JONATHAN HOBBS: Towcester takes centre-stage for today’s open-race action with a great clash – another great clash – between Greyhound of the Year Aayamza Royale and Savana Volcano, her Dorando Marathon conqueror.
They go head-to-head once again in the Stadium Bookmakers Marathon Final at the Northamptonshire venue, a Category One event, with Aayamza Royale looking to confirm her heat success over Savana Volcano. And once again the former’s kennelmate Antigua Lava could have a major say in the outcome.
The card at Towcester is live on RPGTV and is the middle leg of a high-class few days of open-race action given Monmore staged a top-class double-header last night with the Ladbrokes Gold Cup and Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic finals, while Nottingham joins the party again tomorrow with the semi-finals of the Arc Puppy Classic.
Tuesday is also high quality on SSR with heats of the Gain Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory at Sheffield and the BresBet 75th East Anglian Derby and Arc Select Stakes are also just round the corner.
So let’s look at today’s best races at Towcester.
2.12: Mr Roo has a great record at Towcester and could strike if timing the start right. Lee Field’s dog ran second in the Northamptonshire Sprint behind Bockos Jon Jo and will enjoy this return to two bends from four. A midfield pitch means no mistakes, however.
Play: Mr Roo
3.11: Final time now with this maiden decider and some decent sorts were on show last week. Preference is for Lenson Doctor who enjoyed the Towcester gallop after his debut runs at Romford, although Patrick Janssens’ dog must keep All Fours at bay early.
Play: Lenson Doctor
3.28: Crashblingwallop moved well in his comeback trial at Romford and could run fresh and fast here. He’s better than a 1-from-21 record suggests and Michelle Brown’s dog is always generally there or thereabouts. A handy pitch early over this 712m trip is needed.
Play: Crashblingwallop
3.48: Blue Mischief has starred in better company than this in the past and could be ready to strike again. Richard Devenish’s runner will improve for her 500m trial and caught the eye over a faster six bends at Monmore recently behind some good sorts.
Play: Blue Mischief
4.08: The main race of the day and this Category One decider poses backers and layers a quandary. Aayamza Royale is the most likely winner judged on last week’s heats when she was able to lie handy early before hitting her stride quicker than Savana Volcano. Assuming Antigua Lava leads again, a repeat of last week’s contest could develop. That said Mark Wallis’s bitch left it at the boxes when beaten by Diane Henry’s talented bitch in the Dorando Marathon on Derby final night before bouncing back – and some! – in the six-bend Regency at Hove. Is it simply either/or between the chief protagonists? Maybe the bet at decent odds is the Wallis ‘second string’ in Antigua Lava. Any lead at Towcester is a huge advantage and there is still possible improvement in the younger stayer. Could she get away? It’s a longshot, but . . .
Play: Antigua Lava e-w
5.08: The Wallis team will be hoping one of their trio of runners win the main event – and will then look to Black Eyed Molly for the encore. She ran well over C&D last week posting a decent enough time and there is potential improvement given she’s lightly raced of late.
Play: Black Eyed Molly
Good luck all.
@Hobbsy67
