Mark Pierrepont will be looking to build on his eight winners (4-6 , 2-7 , 1-3 , 9-1 , 13-8 , 2-1 , 1-1, 4-5) from 13 selections last weeks.
We may not have a category one final this week or indeed an after-meeting rock concert to enjoy but this afternoon’s card at Towcester is interesting all the same with more than a few decent betting opportunities and an interesting BGBF Puppy competition staged over the brand new 470m distance. I’d like to pay particular tribute to Liz Mort who’s work at the BGBF might go unnoticed by most but I can assure everybody that Liz puts her heart and soul into ensuring that British Breeding and its events are as successful as possible. It’s a voluntary position and at times a thankless task but in testing times Liz has ensured that the ship has remained steady.
The TRC Events & Leisure Maiden over 500m gets us underway at 1.57pm. Frank Gray’s Makeit God is a really exciting youngster who won at the second time of asking over the 270m sprint trip here last week in D2 company. Despite missing the kick he showed excellent early pace and after taking command turning for home he ran out a comfortable 3 length winner in 16.06 and pulled further and further clear on his way to the pick-up. The change in sides is a little bit of a concern as he can’t afford to be too tardily away in against some decent types but anything like a level break and he should be able to hold his pitch into the bend before really opening up along the back straight. Regardless of today’s result keep him onside as he’s a pup of huge potential and there’s no reason he can’t soon be heading on the same path as his full brother Alien World who is already a three-time open winner around here.
The TRC Events & Leisure Sprint over 270m at 2.12pm can give Frank Gray a first and second race double with his Savana Tom selected to ping out and make all from what looks a fair make up. He heads into today’s race off the back of an excellent 15.71 victory over course and distance in top grade D1 company last time out. He could be given most to do by Pam Dolby’s Cactus Destroyer who just a month ago looked a young dog destined to be keeping top class sprint company for the foreseeable future however his last 4 outings have been disappointing to say the least. He was left off the card last week however so maybe that two-week break will see a return to his previous exciting form and if doing so would rate a big danger to the selection.
Heat 1 of the BGBF Puppy Cup at 2.32pm can go to Laurence Tuffin’s Romeo Chief. He has a draw to dream of here with kennel mate Tuftys Topgear slow into stride and highly likely to move off in any case. Chief finds the 500m at the upper end of his stamina reserves so this step back to the new 470m trip should play to his strengths so long as he can find one of his better breaks.
Heat 2 looks a match up between the Kevin Hutton trained litter mates Sleek By Design and No Worries. There was little between them in 500m trials last week with Design just 1 spot faster on the clock than her sister with a 29.89 effort compared to the 29.90 of No Worries. The run of Design came off a very moderate split though and there’s no doubting she can be much quicker into stride than that. A reasonable break and she can lead the inside which would spell trouble for her wide running sister even if that one did lead up on the outside. The race looks between the pair though and both can progress safely through to the next round.
Heat 3 is a tricky race to call with Kevin Hutton’s Moments Of Magic selected to give him and the Magical Bale x Forest Natalee litter a quick double however not with the greatest of confidence. Magic would appear to have plenty in hand on the clock over Patrick Janssens Romeo De Niro with a 30.03 trial over the 500m last week compared to the 30.98 recorded by the latter. The 28.36 winning debut effort of De Niro around Shelbourne in July takes the eye in a huge way though and it would be no surprise to see Patrick finding plenty on that trial from last week. Likely a race to watch with an eye on the future rather than getting too heavily involved.Heat 4 and it’s starting to sound all very familiar can go to Hutton’s Signet Denver. Another member of the latest Natalee litter she has good winning experience around here in good grade and really took a leap forward last time out when running out an impressive winner of the Puppy Stake Final at Perry Barr on St Leger Final night. Given that this race doesn’t come too soon she looks well drawn on the inside to ping out and make every post a winning one. Lee Fields Snooty Bella looks an above average type and has moved nicely through the grades at Monmore prior to heading to Romford for the Puppy Cup there recently. Bella paced up well in her heat of that competition and was a narrow leader heading into the turn before being brought down. She showed no ill effects from that tumble when rocketing to the line first time in her trial here since in a super 4.10 split and crossing the finish line in 29.99 (+20). Bella is well drawn to take full advantage if the selection isn’t lively at the start.
Back to TRC Events & Leisure Standard company over 500m at 3.48pm and a race that looks between the up-and-coming Alien World trained by Frank Gray and the been there done it Drumcrow Brent trained by Mark Wallis. Alien World is selected to continue on his route to the top with another always led victory here with Brent running on strongly in what should be a terrific race to fill the forecast spot.
TRC Events & Leisure Standard over 500m at 4.08pm and Carol Grasso’s Iron Brew looks brilliantly well drawn on the wide outside to land success in full open company for the first time having landed his maiden here just a few weeks ago. Providing Iron Brew leads up Seamus Gaughan’s Frostys Ten drawn to his immediate inside early and on all known form he should do then he’s going to find himself in a lovely pitch by the time they head down the back straight. There’s plenty of early pace on the inside and it’s far from inconceivable that it could become congested on the run up and at the turn. Iron Brew can take command by the time they head into the third if not earlier and run out a decisive winner.
TRC Events & Leisure Maiden company over 500m at 4.28pm with a few pacy types involved but not a race to be getting involved in from a betting point of view. The outside pair of Ladybear trained by Steve Rayner and the Mark Wallis trained Balterio both ran well in defeat in second and third respectively behind Coolavanny Lilly. They might not do each other any favours though and with Icaals The Beast drawn on the inside who is pacy but would have his own ideas it’s a race that could well get messy and might well throw up a surprise result. On that basis and for selection purposes Reg Allder’s Hather Georgia might just slip round in a decent pitch from his bang rails draw and is a proven course and distance winner in good class graded races here.
The TRC Events & Leisure Stayers over 712m at 4.48pm and Mark Wallis’s Antigua Lava can showcase to the Towcester public what she wasn’t allowed to on St Leger Final night at Perry Barr. Having been invited to line up in the marathon on Leger Final night Lava was subsequently withdrawn from the race due to not having previously trialled around the venue. Lava can lay handy before powering through strongly in the second half of the race for an impressive victory.
Back to TRC Events & Leisure Standard company over 500m at 5.08pm with Frank Gray’s Hilltop Sid selected to get back to winning ways after a couple of outings over 575m at Romford in recent weeks. An impressive come from behind winner in 29.71 in maiden company when last seen here he can win in full open company for the first time. John Mullins Romeo On Fire has some top-drawer form over in Ireland and anything that level of performance would see him winning here. He’s yet to fully find his best form since arriving in the UK however and though it’s surely only a matter of time before he does so I’ll take Sid to land the spoils on this occasion.
TRC Events & Leisure Maiden company over 712m at 5.28pm and Heather Dimmock’s Hitthelids Paddy looks the call. A proven winner over course and distance with an S2 victory here in July he also run some solid races over the trip recently when reaching the final of the D:Class Automotive Stayers Trophy. Paddy has since run out an easy winner of a decent A5 here recording 30.01 and pulling well clear to the pick-up. He can dominate the inside and looks the pick at what should be a backable price.
Last but by no means least the TRC Events & Leisure Stayers over 712m and a tough race to call. Roseville Eva did readers of my column a favour last week when landing her race at a huge 9/1 but this is tougher. Seamus Gaughan’s Native Polly was selected to win on what was her first try over the trip last week and though she was beaten into second by Laurence Tuffin’s Fabulous Era on that occasion I’m prepared to give her another chance. Polly has a better break in her and with that first run over the trip under her belt I fancy her to have enough in hand late on if getting the early lead she craves.