TONY BULLEN: Previews for Sunday’s Category One Action at Towcester and Crayford

The busy open race schedule continues this weekend with further big competitions kicking off with the English Puppy Derby at Towcester and Gold Collar at Crayford on Sunday.

There are certainly a few unknown quantities lining-up in the Puppy Derby at Towcester, most notably Liz McNair unleashes a new crop of youngsters with April 2023 litter brothers King Jackson and King Pavarotti. On trial evidence it appears that King Jackson is more forward at this early stage of their career, but it is always hard to gauge how raw pups will fare under race conditions for the very first time.

Maxine Locke sends out a strength-in-numbers team and has a representative in each of the six first round heats and connections must be delighted with the progress of Ballymac Kobe.

Beaten on debut at Central Park, the May 2023 son of Ballymac Cashout has warmed-up for this event with bold back-to-back wins over course and distance. His overall winning times suggest he really is above average and if he can continue to show that same urgency at the boxes, there is every chance he can go all the way.

Crayford has a bumper open race card on Sunday evening where the Grand National is running alongside the Gold Collar. Sadly, the Grand National consists of 24 locally trained runners, 14 of them being handled by Ricky Holloway. Nunhead Shiv raised a few eyebrows when lifting the title last year and there are certain to be some thrills and spills in this event, but we are putting all of our focus and attention on the Gold Collar, which has attracted some big names and will certainly take some winning.

Queen Georgia made a smooth transition to six bends with a rampant display in the 3 Steps To Victory at Sheffield and acquitted herself really well in big events on her travels thereafter. Her recent prep trials suggest she is raring to go following a layoff and she ought to throw down a serious marker by winning the opening heat.

However, Aayamza Sydney is well-suited by an easy six bends and did reach the final of this event last term. John Mullins charge has shown he is better than ever by reaching the Birmingham Cup Final at Perry Barr and also contested the Champion Stakes final over 575m at Romford. A dog blessed with fair early and middle gears, he has the speed and talent to always put himself in the driving seat by the third turn in any race he contests and is also well-equipped to cope with a draw further away from the rails if he doesn’t get any luck in that regard going forward.

Empress Stakes finalist and Oaks runner-up Icemans Girl adds an extra bit of spice coming up to this trip. Nathan Hunt’s bitch moved well when put through her paces in a trial over the 540m trip and could ruffle a few feathers if confirming her stamina.

Those looking for something with proven stamina who could keep on qualifying has to include Princess Athena. Tony Collett’s bitch is proven over various distances and has shown she is suited around this tight circuit. She is likely to turn nearer last than first in a majority of her races, but does make up for the lost ground in the second half of her races and could easily stay on past flagging rivals. Any race where there is bunching at the head of affairs would also play to her strengths.

Selections

English Puppy Derby

Ballymac Kobe (available at 11/2 with AK Bets)

Gold Collar

Aayamza Sydney (available at 9/2 with AK Bets)

Princess Athena (available at 18/1 with AK Bets)