Aladdin's Nottingham win adds to great spell for Burton
There were some big names in action on Monday at Nottingham, with Droopys Aladdin the quickest of the winners over 500m.
Droopys Aladdin lays down an Eclipse marker
Next Monday night, the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse gets underway at Nottingham, with Mike Burton's Droopys Aladdin the quickest of the trial stakes there last night. The field that he beat was worthy of the final, with Derby finalist Sole Mio, Birmingham Cup winner Chelms Bear and Oaks heroine Butlers Lane all behind him.
Early pace won the day with a 4.96 sectional enough to get to the opening bend in front of Nathan Hunt's Newinn Oscar, who has been in flying form of late around this circuit. It capped a great couple of days for the Mike Burton team, having won the KAB Puppy Collar at Oxford the afternoon before with Outa The Clouds.
Burton was out of luck in the second of the trial stakes with Droopys Suprstar unable to clear those inside him on the run to the first turn. Baby Warrior for Carol Weatherall poached the lead and never looked in any danger from that point with Teddie chasing her home for Belinda Green.
One of the stories of the autumn at Nottingham has been the progression of Mossrich Karen. She was a multiple open race winner back in the spring but she has taken that form up a notch in the last six weeks. She had Cork Supersprint winner Born Racer behind her last night, taking on arguably the strongest field that she has had to. Her consistency for Esther Driver can see her play a part in the upcoming National Sprint.
It feels like there are few who have had to try and overcome quite so many wider than ideal draws in the last year than Droopys Flotilla, and once more a starting slot in five proved no problem for Nathan Hunt's admirable stayer. She was beaten a short head by Garfiney Blaze in the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob at Hove last December before making the Cesarewitch final, starting both from the orange jacket.
Gur Gur Granville gave notice in the Arena Racing Company Scurry that he is going to be a sprinter to reckon with, making a winning debut at Nottingham last night for Belinda Green. He produced a solid effort given that he had not had a prior look at the track. A pair of maidens on the card when to Adrian McPherson's Honour Bach and Jason Gray's Kellies Emerald.
Upcoming Opens
Tuesday: Swindon
Friday: Romford
