GREYHOUND PREVIEW: Sunday sees the final of the Bet365 Empress Stakes at Towcester. At Romford on Friday there are six first round heats of the Coral Puppy Cup at Romford and on Saturday at Cork it’s the second round of the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels, all eight heats previewed.
Romford and Towcester highlight the big race action in the UK this weekend with the final of the Empress Stakes at Towcester on Sunday set to feature new track star Avongate Venus. At Romford on Friday evening, it’s the opening round of the Puppy Cup, and between that action on Saturday, it’s the second round of the Irish Laurels from Curaheen Park.
Empress Stakes at Towcester:
🟥 1. New Destiny
🟦 2. Droopys Eunice
⬜ 3. Icemans Girl
⬛ 4. Urlee Star
🟧 5. Fabulous Terra
🔲 6. Avongate Venus (m)
Verdict. We have seen some real stars break the track record for the 500m at Towcester in recent years, but Avongate Venus now belongs up there with the best of them after a stunning performance last weekend. The daughter of Droopys Sydney has had eleven starts since making her switch to the UK and has now won ten, including her last eight races. Formerly trained by Murt Leahy, Venus actually finished behind the reopposing Icemans Girl in a novice event at Clonmel back in January. She stepped up on that run and impressed with a couple of wins around Shelbourne Park. But now Venus has taken her form to another level, and if last week’s performance is anything to go by, she looks impossible to beat in this. Trap six is a bit of an unknown for Phil Milners charge (0/3), but the presence of five railers will surely help.
New Destiny looks the obvious danger, she can mix it with the best around on her day. She ran well behind Avongate Venus last time out and will be hoping she can turn a little closer to the pace in the final. Destiny undoubtedly has the best of the draw and has the ability to pop out on occasions. She will need to if she is to have a say. I thought Icemans Girl ran better than the bare form would suggest last week, she missed a stride soon after trap rise and had to work hard to get to the front. She is another who can go up much better and does hold Avongate Venus on a line of form from their puppy days back in Ireland- Don’t ignore her. Fabulous Terra is pacey but has never raced from this far out. Urlee Star will be doing her best work from halfway and could run into a place, Droopys Eunice needs to lead. Its hard to look past Avongate Venus but at the prices I’ll have a few quid on Icemans Girl in the hope she can produce one of her better starts and get to the front early. Good luck to all connections.
Romford Puppy Cup
Thirty-six will become eighteen this weekend and make up three semi-finals of the Romford Puppy cup a week on Friday. Qualifying is the name of the game, and you will see a lot of these greyhounds improve significantly over the next couple of weeks.
On The Banks has some good Irish sprint form and could go well in the opening heat at 19:11. Call It Off lacks experience but is a member of a very useful litter and plenty of his comrades have already displayed big promise, again, experience is against him, but he does look a nice type and is not without a chance in the second heat at 19:27. Heat three looks hot with the middle runners set to dominate. Untold Rufiyaa looks a greyhound with a bright future, but this may come a bit too soon. He faces some experienced rivals here and must do everything right.
Last time out winners Roanna Mamba and Newinn Souly look the ones to focus on. Souly beat a good field last time out and with a similar sectional he will take the beating again. Heat four looks a bit tricky and I won’t be playing but Gingers Prince can go well from two. Heat five looks equally as tricky, Droopys Lost steps back in trip after a tilt at the Empress Stakes at Towcester. She does have winning form around here and can put that experience to effective use. Ice and Fire goes in the last heat. This promising tracker is many people’s idea of the outright winner. He is a member of a special litter that includes Ballymac Briar, Ballymac The Lad and last weekends first round Irish Laurels scorer Evolution. Ice and Fire Impressed last week on his first race start at the track and supporters will be hoping he can improve on that run.
At this stage I think On The Banks could represent a bit of value at 12/1 for outright glory.
Irish Laurels at Curaheen Park
Eight second round heats of the Irish Laurels take place at Curaheen Park on Saturday night with the top three from each set to make it to the quarter final stage. Droopys Bookem can take the opener, this promising youngster is unbeaten in his career, and can make it four out of four on Saturday from an ideal draw on the fence.
Ante post favourite Tribal Syd goes in the second heat, and he just seems to be improving week on week. He is impossible to oppose with Crafty Alejandro chosen to follow him home. Last years winner High Trend had no luck in running last week but has a much better draw in a hot looking heat three. Superfast Gorden, Romeo Control and Lemon Mick are all capable, but the draw just swings in favour of High Trend.
Gaytime Elmo can take heat four, a heat with no winners from last week. My ante post selection was Evolution, and he goes in heat five from an ace draw in red. Crafty Shivoo is in opposition, but she has once again been handed a poor draw and Evolution looks the one to side with for Owen McKenna.
The inform Ower Cracker will be well fancied to win heat six. Pat Buckleys charge has now won five on the bounce and done well to win last week after meeting trouble. The draw has left him with work to do but if he can somehow secure a clear run, he can prove to strong for likely pace setter Romeo Taylor.
Battle of the early pacers in the penultimate heat where Im An Exile and The Other Kobe go head-to-head. Kobe was back to near his best last week and despite another poor draw he can take this if trapping on terms. In the final heat of the night, it may be worth giving Barefoot On Fire another chance. I though he done a lot of wrong last week but still ran a blinder to finish second. Road Exile will be looking to make all but do not ignore Barefoot on Fire.
All the best
Barry
