GREYHOUND PREVIEW: BARRY CAUL previews a busy weekend in the UK as three tournaments reach the semi-final stake – the Blue Riband at Towcester on Sunday, the Cesarewitch at Central Park on Saturday and the Essex Vase at Romford on Friday evening.
The weather got the better of last weekend’s fixture at Central Park but hopefully the Cesarewitch will be back on track this weekend. Romford had no such problems, and they will host three semi-finals of the Essex Vase on Friday evening. Towcester host the semi-finals of the Blue Riband on Sunday afternoon. The Dublin Cup at Shelbourne was another fixture to be lost to the weather for the second week running but the forecast this week looks promising, and the worst of the cold snap may well be behind us. Let’s look at the best of this weekends action starting at Romford on Friday.
Essex Vase
Semi-final 1
🟥 Icemans Girl
🟦 Baywatch Bullet
⬜ Golden Palace
⬛ Aayamza Sydney
🟧 Newinn Cloud
🔲 Allowdale Cazoo
Verdict: Icemans Girl hit the bullseye last weekend and has the draw to play a part in this. That was only her second start at the track and her fourth start over six bends, so she has further scope for more improvement from an ideal trap draw. Aayamza Sydney is a real consistent performer and a credit to connections. Trap four is far from ideal but he does not know how to run a bad race and deserves respect. Golden Palace is another who is wonderfully consistent. He has now finished in the top three in fifteen of his last sixteen outings. He ran well last week behind New Destiny and can go up strongly on occasions. The start is crucial but hopefully Icemans Girl can make the most of her good draw on the fence and make all. She is unexposed over the trip and should have more to offer.
Semi-final 2
🟥 Droopys Eunice
🟦 Fabulous Sonique
⬜ Jeopardy Jasmine
⬛ Ballymac Lineout
🟧 Mad For Sterling
🔲 Brigadir Brindle
Verdict: Droopys Eunice posted a slick 34:94 when making all last week and has the draw to employ similar tactics in this semi-final. Her 13:50 sectional reads well in this contest and if she repeats that she should lead and prove difficult to peg back. Fabulous Sonique will have her supporters. She can go up strongly when on song and ran well behind Lively Lauren last time out. She must lead Droopys Eunice early if she is to have a chance, but she does boast good form at the track. Mad For Sterling will be doing his best work late in the day but will need a little luck given his running style. Ballymac Lineout could be one for value seekers but does need to brush up on his starting. I will take a chance that Fabulous Sonique can find one of her better starts and make all. Its imperative she leads Droopys Eunice early but if doing so she has an excellent chance to make all.
Semi-final 3
🟥 New Destiny
🟦 Untold Paanga
⬜ Elite Albert
⬛ Lively Lauren
🟧 Ballymac Camilla
🔲 Scammer
Verdict: New Destiny is the obvious starting point in the third semi. She posted a flying 34:67 when winning last time out and that puts her well ahead of her rivals on the clock. Destiny has won her last five starts over this trip when drawn in the red jacket and looks impossible to oppose. The evergreen Lively Lauren has been done no favours by the draw, but she is a real professional and overcame this box last time out when making all for a game success. There is not a lot of early on her immediate inside and she could make a bold bid to lead if Destiny were to miss the kick. Scammer in six is another who will be looking to lay down a marker early. If New Destiny produces her best, she will be hard to beat. Lively Lauren could get a nice run in the early part of the contest and can make the final.
Blue Riband at Towcester
Verdict: Three semi-finals of the Blue Riband will be run at Towcester on Sunday with the top three from each semi making it through to next weekend’s final. Barntick Bear bravely got the better of kennel companion Romeo Command last week and has the draw to confirm the form. The Bear has some cracking form at the track and should make the final with a bit of luck. Untold Ruble was an impressive winner last time and is an improving sort. The draw has not been to kind to her, and she need a fast start if she is to clear Romeo Command. Despite suffering defeat last time out Proper Heiress is a greyhound of immense potential and is one to follow in 2025. He has a good draw in the opening semi and can get the better of Droopys Extragud. Droopys Plunge will hopefully make it a three from three for the red jackets. He set the standard last week but has been drawn in a tricky heat. Table Topper is improving and was another to impress last time out. Droops Plunge has won all three starts when drawn in the red jacket in the UK and if he can break in similar fashion again this weekend, he will be tough to stop. Table Toppers can follow him home.
Cesarewitch at Central Park
Semi-final 1
🟥 Bombay Zorba
🟦 Hopiehopiehopie
⬜ Fabulous Heka
⬛ Droopys Flotilla
🟧 Droopys Flare
🔲 Alright Patrica
Verdict: Droopys Flare is the obvious starting point but despite her track record breaking run last week she has no easy task on her paws this Saturday night. The draw could prove problematic, Flare has never raced from this far out in her brief career to date and she will need to sharpen up on her trapping as the standard of the opposition improves. Fabulous Heka and Droopys Flotilla were both winners last time out and Hopiehopiehopie can never be totally dismissed. Droopys Flotilla may well set the pace but for me she will need a long lead passing the stands if she is to make all. Hopiehopiehopie has a huge finishing kick but always seems to leave herself with a bit too much to do. Fabulous Heka impressed in qualifying around Shelbourne and finished behind Droopys Kathleen in an unraced bitch stake before making the switch to the UK. She impressed in victory last week and may just get first run on Droopys Flare. Both puppies have the scope to improve further but at the prices I would rather be with Fabulous Heka. Her 4.09 sectional around Towcester is eye-catching and she could just nip around if front. If she does, she will prove a tough nut to crack.
Semi-final 2
🟥 Champys Girl
🟦 Head Count
⬜ Unanimous Madam
⬛ Breton Molly
🟧 Harlequin Ocean
🔲 Alright Gordy
Verdict: The second semi is probably the weakest of the three. Breton Molly ran well behind Garfiney Blaze last time out and looks the safest option. Alright Gordy has the best of the draw and arrives in here in decent form having won his last two starts. Gordy has no stamina issues and should get a nice run on the outside. Head Count is another to come here in decent form. She has won five of her last seven starts and has only had the four starts over six bends winning twice and finishing runner up on the other two occasions. Her 17:01 split from last week is best ignored as she can go much faster with a clear run. Champys Girl Unanimous Madam and Harlequin Ocean will all need luck to get involved. Breton Molly looks a likely leader and may take some pegging back but at 14/1 in the outright betting Head Count is certainly worth a bet with each way terms currently 1-2-3. She is an improving sort, and I fancy her to make the final. Given the trap draw we are likely to lose some big guns and 14/1 could look a fair price if she were to make the final.
Semi-final 3
🟥 Swift Giddy
🟦 Garfiney Blaze
⬜ Coonough Crow
⬛ Droopys Vivacity
🟧 Ballycowen Harry
6. Bright Jewel
Verdict: Last year’s champion Garfiney Blaze has held his form remarkably well over the past couple of years and he arrives in here at the top of his game once again. He has won seven of his last eight starts and overcame traffic to score in last week’s heat. Blaze is now four from four around Central Park and looks impossible to oppose. Coonough Crow has been at the top table in these staying events for a long time now, but her best days do seem to be behind her. Swift Giddy has run well in defeat recently but needs to step up if she is to trouble Blaze. His main danger will be Droopys Vivacity. An impressive winner around here on the 28th of December, Vivacity had excuses when beaten last time and can follow Garfiney Blaze home.
Irish Scene
The rescheduled Dublin Cup will get underway at Shelbourne Park this Friday night after the weather forced last Friday night’s meeting to be called off. An A2 competition in all but name you can be sure a start of the future will go on to win the event. Razldazl Edward was an impressive winner of the Gold Collar at Shelbourne last weekend for Derby winning trainer Dolores Ruth. He looks a nice type and should contest all the major events on the horizon.
We have already spoken about Droopys Flare and Droopys Kathleen above. Both are from the Droopys Sydney-Droopys Dancer litter. Well, Droopys Dancer has had another litter to the great Droopys Sydney, and they are about to approach their first birthday! Keep an eye out for some more potential superstars.
Weekend’s Best Bet:
Ante Post
Cesarewitch @ Central Park
Head Count 1pt each way 14/1.
Barry
