AK Latest, Greyhounds

By Tony Bullen - 4 October 2024

TONY BULLEN: Category One action this weekend – ante post previews, tips and enhanced doubles

Greyhounds expert Tony Bullen previews this weekend's category one races

The Category One action reaches fever pitch this weekend with The Champion Stakes kicking off at Romford on Friday. Saturday will see the start of the Bitches Classic Oaks at Perry Barr, while at Central Park we have the Kent Derby before all roads then lead to Sheffield for the Steel City Cup on Sunday.

In chronological order we tackle the Champion Stakes at Romford where New Destiny is clearly going to take the world of beating.

She contested the Empress Stakes final at Towcester, but Mark Wallis bitch is surely going to relish the return to an easy six bends. She broke the track record when running riot in the Coronation Cup over track and trip in June. With the ability to lead from the outset or come from just off the pace, if New Destiny doesn’t get caught-up in any serious traffic, a smooth route to the decider is likely, where she can show her skills to add another piece of silverware to the Trophy cabinet.

Aayamza Sydney has returned in fine fettle following an absence by reaching the Birmingham Cup final at Perry Barr and the return to six bends certainly won’t hold any fears for John Mullins charge.

He has thrived in competitions and the 575m trip at Romford is where some of his very best efforts have been produced. He finished second in the Essex Vase at the start of his campaign in 2024 and is one of a few dogs that can dip under the 35-second barrier. He packs an early punch along with middle gears and has to be included.

With the market being lopsided to the top end of the market there is certainly some value to be had with some of the outsiders. Those looking to throw a dart at one or two of those at huge odds could do worse than include Burrows Sapphire. Jason Heath’s charge pays his keep in good standard races at Hove and did reach the semi-finals of this event last year. He has the ability to quicken-up at any stage of a race and could ruffle a few feathers if he is on one his going days.

King Memphis saw his Derby dream ended when making a complete hash of the start in the decider at Towcester in June, but Liz McNair’s classy sort has returned in fine fettle with back-to-back victories in preparation for his tilt at the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby which starts at Central Park on Saturday.

There have been a new set of traps installed at the Kent Venue, but the way King Memphis knuckled down to the task to beat in-form local by setting a new track record for the 491m trip suggests he can go all the way. He showed how well he runs the track by finishing second to Queen Joni in the Kent Plate here back in March and if he doesn’t make any serious errors at the boxes, it will take a huge effort from one of the others to get to grips with him.

Those looking for a bit of value could do worse than Uncle Freddie. Admittedly, he isn’t a prolific winner, but Richard Rees charge has really been sticking to the task against top bracket company on his travels and looks the type that could keep on qualifying.

The Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks has ended-up being a 48-runner event this year, which is good news for connections as the event will be a first three to qualify format for the entire event. It has to be said despite lacking in quantity, this year’s renewal looks fascinating with the best bitches in the country taking part. Queen Joni made a shock exit from the second-round last year, but what she has achieved since is simply remarkable, winning the British Bred Derby at Sheffield, Kent Plate at Central Park, Brighton Belle at Hove and Derby Plate at Towcester. Throw in the likes of Empress Stakes sensation Avongate Venus who has only been defeated once from twelve career starts and Yarmouth Derby star Druids Say Go and this has all the ingredients of being a thriller.

However, with 22 railers in the event, there is potentially going to be some tricky trap draws for some of these leading lights going forward.

Coppice Ella is one of eight wides in the competition and Kevin Hutton’s game sort might be an E/W play on the basis she can enjoy plenty of racing room and her all-round pace and never say die attitude can enable her to keep sneaking into the frame.

Sunday afternoon’s Steel City Cup at Sheffield has attracted a decent entry, but one noticeable thing about this competition is there is some serious early paced types taking park. Sheffield is one of those venues where it can be difficult to pass, but with 27 railers there could be a few races that could become congested at the head of affairs.  Northern Flat and Gymcrack hero Wicky Ned is sure to prove popular on his reappearance, while the Links Maverick fan club might also be out in force after he was back to his brilliant best in a Match race at Romford.

However, going completely against the grain I fancy Farneys Willie to give a good account of himself. The 2024 Grand Prix sensation will certainly struggle to go toe-to-toe with a majority of these in the early exchanges, but he was a little big unfortune not to have booked his ticket in the 3 Steps To Victory final back in May.

This stamina-laden type has performed with credit in a majority of his races at the track since and If he did manage to see daylight when making his move in the second half of his races, there is a good chance he will stay on past beaten rivals and could easily spring a surprise should the big guns hinder one another at the head of affairs.

Selections

Cunnigar Yousir & Ayamza Sydney 3/1 enhanced double

ANTE-POST

ROMFORD

Champion Stakes.

New Destiny (11/8 with AK Bets)

Burrows Sapphire (50/1 with AK Bets)

 

PERRY BARR

OAKS

Coppice Ella E/W (18/1 with AK Bets)

 

CENTRAL PARK

KENT DERBY

King Memphis (2/1 with AK Bets)

Uncle Freddie (18/1 with AK Bets)

 

SHEFFIELD

STEEL CITY CUP

Farneys Willie (40/1 with AK Bets)