GREYHOUND PREVIEW: As the end of the year approaches, the best of the action comes from Hove on Saturday, with a strong afternoon card at Towcester on Sunday where the final of the British Bred Derby is the highlight of a good-quality programme.
Hove Saturday
A twelve-race programme from Hove gets underway at 6:08 with the Get Ready For Rudolph Maiden 500. Rural Pest was a shade disappointing last weekend, but he is a greyhound with form at the very highest level when trained by Graham Holland in Ireland. He will need to improve on last week’s effort but is capable of far better and it is too early to write him off. Pest is much better when able to dominate from the front and, if he were to lead here, I would expect a much-improved performance.
The well-bred Underground Paul is an interesting runner in the 6:26. He makes his debut for Paul Young. He is only an August ’24 whelp and has moved well in trials while boasting a superb pedigree. A half-brother to Gary The Arb and Irish Derby finalist Droopys Deploy, he looks one to keep onside. His sire Callaway Pro Am was an Irish Derby finalist who went off 7/4 fav behind Born Warrior in 2022 and has made a pleasing start at stud.
Burrows Eclipse and Missile One should dominate the third race on the card, with a slight preference for Missile One drawn on the fence. Annadown Jacob looks as though a step up in trip will do her the world of good and she gets the nod to lead them home in the maiden stayers event at 7:33.
Swift Jarvis is set to go well in the second heat of the Christmas Stayers at 8:07. She has had the better of the re-opposing Infield Fifi on her last two outings, but her biggest danger may come from Minstrals Six in the blue jacket. Six has been running in red-hot company of late and could go well at a price, though Swift Jarvis can prove too strong late on.
Croydon Boy is my idea of the winner of the sprint contest at 8:41. He makes his UK debut but looks an exciting recruit to the sprinting ranks. He showed fine early zip in four-bend starts when trained in Ireland and his latest trial was eye-catching when getting the better of the excellent Sunshine Sioux. Sioux was one of the fastest dogs over the Derby trip in Ireland this year and that line of form really stands out in this four-runner race.
Towcester – Sunday
The British Bred Derby is the highlight of a good-quality card at Towcester on Sunday. The evergreen King Memphis has set the pace over the last couple of weeks and ran well when winning his semi-final despite meeting some trouble in running when beating Romeo Ability.
Memphis was drawn inside Romeo Ability last weekend but the draw gives Romeo a real chance in the final. At the prices, I will be in the Romeo Ability camp. If he can hold King Memphis on the run to the corner, I feel he is more than capable of matching him from the second bend home. It is worth noting that Romeo Ability is unbeaten in four starts from the red jacket around Towcester and that stat alone makes him of interest. Currently around 11/4, I can see him going off closer to 2/1 and expect him to be bang there. Aero Boris will be finishing best of all and could nick a place. The final is due off at 4:47.
Elsewhere on the card, it may be worth following Bombay Nutty in the stayers event at 3:51. Nutty has strong form at the track over four and six bends and should go well here.
Good luck to all connections.
Barry
