SAVANA IS A WINNER
EYES down for a host of festive treats in greyhound racing
Today’s Christmas Eve action is the calm before the storm on Boxing Day, traditionally the sport’s busiest day of the year.
The ‘house full’ signs have been up in trackside restaurants for weeks now, but
‘Come Racing!’ is still the mantra – so check out your nearest track via the GBGB’s website – thedogs.co.uk.
A number of tracks race today, but the main openrace action is on Boxing Day – and we must start at Crayford, which hosts the Carlsberg Boxing
Day Marathon Final.
The 874m showpiece is traditionally the main event of the day and this year sees Maireads Ivy bid for a third success. However, Derek Knight’s bitch will need to be at her best given the quality of field against her.
The ten-bend contest is almost a re-run of the TV Trophy earlier this month, so it’s Diane Henry’s SAVANA WINNER (12.42) who gets the vote to edge the likes of fellow finalists Slippy Maggie and Goldies Hostpur. Sheffield will also be buzzing for its Boxing Day card and open-race fans are in for a treat again with a series of finals staged in memory of Harry and Bob Holmes, whose association with the Owlerton Stadium stretches back decades. Ryan Holmes, who currently stands at Sheffield, is the third generation of the Holmes family who have operated as bookmakers at the venue. The main event of the day has been re-named after his father, who died in August.
The Bob Holmes Memorial can go to Sean Parker’s
RUSSANDA RIPLEY (2.11), pictured left, who can come ahead of impressive heat winner Down To The Felt.
Allison Kelly-Pilgrim’s
DANTES INFERNO (12.15), right, can land the Ryan Holmes Puppy Cup having sparkled in the heats, while in the Harry Holmes Memo I expect to see the back-in-form
KEPLAR NINE (1.35) build on his impressive heat victory.
Central Park and Pelaw Grange also stage opens, with
LENSON WILSON (12.28) looking to rubber-stamp his claims as a contender for Hurdler of the Year with a victory at the Kent track for Ricky Holloway. Still with the upcoming Greyhound of the Year Awards, King Turbo will look to notch a fourth Category One success in the Coral Final at Hove on Thursday.
Victory would make Liz McNair’s dog a leading contender for the top honour.
However, he is up against the likes of Sussex Cup champion SPORTING DAVE, whose is enjoying a strong end to the year having also run-up in the recent Essex Vase at Romford.
He lines up as one of two smart Seamus Cahill-trained finalists, the other being Queens Rainbow.
RISING BRANDY has also made the final to cap a great year for Matt Dartnall.
He is looking to the Derby semi-finalist and Monmore Puppy Derby winner to help him into the top six for the Trainer of the Year title.
He has Phillip Simmonds to catch. Mark Wallis will be crowned champion trainer for a record tenth time, followed by his great rival Kevin Hutton, whose own year ended on a high on Saturday with victory for Ravenswood Flo in the Oaks Final at Swindon. For good measure, Hutton trained the first and second, with Magical Vera staying on well to chase home her kennel mate. Victory for Hutton completed a Classic double after he won the Derby this year with Dorotas Wildcat.