500m. Both Syd Zafiro and Droopys Extragud were Juvenile Classic finalists at Towcester and look sure to provide stiff opposition.

Missile One (Seamus Cahill) and Fire And Ice (Matt Dartnall) have both shown quality at Hove while Millbank Boiler carries the hopes of Gemma Evans. He is a half-brother to Churchfield Syd, could the pair make Category One finals a couple of days apart at the end of the month?

We will have an ante post preview of the race from Joe Conneely tomorrow.

Betting Guide

5/2 March On Freddie 10/3 Missile One, Syd Zafiro 6/1 Rioja Bungle 8/1 Fire And Ice, Millbank Boiler 10/1 Ballymac Kinga 14/1 Brigadir Brindle 20/1 Blackhouse Kim, Droopys Extragud 28/1 Aero Ella, No Better Feelin 33/1 Kilgarran Jay 40/1 Swift Underwater 50/1 Senahel Tedster, Skeard Josie 66/1 Salacres Wild, Velvet Black 80/1 Amazing Hulk, Crafty Elmo, Ravenswell Aero 100/1 Salacres Crafty, Wolf Rebel 125/1 Bellmore Bailey, Notgotaclue, Salacres Prodigy, Wolf Gold 200/1 Pipkin, Platinum Honey, Starshinesweetie, Wolf Jet

Saturday Stats

  • Darley Diglake – 7.36 Perry Barr – Won six of eight opens at the track.
  • Slick Serenity – 8.40 Yarmouth – Is 5/6 when running from trap two at the track.
  • Knockeen Dazzler – 9.24 Limerick – 6/8 when sporting the stripes here.
  • Carrick Aldo – 9.50 Dundalk – A perfect 4/4 from trap four at this venue.

Central Park off on Monday

With the projected temperatures on Monday, Central Park have cancelled the meeting.

Dave Baldwin, Head of Racing (Greyhounds) at ARC said, “We have been monitoring the temperatures for Monday all week and our detailed forecast information indicates temperatures of 32 degrees on Monday afternoon. We know from our previous experience, as the Stadium sits in a bowl, that temperatures tend to be a little higher than predicted, so in the best interests of welfare Monday’s meeting will be cancelled.”

Opens

Saturday: Doncaster ♦  Monmore ♦ Yarmouth
Sunday: Crayford ♦ Sheffield ♦ Towcester