GREYHOUNDS: We preview Thursday’s finals of the Birmingham Cup and St Leger at Perry Barr, before another cracking card at Romford on Friday.
UK Scene
Borna Rhythm Jumps to Glory
Borna Rhythm got the better of red-hot favorite Lenson Doolin when winning the Champion Hurdle at Central Park on Sunday night. Breaking fast from six Rhythm led up from Lenson Doolin who was a little short of room on the run up and found himself immediately on the back foot. Tullig Bee led into the back straight, closely followed by Borna Rhythm with Lenson Doolin now in third place. As they jumped the last down the back straight it was almost a line of three, with Doolin now up the inside of Tullig Bee and Borna Rhythm out wide.
Lenson Doolin held a definite advantage turning for home but had done a lot of running to get there. Borna Rhythm is a strong stayer over the 480m trip, and he proved too good for Lenson Doolin close home, with Tullig Bee running a fine race back in third.
Perry Barr Thursday
On Thursday Perry Barr will hold a brace of big race finals in the shape of The Birmingham Cup and St Leger. First up let us look at the final of the Birmingham Cup. Innfield Trojan and Ivanexile top the market for the final and only a length separated them in last week’s semi-final. As the sole wide seed, Ivanexile has a perfect draw in six with Innfield Trojan drawn in two. Trojan took an absolute flier form boxes last week and will need to do so again from box two. He should have no issues leading up Drive On Lad in one and his main dangers for the early lead are market rival Ivanexile and Burnchurch Mick in three. We went with Innfield Trojan last week and see no reason to desert him in the decider.
In the St Leger Final over six bends, Havana Lover has a decent draw in box five outside the slow starting Droopys Jungle, with Cochise in two and Savana Ruinart in three. The latter duo can go up strongly but if Havana Lover were to lead that pair early, they could hold up the big finishers late on and allow her skip clear at halfway. Droopys Jungle will be finishing fastest of all but will need the gaps to appear. Savana Volcano will also be coming from way off the pace but like Droopys Jungle will need some luck in running. We will side with Havana Lover to make all.
Romford Friday
As usual there is a cracking card on offer from Romford on Friday evening with open races over a variety of distances. Droopys Good has his trap in the 7:56. He got the better of Rail McCoy in a cracking race last weekend. McCoy opposes once again but the draw swings it in favor of Droopys Good once again.
The final of the Friday Night Stayers is up next. Warzone Tom has some cracking form around this venue, however it pays to stick with a bitch in form and Havana Bale Out is in the form of here life at present. A repeat of last week’s run would see her take this. The marathon is next on the card over eight bends and can go the way of the perfectly drawn Blueberry Bullet. All Friday night’s action will be available on Racing Post Greyhound TV.
Weekend’s Best Bets
Perry Barr Thursday 21:11
Havana Lover. Two units win
Romford Friday 20:38
Blueberry Bullet One unit win.