Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks First Round Preview

Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks First Round Preview

The Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks gets underway on Friday at Dunstall Park, with Droopys Kathleen a best priced 11/8 for outright success. We preview all twelve first round heats, hopefully steering you the right way of a few winners

Heat One of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks could go the way of the Patrick Janssens trained FABULOUS ARIA. She hasn't been seen on the track since finishing down the field on Derby final night at Towcester back in June, but she has shown in recent trials at Doncaster and here at Dunstall Park that she could be set to make a winning return to action , and if able to lead, or turn the opening bends in a decent position, then she could be the one to beat. Darcy Diamond makes her debut for Rose Draper on the back of a decent trial last week. She is entitled to improve and could be a danger if that's the case, while Joe Edgar's Magical Ruby has been running well enough without scoring in recent weeks, and she could get involved at the finish from her position out wide

WHISKY ELSA was a good runner up of the Arena Racing Company Puppy Classic behind Romeo Alliance back in August, and Nathan Hunt's runner could be the one to beat here. A 2.98 sectional in a recent trial gives her solid claims of leading in the early stages, and with Fairy Footsteps inside likely to be heading to the rails, then she could have plenty of room in the early stages and could build up a winning lead. Droopys Eunice won the Coral Essex Vase over Romford's 575m trip back in January, and although she has been off the card since June, a couple of recent trials at Central Park have shown all is well and she will look to make a bold bid to make all the running on the inside for Maxine Locke. The previously mentioned Fairy Footsteps makes her debut in this field for Patrick Janssens, but hasn't fared well in the draw out in four and will need to break well for any chance of getting involved at the finish

Aero Becks has been in good form at home track Monmore in recent weeks for Richie Taberner, making all the running in a couple of top grade contests, and despite being draw further out than ideally liked, she looks to have every chance of making all the running if able to produce another of her usual fast starts, while there could be more to come from Kevin Hutton's Pom Pom, as a slow start proved costly here last time out having made a winning debut at Oxford previously, but there may also be more to come from Carol Weatherall's GOTACRUSHONYOU. She was a very impressive winner at Oxford on September 13th, and was looking to build on her previous trial here last week but missed her break from the traps. She can be give another chance to show what she can do and if coming away, then she could be the one they all have to beat

Doncaster trainer Jimmy Gaskin has GRIPWELL PEG running well in recent weeks and she could take heat four. Although drawn further out than she probably would have liked, she showed last week that can win from trap three when winning an open at Doncaster, and with a couple of slower starters on her inside, she will be looking to get across to the rail early and if the lack of a look round doesn't go against her, she could make all the running. Belinda Green's Lilys Bullet is often slow into stride but is sure to be staying on well in the later stages, and if the leaders are within contact rounding the final bends, then she will be looking to pick them off one by one and rates the main danger. Barry Denby's Butlers Lane was in good form at Nottingham back in June but has been off since with an injury. She showed good early pace here in a recent trial, and with the chance of more to come from that run, then she could be involved at the finish

With Beatties Razl in trap three looking to head to the rails from the boxes and a vacant trap on her outisde, Slick Skylark looks to have plenty of room to work with in this field, and the Patrick Janssens runner could get off the mark at the fourth attempt. She has the best time on the clock in this field and if able to hit the front down the middle, then she could take all the beating. However, Belinda Green's BALLYMAC KINGA also looks to have an ideal draw out wide with a vacant trap inside. She reached the final of the Bet365 Empress Stakes at Towcester behind Silverhill Freya, and has shown in the past that she is a useful sort when out on the bunny. A lack of a look round may be a negative, but, virtually guaranteed a solo in the early stages, she could prove tough to reel in if trapping well. Nathan Hunt's Bridefort Lady went well enough in her trial despite not getting the clearest of run. She is another who could be up with the pace in the early stages and could feature at the finish if that's the case

Phil Milner earlier said this week that Droopys Glam "is probably the best runner he has ever had" after she made all the running here last Saturday, and she could back that up with a repeat performance in heat six. A repeat of her 2.96 sectional which she produced on that occasion can see her leading into the first turn, and with a vacant trap inside, she should have plenty of room and can make all the running again. However, Seamus Cahill's KELVINS HAT beat another Milner runner, Avongate Venus, last week when producing a battling performance. She too can show useful early pace into the opening bends as she has shown in recent weeks at Hove when winning five of her last six starts, and looks to be the one to beat in this field. Barry Denby's Bellmore Ginger has been in decent form at Nottingham but had no luck in running here in a recent trial. She is capable of much more and it wouldn't be a surprise to see her getting invovled in the final outcome

Monmore trainer Brian Thompson's PARADISE SKY has shown in recent weeks that she can be hit and miss from the traps on occasions, but she is useful when timing the start right as her performance on August 23rd showed when making all the running from Fabulous Sonique, and a repeat of that performance here could see her making all the running again in heat seven. Easy Molly comes here without a looks round the track but Diane Yeates's runner has been running well at her home track and on her travels, and from a good looking make up with a vacant trap inside, she could prove to be a danger at the finish as she can stay on well in the later stages and could prove too strong. Kim Billingham-Hine's Beatties Electra is another who is sure to be staying on well in the later stages over four bends and had been running well over Nottingham's 730m distance in previous weeks. If she can gain a clear run round the opening bends, then she will be looking to pick these off rounding the final bends

On paper, this looks to be a match between the Mark Wallis trained Strike it Skye, and Phil Milner's Avongate Venus. Preference can be given to STRIKE IT SKYE though on the back of an impressive 27.82 trial last week. She is a winner of five of her seven previous starts, her only defeats coming via the paws of the useful Turnthemagicon and Silverhill Freya in the final of the Bet365 Empress Stakes and is at her best when able to lead in the early stages, but has shown in some of her victories that she can come from off the pace, so if gaining a clear run early, then this January 24 youngster can prove too strong for her rivals at the finish. Avongate Venus had a fabulous 2024, winning the Bet365 Empress Stakes, and although things haven't gone her way this year, she has shown on occasions that her ability is still there and she looks certain to improve on her first start since early August last week and may not be far away, especially if leading down the middle. Coppice Esme is capable of doing things either way in this field and Patrick Browne's runner looks more than capable of qualifying for the next round with a clear run early

Heat nine looks to be an open looking affair as Keefill Vale has had more races than her rivals combined, but Phil Milner's runner still retains her ability and will make a bold bid to make all the running. March On Luna reached the final of the Coral Romford Puppy Cup last month and looked as though this type of distance would suit the runner from the Craig Morris kennel, while Kilwest Diva and Meenagh Minsk, represented by Monmore duo Kim Billingham-Hine and Nathan Hunt respectively, both make their debuts in this field and both can be expected to be thereabouts at the finish if up with the pace in the early stages. UNTOLD ARIARY is the selection though. Glenn Foot's runner proved too strong at Newcastle in her last outing and showed good early pace in a trial here last week. She could hit the front out wide in the early stages, and if that's the case, then she may prove tough to reel in late

DROOPYS DORIS hasn't had much luck this year with injury ruling out Kevin Hutton's runner from April until August, but last week's defeat behind Kelvins Hat ought to have blown the cobwebs away and she looks the one to beat in heat ten. A cracking burst of early pace saw her winning six races in a row at Oxford between early March and late April, and if able to hit the front again here, then she could be away and gone. Phil Milner's Snowfall faced a tough task when beaten by Romeo Empire in the BGBF British Bred St Leger over six bends at Doncaster last week, but she is sure to be staying on well again now back over four bends and she could make her presence felt if the gaps can open at the vital times. Seamus Cahill's Harlequin Beauty was slow into stride in her first start since July last week but she is another who can stay on well over four bends and if following Droopys Doris round the opening bends, then she could make her presence felt late

All eyes will be on Robert Gleeson's Ante Post favourite DROOPYS KATHLEEN in heat eleven and is impossible to oppose. She has been nothing short of sensational in her performances at Shelbourne Park last year, and despite having been off so long, she showed all is well again in a recent look round the Wolverhampton circuit, and with the chance of more to come, then she should be away and gone though her odds look set to be on the short side of things. Those wanting to take the forecast route could do worse than adding Belinda Green's Raebella Bullet into the mix. She has won her last two starts at Hove having overcome trouble in running on both occasions and can lead Now And Then drawn inside her. If that's the case, then she should gain a clear passage and can stay on well for second. Simon Deakin's Now And Then has just the one victory to her name but has staying on well in top grade contests at Newcastle so she could fill the remaining qualifying position if close enough rounding the final bends

The final heat of the first round looks set to go the way of Kevin Hutton's SIGNET NAYLA. She made the semi final of the produce stakes at Swindon, giving eventual winner Eagles Respect plenty to think about in one of the earlier rounds and can boast cracking early pace. One of her better breaks in this field can see her hitting the front early, and in that scenario, could take all the beating. Michael Field's Epic Evelyn looked to be a bit of an unlucky loser here last week when finding trouble at the opening bends but if she can gain a clearer passage in the early stages, then she could feature at the finish. Gingers Tali can show good early pace against the rails and if she can produce another of her better breaks, then Patrick Browne's runner will be looking to qualify for next week's second round