JONATHAN HOBBS: Tonight at Perry Barr we have the RPGTV St Leger Final plus the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup Final – two cracking deciders to whet the appetite for greyhound fans.
PERRY BARR has staged some superb meetings over the years.
We’re talking Trainers’ Championship meetings, the Bags Track Championship Grand Finals, St Leger and Birmingham Cup finals – and tonight’s fare at the Birmingham venue is up with the best.
Anyway, the St Leger final oozes class and, in Roxholme Kristof, features the dog who along with Kent Derby favourite Tenpin has really put a skip into the step of UK greyhound fans heading into 2021.
However, superstar status is earned on the track and connections will be keen that both win their respective finals this week. Neither task looks straightforward and punters might choose to take a watching brief – or not!
Let’s look at tonight’s Perry Barr card.
6.41: One of the supporting opens to both finals could see one of the best bets in Droopys Dazzler. Angela Harrison’s dog had no luck in the heats of the Birmingham Cup but has since run a fast Newcastle trial and this draw closer to the inside helps matters big-time.
Play: Droopys Dazzler
6.59: The first of the night’s finals sees a puppy contest with plenty of chances. There was hardly anything between the three heats winners on the clock, so perhaps the answer is to look for the youngster with most scope. Jason Bloomfield’s raw Savana Eagle fits the bill.
Play: Savana Eagle
7.34: Six bends now and good to see Good Champ back on track. Always well regarded, Lynn Short’s dog ran-up in last year’s Yorkshire St Leger at Doncaster and will come on for a troubled-marred run here last week. He’s up against some doubtful stayers here.
Play: Good Champ
7.51: The top division of the 480m opens and Droopys Trapper is tough to look beyond. He’s a veteran now but has returned in brilliant heart with all-the-way wins at home track Newcastle in rapidfire times for Team Harrison. Notouttheway runs well at a price.
Play: Droopys Trapper
8.06: The final of the RPGTV Dash and very much a Sheffield shootout! The principals Coolavanny Dylan, Referendum and Geelo Brezza are also based at the Owlerton venue – the former might just win the battle of the trappers for Kirsty Grayson’s kennel.
Play: Coolavanny Dylan
8.21: Antigua Fire steps up in trip here and will corner the market in this marathon. He’s top class, but lack of recent action suggests the value might lay elsewhere. Blue Mischief ran great on Derby final night, but Tom Levers’s Beechgrove Bell could need pegging back.
Play: Beechgrove Bell
8.36: The Birmingham Cup final now and it looks a crackerjack affair on paper, although how middle seed Blackstone Milo copes with the inside slot could determine how this race pans out. He’s been superb up to now, but could easily run off. Expect Levante Beach to ping-start and lead and, while conditions went against him last week, the way Gonzo picked him up was exceptional – and Julie Bateson’s runner gets a confident vote to turn the tables should he enjoy a clear run – which looks very possible with slower breakers around.
Play: Gonzo
9.11: The St Leger final now and Roxholme Kristof is fancied to secure the Classic gold his supporters have believed he’s destined for having made a superb start to his UK career, with 6 wins from 8 starts. He reversed Derby final night form with Blue Tick George in last week’s semi-finals and can repeat the dose, although the middle part of the race will be crucial given George or Salacres Pippy or Smallmead could set a fierce tempo. Then the question will be can the in-form and brilliant Aayamza Royale catch Kristof over this trip You’d say no, even though the Cesarewitch winner took off last week!
Play: Roxholme Kristof
Good luck all.
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