It is easier to take three points at St.James Park than snatch the All England Cup away from the Geordies. (Even allowing for dubious VAR decisions! – Ed)
Of the 36 greyhounds going to traps tonight, 21 are locally based, though only a fool would suggest this is a glorified £20K kennel sweepstake. Basically, every open racer within striking distance of the Tyne, all the elite included, has been thrown at the defence of the North East’s no.1 greyhound prize.
Four of the last six winners were locals and the fact that the event was oversubscribed by 22 gives an indication of the desire to be on that roll of honour.
With the best southern entry for some time (perhaps encouraged by the absence of the brilliant Links Maverick), this year’s ‘All England’ has Category One winners, and future stars scattered throughout the event.
But as the 5-1 ante post favouritism suggests, none of the runners carry the title of ‘the one they all have to beat’.
(If there is an ‘Ice On Fire’ in the line-up, he is yet to show himself)
It will be a canny contest!
The opening heat is the only contest being contested by six locals, but that doesn’t help the selection process much. In betting terms, Swift Silly looks likely to start favourite. Ray Hale’s bitch is two and a half but only has 14 races on her card, and typically, as an Ian Greaves bred bitch, has no Irish form.
She is blessed with top class early pace – check out her Newcastle and Sunderland sprint trials – and is now well clear of her seasonal lay-off. She is more than good enough to win this and better her best time to date, 28.69 recorded in the Northern Flat heats when she was still a pup. But she will need to lead!
The obvious danger is Brinkleys Magic, a dog who qualified in 28.50 almost a year ago but has flattered to deceive. When he gets it right, he has pace to burn, but many fingers have been burnt following him.
Skywalker Pele is another who is yet to fill his potential, though he does have age on his side. On his best line of form – a 28.02 victory over Crafty Shivoo at Monmore, he would start as favourite here. Three wins in 12 outings doesn’t make for good reading, but Ted Soppitt could not have asked for a kinder draw – on the outside of the slow breaking Droopys Biggy. Time to step up! As for Biggy, the big hearted local favourite, he’ll surely be running on! It is what he does.
The other intriguing runner is Pape Di Oro – the fastest hound over 525 yards at Thurles this year – in fact he has three of the five fastest runs, headed by a 28.55. That takes some doing on a very fair track! He is yet to show that level of form since stepping off the ferry, but the potential is obvious. Bramble Majestic is taking a big step up in class. Sel 3-6-5
Yarmouth racegoers may find this race of interest as it features the 2022 East Anglian Derby winner Hopes Paddington and the 2023 Derby runner-up Swift Iconic. Not that the Geordies will need to be acquainted with John Mullins’ runner, he was the beaten favourite in last year’s All England Cup Final. He is always a force when fresh!
Not much has gone well for Nathan Hunt’s runner in the last year as his trial form suggests and he is best watched.
Sunderland racegoers will have an interest in the track’s 450m record holder Witton Venus. Given her undoubted ability, her career has not really blossomed as well it might, but she has 28.56 form over course and distance and if she was to come to hand, she would have to be seen as a major player.
Droopys Eddie is another young dog with obvious potential and would be a serious player if taking to the circuit – a 29.26 at Towcester. Similarly, Coppice Rocket, a Juvenile Classic and Puppy Classic finalist is another with obvious potential. It appears that Jimmy Fenwick is fighting time and lameness, not ideal preparation, but he will presumably come on for the race. It is impossible to make a case for Droopys Trouper, one of two 100-1 chances in the event. Sel 2-4-5
Third favourite Johnny Whiskers has five races, four wins and a Cat One to his name. The first of those victories came in A1 company back in August. Harry Burton’s dog was a worthy winner of the ARC Classic and should get a clear run here with the slow breaking Savana Beau on his inside. That 28.43 (calc) trial suggests all is well, and it would be a big surprise to see him turned over in one of the easier qualifiers. Diane Henry’s runner should be table to track the leaders before running on.
Glengar Bridie has decent open race form in Ireland including a 28.47 at Limerick but would need to improve on that here, though trials are promising. Kennelmate Magical Rubble only has one race in Ireland and is showing some potential but is held by the selection. Droopys Cozy would need to produce the biggest run of her short career to feature. Sel 3-1-2
What a cracking race this is. Most attention will be on the veteran Brookside Richie, who despite his age, is still a formidable hound. With a back catalogue that includes the Birmingham Cup, Select Stakes, Juvenile Classic, Romford Puppy Cup and Northern Flat, Richie is within sight of his swansong. His most recent trial – quicker than ante post favourite Bogger Rambo on the same night – suggests he is still a force to be reckoned with!
But this is no exhibition appearance. On his inside he has Antigua Eclipse, the only hound to break 27.00 for Tralee’s less often used 500 yard course this year – and he did it twice on his way to a €2K stake win. He has 28.45 form for Nottingham’s 480m course (FOY 28.31), one of his four wins from six outings. Could this be his breakthrough UK event?
In orange, is the lady who has put the best males at the track to the sword. Wraysbury Diva is a bit better than a top heat grader. He is blessed with tremendous early, and despite a less than favourable draw, should be an incluence on how the race pans out.
One of those likely to benefit is the giant Burj Khalifa. The Eclipse runner-up only has three wins in 14 UK races, though the 8 seconds suggests he is never out of his depth. Diane Henry has him in the form of his life. He is a wide running powerful finisher who looks likely to get a decent run if Diva moves to middle and the early pacers contrive to damage each other’s chances. Will be in everyone’s tricast. Local regulars Droopys Gravy and Delvin Cat have been unlucky to be drawn in this heat and will do well to qualify. Sel 2-6-1
The ante post favourite Bogger Rambo has drawn red in one of the easier qualifiers and will have locals actively checking through Irish form. The Tom Heilbron trained black has won nine of his 20 Irish races including 525 yard wins in 28.29-Limerick, 28.28-Cork and a calculated 28.41 at Clonmel. He is a very fine greyhound, though still to establish himself among the absolute Irish elite.
(He might be ante post favourite but at this stage wouldn’t necessarily head the market in a six-runner field that included Brookside Richie and Jonny Whiskers) This draw and field should be well within his grasp though.
Unreal Bruiser is well held by Rambo on his Irish 525 form, though he does have the fastest 550 of the year at Clonmel (29.63) nine spots quicker than Romeo Magico and two spots quicker than the 2022 quickest, Explosive Boy. To date he hasn’t really set the UK alight, though you would never rule out Diane Henry finding something under the bonnet.
Ballybough Mags (ARC Puppy Cup) and Watchall Sid (British Bred Puppy) both have big race wins to their names but this is a step up in class on a track not particularly suited to either.
Cunnigar Yousir is the dark horse in here. A 23.69 winning debut at Romford reflects the potential of Nathan Hunt’s runner, but he would have to step up on a disappointing trial. Garry Hamilton’s Tells Star has plenty of Enniscorthy form and would start at big odds against Bogger Rambo on his Irish card. Sel 1-4-2
Check out the ante post betting to see how competitive this final heat is. On their best lines of form, you could practically make a case for all six.
However, Coolavanny Mercy must have the edge. The 4-7f runner-up in the Puppy Cup, having clocked 23.50 in the first round. Any thoughts that she was simply a ‘Romford type’ were then dismissed at Towcester where she was a serious player in the RPGTV Puppy Derby. She ran bother King Memphis and King Capaldi close and was a 6-1 chance in the final. That form seems to be holding up very well (check out Sheffield and Hove).
The Mullins pair You Two and Wrighty look as well matched as their recent trial form suggests and are good journeyman open racers. With eight races in ten months, Savana Shay is almost impossible to quantify and qualifies as ‘one best watched’. Droopys Try has won four of his last five at Romford, but this is a step up in class. March On Larry is an ARC Classic finalist but would probably need a new PB at Newcastle to be in the shake-up here. Sel 4-2-6
