All eyes on Sally
BELLMORE SALLY (12.24) can add her name to one of greyhound racing’s most famous rolls of honour when Jimmy Fenwick’s superstar lines up as favourite for the Ladbrokes TV Trophy Final over 874m at Crayford today, live on SportyStuff TV/RPGTV.
On a hugely busy Grand National day, Crayford kickstarts a betting shop extravaganza with a gala card this morning featuring the former BBC Sportsnight annual plus the finals of the Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle, the Ladbrokes.com Easter Sprint Cup (380m) and Time Greyhound Nutrition Easter Trophy (540m).
However, Bellmore Sally might just be the star of the show as the Newcastle raider, a runaway heat winner, bids to add another Crayford title to her two Golden Jacket victories to follow in the footsteps of former champions Glenowen Queen and Heavenly Lady, the only other Golden Jacket/TV Trophy winners.
However, coping with the speed of British-bred star Queen Pink (Liz McNair) might be key. The latter has stepped up in trip well, while Ower Smasher (June Harvey) and A Mystical Love (Lee Pearce) will be flying home. Beach Babe (Tom Levers) represents the locals, while Savana Queen (Diane Henry) comes from a kennel with a superb TV Trophy record.
Ricky Holloway is no less than five-handed in the Ladbrokes Champion Hurdle Final where his
LENSON DOOLIN (10.53) gets the vote to reverse last year’s form with reigning champion Borna Rhythm (Tony Collett), while the other finals can go to seven-timer-seeking
BENS LAD (11.54) for Julie Luckhurst and Alistair Scott’s LAMORNA OLLIE (12.54).
Sheffield also hosts GBGB Category One action tonight with the final of the new Steel City Puppy Derby over 500m, live on the Sky Sports/TRP service, where Nathan Hunt’s DROOPYS FIDGET (8.27) can justify favouritism.
Meanwhile, Hove takes centre stage on RPGTV tonight with the heats of the Coral Brighton Belle where Belinda Green’s pair of BONJOUR BULLET (6.58) and SELSEY BULLET (8.17), Matt Dartnall’s LIVELY LAUREN (7.18, left), Patrick Janssens’ FABULOUS AZURRA (7.36), Liz McNair’s HAVANA BALE OUT (7.56) and Nathan Hunt’s ANTIGUA SUGAR (8.38) get the vote. Perry Barr stages heats of the Arena Racing Company Laurels over 480m where the best bets might be ARKADY (7.51), COOLAVANNY SHADO (8.06), HAWKFIELD OZARK (8.21) and SWIFT ICONIC (8.36).
■ BRADYS BULLET is the RPGTV/ GWA Greyhound of the Month for March for trainer Belinda Green and owners Tom O’Donnell and Dave Lawrence.