GREYHOUND PREVIEW: In the latest preview we looks ahead to the Bet365 Challenge Cup from Oxford on Friday and the Puppy Derby from Towcester plus a quick look at the upcoming Winter Racing Festival from Shelbourne Park at the end of the year.
Challenge Cup at Oxford
The Challenge Cup at Oxford will be the highlight of the evening on RPGTV on Friday night when the six-bend event reaches it conclusion. We have seen plenty of shock eliminations and some big performances along the way and a genuine case can be made for many of the finalists. For me Antigua Sugar looks short enough at 5/4 and I expect her to go off bigger on the night, she is well drawn in six and will look to make all but she may not have it all her own way.
A dog I have been with since the beginning of the event is Gizmo Smasher, Smasher has the fastest time in the line up and also boasts the fastest sectional time of the finalists. If he can reproduce his form of round one, he could make them all go. Although it is a six-bend event the early yards in this contest are vital around the tight Oxford circuit, at 8/1 Gizmo Smasher makes plenty of appeal. Chelms Cub will be well fancied by many after his semi-final win but at the bigger odds, I will stick with Gizmo Smasher to make all.
Puppy Derby at Towcester
Well for the fourth time we will attempt to continue with the RPGTV Puppy Derby from Towcester on Friday. The event, now at the quarter final stage has been held up on two occasions with the weather and again last Sunday with the farcical scenes with the traps. Several trainers have voiced concern about persistent issues at the track and rightly so in my opinion, some have decided to withdraw their runners from the event and track until improvements are made. This in turn leaves us with a decimated field for the four quarters due off on Friday afternoon.
At the time of writing heats one and two contain four runners, heat three has five runners and only three runners due to go to traps for the fourth quarter final. Makeitkingsydney in heat one and Undulation in heat two remain a pair of interest but it is hard to be confident on any selections until we see how the track is running. Improvements must be made at the “flagship” stadium.
Winter Racing Festival
A quiet weekend ahead awaits in Ireland, although we do have the final of the Christmas Oaks on Saturday from Shelbourne Park. The eagerly awaited Winter Racing Festival is due to kick of on Dec 29th. The annual two-day showpiece is for many one of the highlights of the year.
On Friday 30th six one off €10,000 races will be up for grabs as well as numerous €5,000 races on the night. Currently four UK based challengers have thrown their hats into the ring including UK superstar Coolavanny Shado who is due to go in the open 550 on the night. He could line up against the likes of Derby Champion Born Warrior, runner-up Ballymac Finn and strong rumours persist about the possible return of Coolavanny Hoffa. Either way it will be a terrific two days of action from Shelbourne Park with both meetings live on RPGTV. We will have a more detailed idea of entries in next weeks piece. Until then have a Happy Christmas.
Weekend Best Bet:
Oxford Friday: Gizmo Smasher. One unit win
