The
Premier Greyhound Racing Classic kicks off at Sunderland on Friday and this year’s renewal could live up to its namesake with the 36-runner affair attracting some high-quality four-bend performers.
The amount of silverware a majority of the field have amassed underlines how tough it is going to be to crowned the champion around this tricky 450m circuit where the margin for error is going to be minimal.
Links Maverick is sure to prove popular having shown he is still a major force on the open scene with a gallant display in the Steel City Cup at Sheffield, also Pall Mall star Aero Sacundai dipped under the 27-second barrier in a recent prep trial and would be a handful if rediscovering his trapping boots, while Romford Puppy Cup hero Fire And Ice also moved well when put through his paces in a recent trial where he also covering the 450m in a sub-27-second time.
However, looking at the first-round draw, things are certainly not going to be straightforward for the big names. Take the opening heat for example, which sees Fire And Ice drawn outside of Stonepark Hoffa a winner in 8 of his 9 career starts in Ireland. He equalled the legendary Jimmy Lollie’s sprint track record in a qualifying trial and could be a major obstacle on the dash to the all-important first bend.
Links Maverick also has a potential banana skin of a heat of his own with another newcomer Oscar The Grouch drawn in trap one in heat two. In trials the latter took a middle course so if moving off early could easily cause problems for Links Maverick who also has kennelmate Unanimous Leon on his immediate outside to also worry about.
Aero Sacundai has seen his form dip since winning the Pall Mall at Oxford, but you would expect track & trip to play to his strengths. That said, connections won’t be happy to see kennelmate Aero Pattika drawn on his immediate inside in the opening round. There was only one spot between them on sectional times in their recent trials over course & distance and just three spots in the overall finishing times so something will have to give round the opening bends.
Lion Heart won his opening two races in the Peter Billingham Memorial at Monmore in August, but failed to build on that during a tilt at the Yarmouth Derby. However, Carl Jackson’s charge appears to have fared well in the draw for the first round in a couple of aspects and this lightly-raced type might just click into action in this event.
Connections have been smart and given him four sightings of the track with a couple of sprints and also a couple over the standard 450m trip. His overall times posted suggest Lion Hearted is at home around here and if he can make the most of his plum inside draw in the first round, if the event did see a few shock exits, his price could be a lot shorter going into the semi-finals.
Of the four wide seeded hopefuls, Brindle Bully is sure to have his share of supporters. Dave Mullins charge failed to show much when making an early exit from the Puppy Cup at Sunderland back in June, but the boy has become a man with a succession of wide-margin victories at Romford in recent weeks. If he can transfer that level of form to this venue, Brindle Bully will certainly have something to say in matters. Unfortunately, he has been priced as though that is a given.
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