A fabulous night of racing tonight from Nottingham with the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse Final supported by the opening round of the ARC National Sprint.
A fully fit Bellmore Cricket, second favourite in the Puppy Classic Final won by Distant Podge, would have a serious chance here. But Barry Denby’s runner is still to show his best form following injury which leaves Links Maverick as a confident selection.
A race between half a dozen looking to establish themselves as serious open race hounds. On known form, Roanna Storm possibly has the edge having spent most of her career in slightly higher company including reaching the Sportystuff Puppy Final at Towcester. However course and distance knowledge could be key and One Day Tom‘s recent A1 form would probably be good enough in here.
There would have been a time when Ramors Jet wuld have given any of this lot a race around a track he knows so well. Although Bellmore Sally probably has ambitions closer to the Thames than the Trent, she should be classy enough to see off these as she progresses back to top form.
A quick look at the career records will explain why Scurry winner Gougane Jet will be a very short priced favourite in here. The Perry Barr record holder is a force to be reckoned with anywhere – except Towcester.
This might be career start 76 but the 2021 runner-up (sh) Shrewd Call will take some holding in here. The danger would appear to be the red but stick with the pensioner.
A UK debut for Chelms Charles who only has seven races on his Irish card. Although it is difficult to transform Dundalk form, given the size of the track, the former Jameson Act does not rely on a big gallop to perform as he is very slick away and was unlucky in his penultimate race. Will be helped by this not being the toughest of the qualifiers.
Icaals Rocco is back to four bends following his Guys And Dolls success at Crayford. On all known form he is the best in the field.
Scurry finalist Ballymac Jet was slightly disappointing in his trial but probably has enough about him to land this one.
Easily the race of the found featuring the Irish superstar sprinter Gizmo Cash taking on Soverign Stakes winners Ballymac Slapup but with quality littered throughout.
The layers are in turmoil over this one with Bet365 virtually alone in being prepared to lay Oaks winner Sakina at 9-4 when most of the opposition go 2-1 biggest. Conversely, the same company make Distant Podge a 2-1 chance when there is plenty of 5-2 with other firms. They then bet 3-1 Bockos Palace, 7-1 Aero Dylan, 14-1 Clarekeith Remy and Distant Emma.
The selection is Slick Sakina on the basis that with little to compare between the field – as is reflected in the betting – and she looks less inhibited in the draw than some of the others, given there are four middle seeds and no wides. Patrick Janssens’ Oaks winner was ‘workmanlike’ in last week’s semi finals, when fortunate to hold off the game Bockos Palace. The reasons are debatable. Was it anything to do with the fortnight between runs? Certainly Sakina’s previous run, when overshadowed by kennelmate Coolavanny Shado, would probably be good enough to win this.
Sakina is not draw dependent and should acquire a clear run on the outside. Whether she would beat Podge in a two dog trial is a debate in itself but Barrie Draper’s Juvenile Classic winner is less certain of a clear passage, given the the pacey Aero Dylan on his inside.
Very few lines of open class form between the six but the freakish early zip of Ballymac Walnut might be enough to see her home.
A decent competitive 500m event to end the meeting with local heroine Churchill Holly back on the sand where she has achieved so many of her 23 successes.
