Betfair Official Blog

GREYHOUNDS: PREVIEWS

Kid hopes to conquer from boxes

Galaxy Kid (T6) bids to complete his run through the grades in the RGOA Members Trophy Race (21:57) at Romford.

The son of Droopys Scholes arrived on the card in A8 last September and Paul Young's wide tracker has bravely fought his way to the top echelon from thereon in. In the first of two A1 contests, he appears to have every chance of staking a major claim as they head for the vital first bend.

Scary Chaz (T1) trialled at the track in 24.78 last Wednesday and seems to have shown no ill effects from a stumble on June 2. This was an encouraging enough appearance but the formbook suggests that it has been prudent to oppose him when previously campaigned at this level.

Hortons Diamond (T2) obliged in an A1 at the beginning of the month and has campaigned in sprint opens since. The son of Blue Gooner has looked most progressive in recent months and as an inmate of the Paul Young kennel, there is every chance that there could be further improvement.

Ronin (T3) made full use of a downgrade into A2 company and was soon able to regain the winning thread. The son of Tucks Mein finished ahead of Hortons Diamond when the pair met in an open last May, so the early trading is watched to see whether a first victory in A1 is likely.

Blacknotblue (T4) is an impressively bred individual as he is out of the well-known broodbitch, Macy Gray. Connections have wasted no time in taking on open race assignments after the dog scooted home in A3 last month. This does represent a two-grade hike on graded form, but given recent efforts in the Graphite Puppy Derby at Walthamstow, there can be plenty of optimism that the dog will acquit himself on Wednesday.

Jomax Plumber (T5) has paid his way at this level since the assessor decided to plunge him in with the big boys in February. Early pace is very much the forte of Maxine Locke's inmate although three recent wooden spoons may see him being taken on by the layers.

Tessa aims to Beat Them again

Beat Them Tessa (T1) will bid to win her third race on the bounce in the penultimate race (22:13) on Romford's card.

Alison Ingram's bitch was easy to back before a recent maiden open around London Road, but soon wrestled the rails off Genesis Star and put her rivals to the sword. Back in the red on this occasion, the daughter of Droopys Woods simply could not be in better form.

Swift Mentor (T2) lost no caste in defeat to Roswell Spaceman last weekend and cannot be written off readily. The loss of the rails is an obvious negative for the son of Daves Mentor, but he has adapted quickly to the track since arriving Walthamstow and had won three opens on the spin prior to his recent reverse.

The punters at Romford had underestimated Glory George (T3) last Wednesday and it is unlikely that the layers' generosity will extend to a second offering. An open race sprinter in his younger days, he is always vulnerable in the closing stages of the race. That said, he does have a fair strike rate when tried in A1 grade.

Clap The Throw (T4) has only one way of running and that is to attack the bunny as the lids rise. It is a credit to Peter Payne's training abilities that this Aug 02 whelp can still cut the mustard at A1 level although it would be no surprise to see the layers taking a view on Wednesday as there are genuine open class dogs in opposition.

Mineola Lem Lem (T5) is a relative newcomer to Romford having raced previously under the care of Karen Prince at Monmore. The daughter of Roanokee landed a weak bitches open at the track at the beginning of the month and a clock of 24.76 was a fair one for a first competitive look around the track. The layers have opposed on two subsequent starts and have had few worries in collecting their cash.

Orange Snow (T6) has posted some uninspiring form figures of late but it would be no surprise to see the sole wide seed bounce back to some semblance of form. The daughter of Droopys Vieri landed a monster punt in May when successful in a time of 24.44. It will be interesting to see if there is any market confidence behind Maxine Locke's bitch as she could benefit from an inability to be involved in any first bend trouble.

Duchess could lord it over rivals

Hi Duchess (T3) may make use of the grader's leniency in order to land the closing stayers' event (22:30) on Romford's card.

Dave Mullins' bitch was not disgraced on a recent foray into S1 and while there is the suspicion that 575 metres is on the sharp side for her these days, her backers will be happy to take her on trust in S2 as she obliged in both of her last two appearances at this grade. It would also be completely apt for the daughter of Spiral Nikita to win a race named in her honour.

Viparsheda (T1) will not be seen until the race begins to build to its crescendo. The term "out and out stayer" is often overused in greyhound racing but Alison Ingram's representative ticks all the right boxes on that score. A well beaten second in an open over 1025 metres at Coventry last Sunday, the Betfair market is watched for clues.

Paulees Princess (T2) should have few problems in securing an early lead on the rails and this factor will play heavily in her likely odds. A winner of a weak S1 last month, there is the suspicion that the daughter of Hotshow Ben does not quite stay six bends and she could be picked off by the proven stayers off the home turn.

Commons Bale (T4) is an honest individual who does not know how to run a bad race. Despite a fair record in S2 company, the layers have invariably opposed on recent appearances at London Road. A winning time of 36.39 does read well in the context of this race and backers can have the luxury of knowing that he will turn handy.

Chakalak Harmony (T5) was a high-class juvenile over four bends but the jury is very much out in relation to his abilities over six. On a losing run over this trip since January, the percentage call is that of opposing him again.

Airtech Choice (T6) has been an infrequent winner of late but it would be folly to discount him as a consequence. Paul Young's dog does need to get away on terms in order to show his best form and while this is no certainty, he did post three successes at this level during the early spring.