Another excellent Sunday afternoon of racing at Towcester with a 14-race card consisting of 11 opens and 3 graded races. Here is a personal view of the open race action on what is becoming one of the highlights of the open racing week.
The afternoon gets underway at 1.57pm with the TRC Events & Leisure Maiden (Duplicated). It would be surprising if all 6 competitors in this line up haven’t shed their maiden tags before too long but there are a few who really should be plying their trade and also winning their share in full opens very shortly indeed. Chelms Tornado top lot at the Greyhound Trader sale at Doncaster after a super 29.87 trial there. He’s talented of that there is no doubt but I suspect he needs to be right off the front and preferably drawn nearer the middle to be seen at his best. Goldies Perryman for Patrick Janssens looks a pup of huge promise and his run last week will have been a big confidence booster after his fall the previous week. He might just find that Tornado is a hazard in this race though and therefore the selection falls upon Frank Gray’s Alien World who looks very well drawn out in trap 5 and can back up a promising second place finish attained on career debut in A3 company here at Towcester. ‘World’ has displayed a nice touch of early pace in his trials and sole race so far and a reproduction of that should soon see him take command of the middle of the track. With the inside duo drawn to come together there is every chance that Frank Gray’s promising February 2020 pup could be in full command by the time they had down the back straight. If so he shouldn’t be for picking up from that point home.
It’s the TRC Events & Leisure Sprint at 2.12pm and though Lee Field’s Adeles Duke might not be an out and out sprinter he does possess a nice turn of early and is without doubt the class greyhound in the field. Vicki Lea’s Kilara Montjeu is yet to win a sprint or an open race but a win in this sphere over this trip wouldn’t be beyond him. He possesses a nice touch of early pace and if trapping at his best could well lead up. The writing could be on the wall though if Field’s greyhound is anywhere near him as they turn for home with the Derby quarter finalist likely to showcase his class and run out a good winner.
The Fab5 Package At Towcester Maiden Stayers Trophy Heat 1 at 2.32pm with the first 3 greyhounds home qualifying for next week’s £500 To The Winner Final. Michelle Brown’s Crashblingwallop wouldn’t be one to place the greatest amount of faith in as his winning record of 1 in 22 suggests. He also has to put behind him a disappointing run over course and distance last time out. It has to be said though that this is a big step down in class and though it would take a bravery or maybe foolishness to support him in the ring at what will likely be short odds there really isn’t much to oppose him with. He’s reluctantly selected in a race that won’t take much winning.
Heat 2 can go to Diane Henry’s Savana Stormzy (ex-Farm View) who was purchased out of the Greyhound Trader sale at Monmore in July. He’s just the one run in the UK on his card so far which came when beaten in a heat of the Summer Classic at Monmore. He’s had a few weeks off to freshen up since but showed himself in good form when recording 29.77 (+20) over the 500m trip in a trial here last week. This is an all-round better class heat than the first but Diane Henry’s dog can take this and looks the pick for outright honours before progressing onto better things.
Next up is The VIP Boxes At Towcester Sprint Trophy Final over 270m with a winner’s prize of £500. Pam Dolby’s Cactus Destroyer looked a little flat in last week’s heat when finishing second to Malton Manor who has subsequently been withdrawn from this afternoon’s final lame. Prior to that though he looked one of the most promising sprinters in the UK and I’m prepared to forgive one under par performance and hopefully we’ll see Dolby’s youngster back to winning ways with a quick away always led performance.
Heat 1 of The Accommodation At Towcester Ladies Trophy at 3.28pm. Mark Wallis’s Tiffield Firefly put up an open race performance in A4 graded company when winning by over 6 lengths last time out in 2943 (+20). Things won’t be as easy stepping back into open class company but she looks like she can take control of the inside soon enough and this strong runner wouldn’t be easily pegged back if getting to the front at any stage of the race.
Despite lacking a look around Heat 2 can go to John Sharp’s Sheffield raider Catrigg Candela who has won her last 3 in open class company around the Owlerton circuit. ‘Candela’ possesses huge early and running from a perfect draw in trap 3 she can soon hit the front and overcome lack of local knowledge. She’s a terrific prospect for Sharp who looks like progressing into a live contender in bitch confined events throughout the rest of the year.
The Towcester Lakes Standard Trophy at 4.08pm with a winner’s prize of £500. It’s a competitive final and the temptation is to select Ballymac Gaybo for Mark Wallis but there is no doubting that he was disappointing when qualifying for today’s final in third place last week. He could easily get back to winning ways but I’m going to side with the apparent Wallis second string running from trap 1 Black Eyed Molly. She couldn’t be in better form winning her heat impressively last week in 2962 (+20). A decent enough break should see her leading on the inside at least and if doing so could be in a winning position by the time they head down the back straight.
Back to Maiden company at 4.28pm with a race that looks to revolve around the inside pairing of Hilltop Sid and Icaals The Beast. Slight preference is for the Frank Gray trained ‘Sid’ who can hold his pitch to the bend and skip clear from there on home.
A competitive TRC Events & Leisure Standard at 4.48pm can go to Jim Reynold’s talented Ritzy Flyer. He reached the semi-final of the KAB Maiden Derby here in May and was well trialled around the track prior to the tilt at that competition. He’s since run out an impressive winner of a maiden at Central Park followed by a super 2918 (-30) winner in standard company around the Kent track a couple of weeks ago. He can turn into the back straight in a handy pitch and really open up from halfway.
The final open of the day is the TRC Events & Leisure Stayers over 712m at 5.08pm. Laurence Tuffin now has the trainers license back in his own name and his Romeo Riot can follow up last week’s excellent victory over course and distance in maiden company. This is tougher but he did little wrong on that occasion and a similar performance should be enough to secure victory.
