Sunday doubles for Wallis, Brown, Fenwick and Griffiths

Towcester doubles for Mark Wallis and Michelle Brown

Mark Wallis's two winners at Towcester on Sunday afternoon were both sent off the 1/5 favourite, though Vhagar had to work considerably harder than those odds suggested to pick up the front-running Java Joan for Seamus Gaughan over the 712m trip. The runner-up had won last week, and full of confidence, she set about her task early again, just run down in the shadow of the post in a solid 42.89.

Stitched Pockets also made things tougher for herself, breaking slowly as she had on her debut when she caught the eye of everyone watching. To come from as far back as she did yesterday to record a time of sub 29 seconds takes some doing, especially for one with so little experience. She looks a staying star in the making. 

There was also a double for Michelle Brown, with Arc Birmingham Cup finalist Tomahawk scoring over 460m. He paced up best on the short run to the first bend and given the form that he has been in of late, there was no way back for his rivals once he had gone around in front.  

Drombeg Flash started the Brown double, taking a maiden stayers contest. This was only his fourth run for the kennel, making his debut for Brown in the heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger, far from disgraced there. Stamina is very much his strong suit, with a big and galloping six bends looking perfect for him. 

There are few dogs in better form around Towcester at present than Angie Kibble's Cul Na Braithre who brought up a hat-trick of victories with a powerful performance over 500m. He popped out in front but lacked the early pace of Betway Juvenile Classic winner Arthur Bitter. The winner stuck to his guns, swooping to the lead around the outside at the final bend to win impressively. 

Laurence Tuffin got on the scoresheet with Romeo Tribute. He stalked the early pace before getting himself to the front on the run for home. His prior two wins at the track have both come over the 712m trip back in February and March and it was his stamina that won him the day here over 460m on his first start for three months. 

The other open winner on the card was Hansford Hero. Afzal Ali's son of Good Cody got himself to the front early on in another 460m contest to back up a B2 win over the same distance the time before. He also boasts a sprint open win at Central Park, so he clearly has plenty of natural pace. 

Jimmy Fenwick and Gary Griffiths with Sheffield braces

At Sheffield, Clonbrien Piper continued his bright start to life with Jimmy Fenwick, winning for the third time in five starts for the kennel. His first two had both come over 500m at this track, stepping up to 660m with ease to land the odds of 1/5. He had led the Select Stayers a merry dance for a long way on his debut for Fenwick and has done nothing since to dissuade the impression that he is a very smart recruit. 

Also over 660m there was a win for Fenwick's Brunssum Bubble, a third straight over the trip. Once more it was Distant Fox who chased him home, those three margins a head, a short head and a head. There is little between the pair but the better early gears of Fenwick's charge has seen him coming out on top on each occasion. 

There was also a double for Gary Griffiths, led by Magical Keith who returned to winning ways over 500m. He was better drawn than he was a week ago and with a better exit from the boxes, he was quickly in control of proceedings to pick up a third win from his last four starts. 

The other winner for Griffiths was a bit of a surprise as Aurora Sky took a sprint contest at 16/1. The market looked to have got it right early on as the favourite set about making all of the running but the winner closed in late to get herself on top in the final strides. She was dropping into a sprint after plenty of wins in six-bend graded races.

Richie Taberner got another win from Adelinesfirstdog who continued his recent hot spell. He started out 0/6 early on for the kennel but has scored in seven of his last 11 starts now, turning into a super consistent performer both here and at his home track of Monmore. 

There was an interesting clash of Diane Henry dogs as Betgoodwin Eddy took on Grouchos Cossie over 500m. The market suggested the former was the way to go with the benefit of the inside draw and that was how it worked out, the Birmingham Cup finalist getting the better of his field on the run to the opening bend. 

Over two bends there was a win for Kevin Boon's Bockos Waka Waka. He scored in a Hove sprint on his debut for the kennel, given some tougher tasks since, including a journey to the semis of the Click Competitions East Anglian Derby. This was a decent sprint field that he saw off from the front.

It is a rare Sunday at Sheffield where Rose Draper doesn't pick up a victory and Newline Ray ensured that she went home with a winner. He was by far the quickest into stride and just kept pulling clear, scoring in the end by six lengths. His first three wins have come in graded company, picking up his first open here. 

David Fradgley landed the other open on the afternoon with Tiermana Rocky. He was another to make all of the running, picking up his first win since June. He can blow a little hot and cold, in flying form at the start of the year, so it will be interesting to see if he can back this up.