Saturday Night Fever! Paul Blake reviews the best of yesterday’s greyhound action.
Chris Hamblin achieved a credible treble on the graded racing card at Oxford on Saturday evening. On the same card, Karen Dodington secured a brace to go back on top of the trainer standings, while rival Terence Nevin added a single to his tally.
Dodington’s Boyneside Bailey recorded the fastest time of the evening in the A2 fourth race with a very decent 27.59.
At Towcester, Carol Grasso’s, Any Moment Now recaptured some of his best career form, winning the third race (A2) on the afternoon card in a snappy 29.77 calculated.
Laurence Tuffin tightened his grip on pole position in the trainer’s standings at Towcester with four more wins on Saturday’s card.
Ricky Holloway was the pick of the trainers at Crayford on Saturday morning as the spoils were shared around the fourteen race card.
However, the fastest lap of the day came from 3-year-old Lamorna Ollie in Race 5 (OR3) with a lightning quick 23.36. Holloway’s black dog, who has been running superbly of late, romped home from Trap 2 to win by 4 lengths.
Down by the seaside at Hove, most of the Saturday evening racecard was devoted to some cracking open racing.
Fresh from her Coronation Cup third place, Bonjour Bullet made no mistake in the 515m Coral Brighton Belle Trial Stakes. As is becoming commonplace, she was quick away and always led.
Belinda Green was full of praise for her well-decorated Category 1 superstar. “She always shows that good flash of early, and you always know what to expect with her. She’s a trier”
Elsewhere on the card, Derek Knight’s Clona Uriel and Belinda Green’s Ninja Green both won well.
Paul Young’s Bubbly Cherokee scraped through to next Saturday’s Coral Dogs 515 final after being badly crowded at the second bend. Finishing third behind Droopys By Amile (N.Hunt) and Soul Focus (P Marchant), Cherokee will need better luck in running next weekend if he is to claim the trophy.
Seamus Cahill’s Maree Champion made no such mistake in the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup Trial Stakes. The brindled dog stayed on at a strong pace to grind down the competition, ultimately running out a 4 3/4 winner in the fastest calculated time of the evening over 500m (29.25).