Boxing Day has traditionally in the UK been a day where thousands of once-a-year racegoers attend the track. Most see it as ‘a day out’ and won’t be back for another. For others it is the start of a long love affair with greyhound racing.
All credit to Kevin Boothby and his team at Towcester, plus those other promoters who have also chosen to promote greyhound racing in such a positive way. Towcester have put on a full twelve race open card with all bar one of the races sponsored by Towcester Racecourse Events & Leisure and worth £250 to the winner.
The sole other race is to be staged over 712m in honour of the recently departed and much missed Barry Boothby , father of Kevin and Dave and worth £500 to the winner.
The afternoon gets underway at 1.17pm and John Mullins can provide the winner with his Russian Blake fancied to follow up last week’s success. His 16.01 winning effort over this 270m course and distance was his first winning sprint effort on UK soil with him until now been known primarily for his short four bend running. A pacey type he came out of the fog to win well and in a race which shouldn’t take too much winning he can go in again.
A high-class maiden at 1.33pm where a number of the runners will move onto bigger and better things in the coming year. Sharon Thompson’s Master Ten Ten failed to win in 4 starts on Irish soil but was a greyhound who always carried a lofty reputation and will be expected to be competing in major competitions throughout next year. He’s trialled in well around here and from a nice-looking draw against the fence he’s selected to get his UK career off to the best possible start. He can’t afford any mistakes though as there are a few in here who will take advantage quickly. Patrick Janssens Droopys Artisan has a huge engine as his 2951 trial around here last week highlights. He’s not really coming away from the traps at the minute and that was yet again the case in his trial , he was afforded the room to showcase his pace on that occasion but another slow start and under race conditions and once again things will quickly become difficult. This is a race that may well best be watched with clues a plenty for the future but for selection purposes ‘Ten Ten’ to break well enough to get round the bend in front and get his career up and running.
A maiden stayer over 712m at 1.49pm and Kevin Boon holds the answer with his promising young bitch Farneys Tigger. You only have to mention that ‘Tigger’ is a younger half-sister to Three Ems to be made fully aware that anything this bitch did over four bends was merely a precursor to what she should do over six and maybe beyond. Stepped up to 575m at Romford on recent outings that wouldn’t really be her track but cast an eye back to when winning a heat of the English Puppy Derby around here in 30.09 at the end of November at huge odds of 20/1. That kind of four bend pace should put her into a very prominent position at an early stage of a race like this and around a track which she is proven and over a distance which should prove ideal ‘Tigger’ can win her maiden before moving onto better things for Boony.
A top-class standard event over 500m at 207pm which sees the return to action of Patrick Janssens Derby champion Thorn Falcon. There’s no doubting that ‘Falcon’ went off the boil substantially after his Derby victory and Janssens himself suggesting he maybe let the dog carry on racing a little longer than ideal after a tough campaign. He was given a rest though and comeback with a series of top-class trials throughout October and November which saw him winning on his second start back in a top class 2936 over course and distance. Pulled out of his next intended engagement ‘off colour’ he has since trialled back over the sprint trip in a top class 15.94. This is an above average race make no mistake about that and the likes of Sally Johnson’s Savana Perfecto who is seeking a four timer around here amongst other talented types will not be beaten easily. ‘Falcon’ is no ordinary greyhound though and he can make his class tell.
A top-class stayer’s event over 712m at 2.23pm and Peter Harnden’s superstar stayer Salacres Pippy can ping out and make all. A stunning victory in the final of the Category One Hunt Cup over course and distance in a new track record time was swiftly followed by further category one success when landing the final of the Cesarewitch at Crayford over 874m. As tough a bitch once in front as you’ll find with the heart of a lion and though she may well just come on for what is her first outing since her run at Shelbourne on Winter Festival night she should be straight enough to take this if breaking in her usual style. There are a number of live dangers in the field though so it will take a performance near to her best to win.
A 500m standard at 2.42pm and though Patrick Janssens Aussie Captain stands out after a stunning 29.55 victory here last week there is unlikely to be any value in his price and the move to trap 1 may not prove ideal. On value grounds the selection is John Mullins Chelms Switch who is a greyhound with a huge engine and the month off since running in the semi-final of the Eclipse at Nottingham is unlikely to have done him any harm. He’s trialled back well here recording 15.91 in a sprint and I’ve a feeling this is a greyhound who we’ve not seen the best of yet. Back him win and place on the machine at what should be more than fair odds.
A competitive 270m sprint at 3.02pm but Peter Harnden’s Salacres Lee is a young pup very much heading the right way. He’s been beating off some nice types in top grade company around here and from a nice-looking draw can make every post a winning one to complete the hattrick and win at open class for the first time. Icaals Rocco looks the main danger for John Mullins who has plenty of experience over the selection and would go very close if overcoming what is generally a poor draw against the fence in sprints around here.
A 500m maiden at 3.18pm and Deelish Frankie can show why he was so well backed to get his career off to a winning start last time out. Missing the break he encountered trouble at the bend and even at one point clipped the rail. This would have been the end of most young pup’s races but after finally getting clear along the back straight he showed good pace and a great attitude to eventually finish a fair second. He’s better than today’s rivals with any kind of break and any kind of run.
The Barry Boothby Boxing Day Memorial race over 712m at 3.38pm can go to Frank Gray’s Manx Kipper who has been running like a winner waiting to happen over a tough six bend trip like this. Around a track she knows well and coming into the race in superb form after a four-bend victory last time out where she pulled further clear with every passing stride ‘Kipper’ can ping out from an ideal draw out wide and make every post a winning one. Laurence Tuffin’s Romeo Ammo looks every inch a stayer in the making and despite having yet to win a race shouldn’t be long in doing so now stepped up in distance.
The 500m standard at 3.58pm looks there for the taking for Patrick Janssens Romeo De Niro. He was eliminated from the English Puppy Derby at the semi-final stage but was a mega impressive winner last time out when winning by over 9 lengths in 2951. He’s unlikely to represent much in the way of value but it would take a brave person to oppose him.
The 712m stayers at 4.18pm is one of the toughest races of the day to call. There are numerous possibilities to how this race will pan out but the most likely is that Jason Bloomfields Heathlawn Lemon will break well enough to hold his inside pitch to the bend and if doing so would want a fair amount of beating. He’s had a couple of weeks off from competitive action since being eliminated from the Kathleen Kiss Memorial down at Hove but has trialled well a couple of times at Henlow since then. Those runs should have him sharpened up and spot on for today. Patrick Janssens Jewel Of Madonna doesn’t win very often but runs at a good level and is never far away. She can once again go close and is well worth including in any forecast and tricast combinations.
The last race on a terrific card is a 500m standard at 4.38pm. David Elcocks Getwiththetimes is another who doesn’t win as often as a bitch with her ability maybe should do but at the same time she competes in fair class races and doesn’t duck a challenge. Though the step back to 500m wouldn’t be ideal for a bitch who finds this distance a minimum she’s well drawn on the outside and with anything like a clear run can’t fail to be far away in a race which is very winnable for a lady of her class.