Antigua Fire produced a fantastic display of power to win his heat of the Coral Regency at Hove on Saturday night in a fine 41.38 the fastest of the six heats. A moderate break and a slight bit of crowding on the run to the third bend didn’t stop him putting a very good field to the sword as he led before the 5th bend and drew away to win by over 8 lengths. We qualified two other of our six entries with the unexposed Schooldays making a mockery of his 25/1 odds when blasting out the traps in his heat and stringing out the field only to be caught close home by the more than useful Southfield Cody in a decent 41.83 on a slowish track, No Can Boogie also qualified when 3rd in a scrappy heat that saw a disappointing run from Passing Stranger who was eliminated. The draw for this Saturday's semi final saw all three of our runners pitched together which was no surprise! and now Antigua Fire is cramped odds to land the Category 1 competition. We were out of luck in the Sussex Cup in the double header with Ivy Hill Skyhigh missing his break when down the field and Masonspeedymac just failing to qualify when producing a storming finish but missing out by the shortest of margins. This Saturday also sees a bitches dual distance competition supporting the Regency and Sussex Cup where we have three entries with Antigua Sands, Playbook and Jaxx Purple entered and a sprint competition where we have Muxton Teddy in the book.

 

As well as having our top stayer Antigua Fire run so well it was great to see our Aayamza Royale produce another stunning performance across the water winning a brilliant heat of the Corn Cuchulainn at Shelbourne Park where she reeled in the St Leger champ Redzer Ardfert to win by a neck in a fine 41.43. Now under the care of our good friend Karol Ramsbottom her reputation is growing all the time and again she takes on Redzer Ardfert in the semi final on Saturday. As it’s been mentioned several times now it’s gutting to have no crowds watching these brilliant dogs race and sadly our sport looks set for this to continue for a few weeks yet as it seems local authorities don’t have a clue how to sort Greyhound Stadia out in these difficult circumstances that we live in at present.

 

I’ve said it many times as well that we have to be thankful we work in an industry that is actually up and running and is at near full capacity as we provide the betting industry with a decent product that caters for around 15% of their total multi billion turnover per year. Since we returned from lockdown there has however been a huge outcry from many people on how our industry is run with the closure of three tracks Peterborough, Poole and the famous old Belle Vue particularly causing some heated debates not surprisingly. Collectively as an industry it seems justified that many promoters just look after themselves and don’t think of the sport overall which I’ve highlighted several times, we are fast just becoming a betting product and nothing else. So the new National Greyhound Supporters Club launched last week by David Mitchell couldn’t have come at a better time and hopefully it will get huge support from everyone who loves greyhound racing, the club has one sole aim and that’s to promote and make our sport something we can all be proud of and for me as long as it’s not over confrontational it could be a huge plus for everyone who loves the sport.

 

I’ve come to realise we haven’t done our regular yearly 5 to Follow competition due to the pandemic etc but I think that we can perhaps do a mini event this year so perhaps from the 1st September we can run a last 4 months event with a nice prize, the competition is always popular so will make a big push in the next few weeks to make it a good one.

 

 

Trying to get a winner at Romford on Fridays is proving very difficult since we returned from Lockdown and last Friday was typical. In the 400m Friday Night Standard Final Tiffield Blueboy and Have A Brandy were drawn the wrong way round and couldn’t get a blow in to the winner Goldies Hoddle and Tiffield Maximus also was well beaten in the 575m final, Jesses Sister ran well when second in her heat of the 400m bitches event.

 

As said Antigua Fire was awesome at Hove on Saturday in the Regency heats.

 

 

On Monday Puckane Taylor won well in an A6 in a very good 27.83 and Shazzas Bullet finally got her head in front winning an A7 in 28.27 while Bobs Boy completed a good morning winning an A10 in 28.62.

 

Just the one winner on Tuesday night as Loose Chips took an A4 in 28.03.

 

On Thursday it was pleasing to see the potentially useful Agincourt Xena win well in an A5 in a fine 27.94 and the in form Ballyfinn Jade won by a neck in an A7 in 28.27

 

On Saturday Saffrons Tiger made it three wins from four races for the Markwallisgreyhounds Racing Club taking an A4 in 28.02 while the versatile Run Free Snowy scored very well in an S2 in a fine 33.77.

 

 

Another successful Sunday from 6 runners as the likeable Sober Express won well in an A2 beating in form kennelmate Aero Madrid by 1 1/2 lengths in a good 29.98. Testing followed up his win from two weeks ago with an impressive A3 victory in 29.98 as well and also beat kennelmate Saleen Again for another 1-2. Milestone Gem ran well in an A4 when a close up 4th.

 

 

 

We have said the same for the last few weeks - Romford on Friday and Hove on Saturday as apart from Central Park these are the only tracks running open races at the moment but shortly Monmore joins in which will be most welcome.

 

 

We were right to go maximum on Antigua Fire in the Regency as he won his heat in great fashion. Looking to see if we might get a spot of value, in the bitches competition starting on Saturday if they price it up ante post we could take a chance on the out of form Antigua Sands each way, so much talent she’s likely to be a biggish price though if she wins a week Saturday make sure you buy a lottery ticket that night because you are likely to hit the jackpot!

 

ANTIGUA SANDS - 1 pt each way ante post - Bitches Duel Distance - Hove - starts Saturday

 

 

ANTIGUA FIRE - 5 pt win ante post 11/4 - Coral Regency - Hove - semis Saturday