Monday Round up - 3 February 2025

Towcester treble for Janssens

Romeo Empire was the one that got away on the afternoon.

Droopys Plunge did nothing to disuade the suggestion that he is a genuine Derby hope for connections with a slick 28.57 success. When he gets it right, there are few who can cope with his brute pace. Whitewood Libre won the opening contest on the card and Fabulous Heka added a stayers affair, just holding off Bombay Nutty.

It could easily have been four on the afternoon for Janssens if Romeo Empire had a kinder run. He just failed to reel in Vicki Lea’s Fords Gamble who had in turn only picked up Beaming Panther late on.

Only two dogs have stopped the clock quicker over 712m at Towcester than Mongys Wild did for Mark Wallis. The youngster has only had seven career starts with just one over six bends ahead of yesterday. That was at Shelbourne in November, setting the second quickest time of the year over that trip behind Tuono Charlie. He looks another staying star for the kennel.

Magical Luna got back on the scoresheet for Kim Billingham-Hine. Her time was a little way behind Mongys Wild but Oxford’s 847m track record holder could relish the longer distance in the TV Trophy back at this track next month. Cornelius Condon won the other open on the afternoon with Bombay Bingo.

Sunday’s Towcester Trials

Just a week until the start of the Northamptonshire Sprint.

Romeo Taylor went fastest over 270m in the session. He only missed out on a spot in the Bar One Sprint Final last year by three-quarters of a length, finishing third in both the Irish Produce Stakes at Clonmel and the Laurels at Cork.

Classic winner Bramble Linton shaped well with a 15.70 effort. His kennelmate Niosfearrnabolt can be afforded another opportunity after a stumble cost him some time early on.

Extragud trip to Sheffield for Dimmock

The 2024 Gymcrack runner-up showed his liking for Owlerton once more.

Sheffield was the first of three Category One finals Droopys Extragud made in 2024, unlucky when badly hampered in the Blue Riband semis to start this year. 28.87 is the quickest time that he has produced at Sheffield so far.

There was a treble on the afternoon for Rose Draper. The stayers final saw Pear Drops get up late on with Slippy Keith (480m) and Distant Val (500m) completing the wins across. three different trips.

A 27.62 win for Tom Heilbron’s Loose Cannon was a smart 480m run. Only 15 quicker times were produced across all of 2024 with six of those by Cat One winners and another five by Cat One finalists. The other open race on the card went to Colliers Brynner for Paul Prior.

Hardy and Bulmer with the Star doubles

Bramble Oreo produced the quickest sprint at the track since March 2019.

Just a length and a half off the sprint clock takes some doing. That’s exactly what Bramble Oreo produced last night for Chloe Hardy. She drove the opening bend strongest from the striped jacket and was away and gone for a 14.45 victory. It was only her third race since the Scurry final at Perry Barr last October. Unanimous Kai added a second winner for Hardy.

Not To Be started off a successful evening for Mark Bulmer, winning over six bends. Cloncunny Black sprung a 14/1 shock in the 435m standard contest to complete the Bulmer double. Mags Star won the other open on the card for Frank Kearney.

New Greyhound of the Month sponsor

Greyhound Racing UK is the new sponsor of the Greyhound of the Month award.

Recent backers of the Blue Riband at Towcester, Greyhound Racing UK takes over from Time Greyhound Nutrition whose support has been hugely welcomed by the Greyhound Writers’ Association, whose members vote on the monthly awards.

“I’d like to thank Time Greyhound Nutrition, in particular John Fox and Willie and Shane Rigney,” said GWA chairman Jonathan Hobbs.

“They kindly agreed to sponsor the Greyhound of the Month award for a year and we’ve had some brilliant winners during that time.

“Time and their newly launched Time Club is hugely committed to greyhound racing on both sides of the Irish Sea and will continue to be very visible to fans of the sport with their big-race sponsorships.”

Of Greyhound Racing UK’s involvement, commercial director James Brodie said: “The monthly awards are so important for owners and trainers.

“It’s the recognition of their dogs’ performances – and we all love a trophy!”

Nominations for January’s Greyhound Racing UK Greyhound of the Month award are now been canvassed among GWA members.

December’s award went to the Jimmy Fenwick-trained Wicky Ned.

Stats

• Bruin – 4.53 Monmore – 5/8 when running in S3 grade.
• Canya Peggy – 5.18 Sunderland – 5/8 from trap six.
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Opens

Monday: Nottingham

Thursday: Swindon