Towcester serves up a Sunday treat once again with the semi-finals of the Genco Group Juvenile Classic over 500m at Towcester.
Sponsored for the first time by Jack Russell of the Genco Group, this Category Two event attracted a really good entry and, given last year's winner was subsequent Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue - a winner last night! - they have a hard act to follow. These youngsters are giving it a good go, however!
Supporting opens once again grace the 14-race card at the Northamptonshire venue - and that will be the case next week when the meeting is staged on Sunday evening. Sponsor Russell has also boosted the open-race prize-money across the card next week to hopefully improve the overall quality of the supporting card.
Slick Sentinel (3.29) could prove the percentage call in the first Juvenile Classic semi-final. He won his heat well enough and could be best placed outside to take advantage should they crowd inside, albeit both Droopys Pivotel and Romeo Steel are classy sorts if either was able to escape the other and go on.
Droopys Pivotel's is owned by the JR Racing Syndicate headed by the sponsor and, in or out of luck with that runner, their Droopys Rosie (3.49) could strike in the second semi-final. A wider draw needs handling but could spark a lively exit and her all-round pace could make hay at the chief expense of the well drawn Tiffield Tarquin.
The value in the third semi might be Keefill Rocky (4.07), although Irish raider Syd Zafiro will be a warm order. The latter ran amok in the heats last week and a repeat performance makes the blue-box tough to hold but clearing the speedy Droopys Extragud is key and, for that reason, Phil Milner's improving sort could be well boxed towards the outside.
Minnie Bullet (5.03) makes her return to the fray in a later 500m contest and Mark Wallis's might prove too strong for well-drawn Answering and the Wallis kennel could be on the mark again in his division of the standard with Table Toppers (5.21) in a race where Burk Khalifa and Droopys Doughnut definitely help make the market.
Crayford stages the Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle Final tonight and a Ricky Holloway
-trained domination of the £10,000 final - he has four finalists - can see his Harlequin Ernie (7.16) strike gold. The red-jacketed runner looks an improving hurdler well drawn against the fence and might always hold away if coming away.
Earlier, Water Lane (6.42) can hit his rivals for six in the Ladbrokes Summer Sprint Cup Final. Darren Whitton's runner paces up well and could escape the pack.
Towcester tips
Slick Sentinel (3.29)
Droopys Rosie (3.49)
Keefill Rocky (4.07)
Minnie Bullet (5.03)
Table Toppers (5.21)
Crayford calls
Water Lane (6.42)
Harlequin Ernie (7.16)
