2017 Greyhound of the Year King Elvis was chalked up as the 5-2 ante post favourite for the RPGTV Golden Crest despite never having seen the Poole circuit. He will be shorter still after Tuesday’s first round . . .
Heat 1 The shocks started as early as the first heat when Dunbolg Hanna (20-1) made every post a winner. Jamie Kingsley’s bitch (T4) who returned from rest a kilo and a half lighter than when she beat Galloping Moon in a Brighton Belle qualifier at Hove, was back to her best racing weight and form with a merited 26.83 win. The unlucky runner was locally bred and trained Arthur Noodle who came from midfield to be beaten three quarters of a length.
Heat 2 The second leg of a Kingsley 272-1 double came courtesy of litter sister Ace Queen who went to the blue trap at 12-1. The 27.20 trialist and more ‘sprinty’ of the pair had previously only won one open – a Central Park two-bender in December. Queen trapped well, clocked a decent 4.27 sectional, and despite moving slightly off the rails at the first bend was never troubled when winning in 26.59.
Heat 3 Orange jacketed Snooty Mary, formerly Bit View Bridie, came into Tuesday’s first round with three wins in her last four Romford opens, most recently in 23.95 (400), and had broken 27.00 on her first look at Wimborne Road. As versatile as she is fast – her three wins came from traps two, four and six, she looked a class apart when beating Aghaburren Bolt by four in 26.60. Interestingly, the winners of the second and third heats clocked identical sectionals and were only one spot different over the full course.
Heat 4 On a line of trial form in which she was 22 spots quicker than kennelmate Snooty Mary, Bull Run Byte (T2) looked good value at 5-2 to win the fourth qualifier. With favourite Portmageewiseguy (T5) left flat footed at the start, and early leader Jet Stream Proof failing to drive the bend, Kevin Hutton’s bitch overcame a moderate 4.34 sectional to lead at the bend and find 21 spots on her trial time in the quickest time to date, 26.56.
Heat 5 Due to Silver Salver commitments, Liz McNair had been unable to give King Elvis a sighter of the Poole circuit, but the British bred star showed why he is one of the best ‘short four bend’ runners of the last decade. Despite swerving wide at the boxes, the black jacketed runner clocked a 4.26 sectional, took a middle course at the bend and crossed the winning line just one spot outside the 450m track record in 26.21.
Heat 6 The locals had five through to the semis but no heat winner until Kilcree Diamond went to trap two for the final qualifier. Making his debut for Southampton based Rick Zamojski after a prolific spell with Mark Wallis, the 2-1 chance produced a flawless front running display from trap two. Off to the fastest sectional of the night (4.20), he led home the strong finishing veteran Clash in the second fastest 450 of the night – 26.48.
