GREYHOUND THIS WEEKEND: This weekend it’s the final of the Champion Stakes at Romford where we have a 16/1 selection for the final. That event is live on RPGTV on Friday evening. On Saturday it’s the semi-final of the Premier Greyhound Racing English Oaks.
Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes Final at Romford.
Once again Romford will provide some high-quality action this Friday night with the Final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes the feature event on good quality card live on RPGTV. The Final is due off at 20:54. Let’s look at the runners.
- Droopys Google
- Ballintee Noshow
- Havana Top Note
- Hollow Man
- Whyaye Man
- Ninja Kerry
Verdict: Hollow Man has been exceptional in his last two runs over the trip and is a deserving favorite to land the prize. From trap four he will move to the middle on the run to the opening corner. Should he get loose early, there is nothing in this field that should trouble him. If you are looking to take on the favorite your hopes will rely on Hollow Man missing the kick and/or meeting trouble on the run to the bend, that is a possibility given he will head for the rails in the early yards. But what can hold him up? Havana Top Note shouldn’t pose a threat in the early yards and Droopys Google broke well last week but isn’t usually that quickly away. Ballintee Noshow may be the one to give Hollow Man most to think about in the early yards. He ran well when behind the favorite last weekend and had previously made all in two runs at the track. He wasn’t at his sharpest at lid rise last weekend and can go up better, but he must do everything right. Ninja Kerry is a real credit to connections. He was a Derby finalist back in July and as he approaches his fourth birthday he is running as well as ever and remains unbeaten in the event. He has been handed a perfect draw and should have plenty of room to operate early. We are not afraid to put forward a big price selection in this column and in recent weeks we have been handsomely rewarded. For me Whyaye Man is overpriced in the final. A greyhound with fine all-round pace Whyaye Man has yet to produce a flying start around Romford, but I know there is a big break in the dog. In his Irish career he posted a 1.23 sectional around Limerick and a 2.05 around Shelbourne Park. Both of those are top drawer. He also recorded a slick 4.10 at Towcester during the Derby. If the truth be told it will be hard to beat Hollow Man, but at 16/1 you could do worse than have small interest in Whyaye Man.
Oaks Semi Finals at Perry Barr.
Three semifinals of the Premier Greyhound Racing English Oaks will feature on the Perry Barr card on Saturday night. There is little room for error with just the top two advancing from each of the semis to next weekends final. Irish Raider Droopys Mandolin improved from her first look at the track last weekend to score on her second visit and Robert Gleesons young daughter of Laughil Blake can go in again. She boasts an incredible Irish card winning six of her seven starts and made it one from two at this venue on only her second UK outing. She faces some strong rivals in the shape of Whats Up Eva and Bellmore Lola, but Mandolin can score if starting on terms. Antigua Bingo done quite a bit wrong last week but still came through to score and looks the one to beat in the second semifinal with Droopys Ailsa and No Rush set to give her most to think about. At a massive price Home Bronagh could be worth a dabble in the last heat. The sole wide seed has a perfect draw and can fly from traps on occasions. Bronagh has a recent best of 28:41 around here and won’t have to go much quicker to get involved in a tricky looking race.
On the Horizon
Plenty to look forward to in the coming days. At Towcester on Sunday it’s the final of the Greyhound Studbook Trophy. Central Park have the semifinals of the Kent Derby on Sunday evening and Mullingar have round two of The RPGTV Fair Warrior. The Puppy Oaks gets underway at Shelbourne Park this Saturday night and The Irish St Leger will kick off at Limerick a week on Saturday.
