JONATHAN HOBBS: The Trainers’ Championship meeting was always one of the best-attended and exciting nights in the GBGB Calendar – so well done to Nottingham and sponsors Arc and Entain for salvaging the annual showcase with tonight’s Trainers’ Judgement Night at the Colwick Park venue.
Champion trainer Patrick Janssens takes on Angela Harrison, Kevin Hutton, David Mullins, John Mullins and Mark Wallis in a six-trainer shootout where points makes prizes.
Increased prize-money across the six races involved and a decent first prize for the winning handler will ensure competition is fierce amongst last season’s top handlers and the racing is top-notch with various distances used and several big names on show including the Derby champion Thorn Falcon.
So eyes down for six cracking races, live on Sky Sports Racing – which incidentally enjoys a busy week with tomorrow’s Gain Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory Final at Sheffield and Wednesday’s semi-finals of the BresBet 75th East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth. Open-race fans should be loving it.
Nottingham
7.16: Trainers’ Judgement Night kicks off with a two-bend contest where Shrewd Call, the Sprinter of the Year, is the star turn. However, Kevin Hutton’s Headford Buzz looks an in-form sprinter and could break best and put pressure on his rivals given recent wins.
Play: Headford Buzz
7.34: A puppy contest now and Antigua Cuddles looked above average last week with a fluent debut win. Mark Wallis’s youngster won well over C&D and another slick exit could put pressure on these, with well-drawn Moanteen Mickey shaping as the biggest danger.
Play: Antigua Cuddles
8.06: A maiden races now features on Trainers’ Judgement Night and Coolavanny Lilly has a winning profile for David Mullins. Recent trials have seen her get the better of kennelmates Ballymac Trend and Troy Firebird and that level of form gives her the vote over this 500m – with improvement very possible.
Play: Coolavanny Lilly
8.21: A bitches’ contest now and it’s great to see Stayer of the Year Smallmead back on track. However this 500m trip looks on the sharp side for her comeback spin, although decent points can be gained, and preference is for Angela Harrison’s Coolavanny Aunty. The red-jacketed runner impressed during the Puppy Classic here last month and her all-round speed makes hay?
Play: Coolavanny Aunty
8.52: Thorn Falcon, the Derby winner, is the star turn here on paper but reversing Select Stakes form with Signet Ace and Tenpin might be tough. Preference is for the white jacket to follow up his victory seven days ago, with Kevin Hutton’s runner again securing first run over the Mullins star – albeit the latter is better drawn tonight. Drumcrow Brent always deserves respect given he never runs a bad race.
Play: Signet Ace
9.11: The concluding Trainers’ Judgement Night contest is a crackerjack affair over six bends. It sees a very interesting runner in the stepping-up-in-trip Bockos Belly. Patrick Janssens’ runner ran well in the Derby and always shaped as a likely 575m type at Romford – so this is a big jump to 680m. However his speed could see him dominate the likes of Kishlawn Shakira and Coolavanny Bani early which could be key. Thereafter it’s a question of whether he stays well enough to land the spoils. If not, the aforementioned pair of classy bitches, plus the likes of Antigua Lava and Southfield Code could pounce.
Play: Bockos Belly
Good luck all.
@Hobbsy67
