A fourteen-race card at Towcester this afternoon consisting of ten opens and four graded races. Below I take a look at the ten opens on the card and hope to point readers in the right direction of a winner or two along the way.
A competitive TRC Events & Leisure Maiden over 500m to get us underway at 1.57pm where a number of these can lay reasonable claims in a race where stakes should be kept small. Take a chance with Frank Gray’s Hilltop Sid who can lead the inside with one of his better breaks and if doing so that should be enough. Mark Wallis’s bitch Ballymac Notoyou has some good form on her card in Ireland and though yet to win in four starts on UK soil she’s been knocking on the door with some decent runs. Going down by just a length and a half last time out when beaten into third by Lenson Doctor she went into many notebooks but the draw in trap 4 today is a negative to her chances. If she did manage to secure a clear path then she can’t fail to be far away at the finish.
Heat one of the VIP Boxes At Towcester Sprint Trophy over 270m at 2.12pm and John Mullins Knocknaseed Gem is selected to smash out and make all from trap 5. A four-time winner over course and distance Mullins dog reached the final of the TRC Northamptonshire Sprint in April and with any kind of break should be too good for today’s rivals. He’s drawn a little wider than ideal that has to be said but Mr Roo drawn in trap 4 will be heading rails and he should soon see enough daylight up the middle of the track to utilise his early pace.
We’re back to TRC Events & Leisure Maiden company over 500m at 2.32pm and Patrick Janssens Goldies Perryman can take this on his way to better things. Already a four-time winner in graded company here he can put his excellent local knowledge to good use and put the fall he took at the first bend last time out firmly behind him. Perryman may find Frank Gray’s Makeit Solo a hazard in the early stages but he can be passed that rival by halfway. Perryman could easily progress into a competition class greyhound for the Derby winning trainer this year.
Heat two of the VIP Boxes At Towcester Sprint Trophy over 270m at 2.52pm. Pam Dolby’s Cactus Destroyer has made the perfect start to life here in the UK winning both of his first two races here over course and distance in 15.63 and 15.64 respectively. Both runs being just over 2 lengths outside the 1545 track record of Havana Class mark Dolby’s youngster out as one of the most promising sprinters in the country. Having only reached 2 years of age this month he can only improve throughout the year and it would be surprising if he didn’t develop into one of the leading two bend stars in the UK. A level break from his perfect trap 2 draw should be all he needs to complete the hattrick in style.
The House & Garage Orchestra perform live at Towcester racecourse on Saturday 28th August and this 500m Maiden Final is named after the forthcoming evening. Patrick Janssens Lenson Doctor was beaten on the first two starts of his career over 400m at Romford but he found the bigger track at Towcester much more to his liking when landing his heat of this competition last week in 29.66. A November 2019 pup he gives the impression that there’s plenty left in the locker and despite concerns over the draw in trap 4 he can land this final on his way to better things. Adam Sear’s Kantoher Jack was beaten 3/4 length by the selection last week and he can once again give his rival most to think about and again fill the forecast position.
The TRC Events & Leisure Maiden Stayers over 712m at 3.28pm. Michelle Brown’s Crashblingwallop wouldn’t be one to place the greatest amount of faith in as a winning record of 1 from 21 career starts would highlight. He should be too good for today’s rivals though and is selected to gain the first open race success of his career.
The TRC Events & Leisure Stayers over 712m at 3.48pm can go to Steve Rayner’s Night Time Danny. Rayner’s greyhound finds this tough six bend trip ideally to his liking and has won two races over the distance recently including when briefly setting a new track record on Derby semi-final night. Capable of winning off the front or from just off the pace he can turn handy here and soon put space between himself and some decent rivals.
The Stadium Bookmakers Marathon Trophy Final over 942m at 4.08pm. There’s not too much between Aayamza Royale and Savana Volcano who are both superstars of the sport. They’re both capable of beating each other on their day and there’s never too much between them at the finish. Betting in races involving these two isn’t necessary I’d rather just watch and enjoy the brilliant racing that they serve up. Who will emerge victorious on this occasion? Slight preference is for the Mark Wallis trained Royale but the advice is to simply sit back and enjoy what should be another fantastic tussle between the pair.
Heat one of The Towcester Lakes Standard Trophy over 500m at 4.48pm. Mark Wallis’s Ballymac Gaybo is drawn wider than ideal here in trap 6 but with any kind of start he should comfortably lead up Slippy Jay drawn to his immediate left and with the other four contenders all likely to be seeking ground much nearer the rail Gaybo can soon skip into what should be an unassailable lead. Any kind of reproduction of his 2953 open win here last week will be more than good enough to see him comfortably through to next week’s final.
Heat two of the Towcester Lakes Standard Trophy over 500m is a much more competitive affair but Mark Wallis may once again provide the winner in the shape of his talented bitch Black Eyed Molly. Drawn where she wants to be in trap 2 she should comfortably outpace Michelle Brown’s One For Andy to the bend and if doing so could be in prime position by the time they head onto the back straight.