Apologies that this one is rather late in the day. However, with the Bank Holiday etc, it's been a bit difficult to find time to sit down and write this!
Only the three opens this week, with the other's not filling to any form of worthy race. The lack of entries is a touch disappointing. However, as I have said in recent blogs, the open race scene is very hard to break into at the moment.
You have the weekly structure of races that are done and dusted, with track's having their 'nights' (I.E, Nottingham on Monday, Hove on Thursday, Romford Friday). Breaking down this routine is very hard, and as such finding the ideal night to put our opens on is difficult. In my opinion, I do think that Wednesday's is a good day to do them on, and I'm all for putting on a massive batch of opens (for a long-term period), so that trainers can get into the habit of entering, and seeing that they're actually on.
In September, the track will be running a couple of Cat. 3 competitions over 480m and 509m. They will be for 18 dogs, in a 2 heat format. The winner of the competition will receive £750 (and a pretty awesome trophy). The competitions are to run on Friday nights, with the final being supported by numerous other opens. Again, it's a case of the competitions filling, and it'll be interesting to see if we can get over the 'Romford Effect' of a Friday night.
Anyway, here's my take on tonight's 3 opens:
19:06 - The Blunsdon Sprint
My Pick: Witcombe Dilemma
I'm not really a fan of sprints (though they do their job of splitting up a card), especially when you have a lot of four bend greyhounds who are going over the shorter trip. It's seldom that the four bend dogs then reproduce the pace over the shorter trip. Very consistent in his split times, Witcombe Dilemma has been running really well round Swindon recently, and looks a likely favourite (and winner here). Kevin Hutton's dog has really good early speed, it's just a case of leading round the bend in my mind.
Trap six Bealady Rover has also seen a resurgence of form recently, showing the former trademark early pace that won him a couple of sprint opens last year. Quentin Bevan's dog will be a match for Witcombe up to the bend in my mind.
For a slight value bet, trap one Alanas Surprise is worth a look as well. Andy Ross's lass has been campaigned over sprints recently, winning in a decent time at Henlow. Although I don't like trap one in sprints, she could have a plot draw if she takes to the track.
19:52 - The Blunsdon Maiden Standard
My Pick: Stanton John (NAP)
I know that the pick here isn't exactly original, but after John's run at Coventry on Sunday, he looks to be about a 1/3 chance in this one. Due to the rulings on Maiden entries, John is eligible for this race after Kevin entered him before he ran at Coventry.
29.12 at Coventry is a flying time (though I do suspect, looking at the meeting, the track was actually about 10-20 fast) and will see him win this. I can't even envisage any traffic problems to the bend.
So, if you're looking to have a play on this race you're probably looking for a forecast link. I would side with the five dog here, Jet Vision. Steve Howard's dog ran well enough for a first look a couple of weeks back, and should be running on over this trip, which looks to be a touch shorter than what he needs.
20:37 - The Blunsdon 509er
My Pick: Francos Causeway
I'm thinking that my pick in this one will be a pretty decent price with the bookies. Francos Causeway, trained by Andy Ross, looks to have an ideal draw here on the rails. I think this 509m trip is right up his street, and if he can show the sort of early pace that he can round Poole, he could go round with a pitch off the second bend.
The obvious, and worthy, favourite in this one looks to be Crusty Crab. Ray Jones' dog ran a stormer last week, in what was a needed return to form. However, he does seem to be up and down like the stock exchange with his form book, and it's easy to follow him over a cliff! For sentimental purposes though, I do hope he puts in a race like last week!
Happy Punting!
Wattsy,
be lucky to get 36 dogs for the comps. Hope you still put them on when you only get 12 dogs for each comp and make it first three in heats.
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