TOWCESTER SUNDAY CARD – PREVIEWED BY MARK PIERREPONT

Another 14-race card this afternoon begins with 4 graded races where some decent locals get to showcase their talents on the big stage but from there on in it’s open racing all the way with the obvious highlight being the Category One 1st Containers Marathon Trophy Final.  I can remember some good marathon races but for sheer strength in depth this race has to go down as one of the best of all time.  The marathon scene is absolutely blessed with talent at the moment and today’s final highlights that perfectly.  It should be a classic.

First up at 3.11pm The TRC Events & Leisure Maiden over 500m.  Chelms Yes looks to have the perfect opportunity to get his UK career up and running at the third time of asking for Paul Young.  Having reached the Champion Plate Final at Shelbourne in late July when known as Droopys Yes he subsequently went on to reach the third round of the Irish Derby.  Yes has an abundance of top class form on his Irish card against the likes of Jackslittlething who he led but was eventually beaten just 3 lengths in his Champion Plate semi-final and also Deerjet Sydney and Susie Sapphire in the Irish Derby.  He’s shown pace after missing the kick in his heat and semi-final of the Champion Stakes at Romford but this 500m at Towcester over a more galloping circuit should be much more to his liking.  He should prove far too good for his rivals and has a make-up to dream of with Jayjay Whoosh drawn to his immediate inside likely to head rails as soon as the traps open.  He’ll not be a big price but it will be disappointing if he can’t take what appears to be a gilt-edged opportunity.

TRC Events & Leisure Maiden Stayers over 712m at 3.28pm and Droopys Prunty can give Paul Young a quickfire double.  Stepping up to a true six bend trip for the first time he’s shown plenty enough over both four bends and latterly over Romford’s 575m to suggest that this trip will be within his compass.  There isn’t too much in the way of early pace drawn inside him and that’s the key to the race as it should enable him to turn in front despite having Pointless Priti trying to take his ground from an unfamiliar draw out in trap 4.  Tuffin’s charge will definitely be heading rails from there but Prunty should have enough about him to hold her off and from the second bend onwards he can really open up and show his class.

Paul Young and his team of owners could well be thinking Christmas has come early by the time of the TRC Events & Leisure Maiden over 500m at 3.48m as his Chelms Cub (ex Seomra Bolger) can also gain the first win of his career here in the UK.  A December 2019 pup with the world at his feet he set tongues wagging with a 2858 winning debut at Tralee early in July and he should progress into a real nice type for owner Leigh Harris.  This 500m over around Towcester should prove ideal and with any kind of run will take a lot of stopping.  One for the notebooks as this is a pup that should be competing in many of the top competitions throughout 2022.

The MAIN EVENT of the afternoon at 4.08pm as the greyhound’s head to traps for the 1st Containers Marathon Trophy Final over 912m.  One of if not the greatest marathon line up ever.  A very tough race to call but for selection purposes I’m siding with Diane Henry’s Savana Volcano who might just get first run at Antigua Lava and Space Jet who I fear may not do each other any favours on the inside.  That pair can set the early fractions but it may become a tussle that plays into the hands of Diane Henry’s Volcano who can come through late and strong to claim the honours for track promoter and owner Kevin Boothby.  It’s a race to watch and enjoy though with of course Burgess Elite likely to also be playing an early hand but looks vulnerable if not going well clear.  Droopys Jungle may find herself in a position by mid race but will then see stronger runners looming large whilst you can never discount Aayamza Royale who has proven herself time and time again to be a bitch of the very highest calibre over these extreme tests and one of the best ever marathon performers to grace our tracks.  Sit back and enjoy would be my advice and don’t have a race for the ages spoiled by betting bias.  Those who say this sport is simply about gambling need to be pointed in the direction of this race today as it’s a race enthusiast up and down the country will be glued to with or without a betting ticket in hand.

TRC Events & Leisure Standard over 500m at 4.28pm can go to Mark Wallis Drumcrow Brent.  A real professional greyhound who is vastly underrated at times.  He looks perfectly drawn on the wide outside and will likely have appreciated a couple of weeks rest prior to today’s race.  There’s a fair amount of early drawn to his inside but he can come away sharply enough and put himself into an excellent position to challenge by halfway.

TRC Events & Leisure Maiden over 500m at 4.48pm and this could be turning into a real red-letter day for trainer Paul Young and owner Leigh Harris with his Chelms Switch selected to get his career here in the UK up and running.  Make no mistake this is a dog of the very highest calibre and despite clocking a rapid 2827 calculated in a trial at Perry Barr early in September there was still around 4 lengths minimum left on the track.  It was some effort and despite defeat in his subsequent heat of the Birmingham Cup on the track he remains a dog to keep firmly on the right side of.  His most recent effort when clocking 28.92 around Central Park showed that the little bit of time off since that Birmingham Cup heat has done him no harm at all.  There is fair early on his inside and he will need to tread carefully to halfway but if doing so he should highlight why he’s a major competition dog for next year.

TRC Events & Leisure Standard company once more over 500m at 5.08pm and Adeles Duke now trained by Diane Henry can do what he has always done around here for Lee Field and that’s win.  A top-class greyhound who was trained to perfection by his old handler can continue that type of form for his new connections and land this in QAW ALD fashion.

TRC Events & Leisure Sprint action over 270m at 528pm and the race can go to Simon Harms Loggies Lito.  On his day this greyhound is as fast as any in the country and though he’s difficult to get a run of races into he comes here fresh on what will be his first competitive start since the end of July.  I had this greyhound recording some of the fastest splits to the first bend I’ve ever recorded at Nottingham and with any kind of break he should prove extremely tough to beat.

TRC Events & Leisure Standard company at 5.48pm and John Mullins strong running Swift Addition is selected from what looks a plum draw on the wide outside.  He looks a great bet in the win and place markets in a race which could become congested on the middle to inside and he can win for the first time since landing a Yarmouth open back in May in 27.82.

Last but by no means least the TRC Events & Leisure Stayers over 712m at 6.02pm.  Peter Harnden’s superstar bitch Salacres Pippy can make it 4 in a row over course and distance.  Having finished runner up in last year’s St Leger after just a handful of career races Pippy really had people sitting up and taking notice with a number or runs now over course and distance and at Crayford that gave trak records a rattle.  Despite missing the kick last week Pippy soon paced up and the writing was on the wall as she put up another classy performance which was just half a length off the 712m track record set by Kishlawn Shakira in July.  Pippy can ping out and make all and if she is off the front from early on all eyes will be on the clock.