Another fabulous Sunday afternoon of racing at Towcester racecourse with no less than 12 of the 14 scheduled races being of the open class variety. The whole open race card is generously sponsored by the team of track bookmakers and is previewed in full by Mark Pierrepont.
The opening race of the day at 157pm is a 500m Maiden which looks a solid opportunity for Vicki Lea’s DYSERT KING to get off the mark in open class. He had one race here over the sprint trip before moving to Monmore with the Vicki Lea kennel and though beaten in that this is a dog who has shown with his performances since that he’s much more suited to 4 bend running. Just a level enough break here should see him leading up Senahel Pixie and that will allow him to dominate the inside of the track with each of the other runners much preferring a middle of the track position. He can be handy as they head onto the back straight and by the time of the third bend he should have this race under full control.
A standard 500m race is next up at 212pm and can go to Patrick Janssens classy AUSSIE CAPTAIN. He’s well at home over this course and though the trip is admittedly at the upper end of his stamina reserves this is a race where an early lead should prove decisive. He’ll need to be sharply enough from traps given that there are a few lining up in opposition who will be seeking similar ground but he’s a determined greyhound who will give his all to make the bend his own. If turning in front the race should then be all over bar the shouting.
The John Mullins trained CALLMESTEVE should be far too good for the rivals he lines up against in his 712m open at 232pm. Nicely drawn he should be in full command of this race from a long way out. He’ll be priced accordingly at long odds on so for those looking to add a little bit of juice to their returns Diane Henry’s Savana Spartacus can fill the forecast spot.
A tricky 270m sprint at 252pm can go to Kim Gooding’s SHOCKWAVE ZIRCON who was value for a little bit more than his 1591 (+5) half-length victory from last time out. He’d taken control of that race from the outset and looked on the way to a much more comfortable victory before easing up approaching the line. Whether he’d caught sight of something or simply lost sight of the hare the action cost him at least a length or so in momentum. A similar start today should see him in command again and so long as he keeps his concentration throughout he can follow up.
Back to 500m Maiden company at 311pm and Richard Yeates WORK THE HEAD can land this despite the lack of a look around. He’s a stayer in the making of that there is no doubt. He’s put up a number of eye-catching come from behind performances at home track Hove in his lightly raced career so far with the most impressive so far coming when winning by over 6 lengths in A1 company last time out despite not taking the lead until rounding the third turn. The winning distance had almost doubled by the time they reached the pick up so no matter what todays result do keep him in your notebooks for when he steps up in distance. It’s not the easiest of make ups to overcome with Laurence Tuffin’s middle running Romeo Sportstar drawn to his inside but on the balance of all probabilities he’s still selected to hang in there and come through with a strong late run.
A high class 500m standard at 328pm can see Kim Gooding’s SHOCKWAVE ONYX following up and giving the Nottingham based trainer a double on the day. Mightily impressive when winning over course and distance on his last start a reasonable break can see him making full use of what looks on paper to be an ideal draw right against the fence. There are dangers lurking throughout the field non least in Patrick Janssens classy Bockos Belly but both he and the others have tricky looking draws to overcome if they’re to turn over the selection.
More six bend action at 348pm where Lee Field’s MILTON PEPE can land this 712m open. This is a big step down upon the usual calibre of opposition which Pepe lines up against and running from a nice looking make up he should take some amount of beating. Another that will likely be priced up accordingly so maybe look to double up with the similarly short priced Callmesteve in a six-bend double.
A 500m Maiden at 408pm which can go to Vicki Lea’s well drawn pup ROMEO BLADE. He recorded 2871 when winning around Clonmel on just his second career start which marked him out as an open class prospect in the making. He’s not quite been at that level since arriving here in the UK with a few troubled runs here and at Monmore but given his age and his inexperience he should soon be making his mark. Well drawn against the fence here as the sole rails seed in the field he will likely have most to fear from his litter mate Romeo Sparta trained by Laurence Tuffin who has been performing well in high grade and maiden class here in recent weeks.
The sprinters are next up at 428pm as and Patrick Janssens BLUE BERNIE is selected to prevail over 270m. He’ll never win anything like the amount of races which his pace suggests he should simply because his trapping ability is so poor but the make up of this race where those drawn nearer the inside could well all come together could see him skipping around the middle to outside of the track and coming through for a hard fought victory on the run in. John Mullins Knocknaseed Gem is the classiest in the field but is drawn trap 1 which is far from a positive from a breaking perspective over this course and distance.
Some of those lining up in the 500m Maiden at 448pm will be doing well to win another open beyond this stage. One who could well improve a little beyond this type of level if he can just sort out his trapping a little is Patrick Janssens MARCH ON RUDY. He’s just an April 2021 whelp so plenty of time on his side yet and though at the minute he’s not trapping and not really finishing either there is time for him to sort out at least one of the departments which can only aid his cause. This isn’t a good race and he should soon be making his presence felt.
A 500m Standard at 508pm and though Patrick Janssens ROMEO TOP GUN doesn’t want to be drawn anything like as wide as the trap 5 he finds himself in today he should if breaking still get a nice run to the bend. In fact the wider draw could help him from a breaking perspective and if he does come away then he could well find that he can soon take up his preferred position nearer the rail without too much in the way of trouble. His 2933 (+20) effort when winning here over course and distance a couple of runs ago will be more than good enough to land this.
The final open race of the day is a Maiden Stayers over 712m at 528pm. Lee Field’s OAKFIELD MAGIC absolutely walked out on his last start here in a similar event and lost all chance from the beginning. Despite that he did run on well through the field to claim a reasonable second place and anything like a break here and he should prove far too good for some very moderate rivals and make amends for his long odds-on defeat from last time out.
