Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2013 14:33:05 GMT
Romford's Coronation is our RPGTV centre-piece
Romford expect a good crowd for tonight's Coronation Cup card
RACING POST Greyhound TV goes on air at 7.15pm this evening (Sky channel 212, Freesat 401 and streamed free at www.racingpost.com/greyhounds/tv.sd plus partner websites) featuring 13-race cards from Romford (all opens) and Sunderland (three opens).
Tonight’s presenter is Errol Blyth and he will be joined in the studio by the Racing Post’s Jonathan Hobbs, while Darrell Williams will report live from Romford which hosts the night’s feature event in the shape of the £5,000 Coronation Cup final over 575m at 9.24pm.
The Coronation Cup decider, in which Rockview Sail is set to be sent off a short-priced favourite for the second successive year, is one of six races our featured firms are offering early prices on. The others are Romford’s 9.06pm (the Coral on TV Maiden Trophy final) plus the 10.26pm there and the three Sunderland opens at 7.39pm, 7.54pm and 8.10pm.
That 10.26pm race at Romford sees the 2013 competitive bow of the Mark Wallis-trained Ayamzaman who, along with Fernhill Jess, was joint-winningmost open-racer last year with 21 victories with all but two coming over tonight’s 400m course and distance.
In addition to the live action, recordings will be shown of the Coronation Cup semi-finals and Maiden Trophy heats.
Viewers can contract the show by emailing rpgtv@racingpost.com or tweeting @rpgreyhounds
Check back here from 6pm onwards for details of Jonathan Hobbs’s nap and next best selections.
The big race view of the trainers:
1 (vacant)
2 Carden Twilight
Mark Wallis
He is the most experienced finalist, with 59 races for us, yet ironically this will be his last start for the kennel. His joint owner, Peter Symonds, who owns him with Duane Harvey, also has dogs with Chris Allsopp, and he’s decided to switch Carden Twilight to him in order to take advantage of some particularly attractive graded stayers money now being offered round Monmore. It would be great to bow out a winner, and he has a much better chance of now getting a run on the inside following the unfortunate withdrawal of Bansha Mo. He’s had his moments and is a solid performer, winning over four, six and eight bend, is a tight railer and certainly stays. Three of ours have made the final, and though still outsiders, never write us off. If any of them get the chance, they will take it; remember we’ve got a good record when it matters most.
Owners Duane Harvey and Peter Symonds
3 Darian Chief
Mark Wallis
Darian Chief has just been sold and the deal is both parties will share the prize-money from this final. Sean Middleton, after a break from the game, is returning as an owner. He lives in Wales, and tells me that Racing Post Greyhound TV has got him interested again – so that’s something we will bear in mind when deciding his dog’s programme ahead. He’s certainly a decent sort, was unlucky in the semis of the Eclipse at Nottingham, and reached the Henlow Gold Cup final at Henlow. 540/575 seems to be his sort of trip and trap three is perfect. If he traps the way he did in the semis, and gets a bit of luck, you never know. He’s strong on the bunny and a beautiful blue dog who was part of a lovely litter. Fingers crossed he does well for Sean.
Owners Gary Crouch, Daren Johnson and Ian McGinnis (in the process of being sold to Sean Middleton)
4 Rockview Sail
Gerry Ballentine
It’s been a long hard road for us and Rockview Sail. He was 4/7F for this same final last year, got bowled over, and eventually ended up coming to me, but there’s been a series of niggling problems, and you can understand him being as big as 5/1 for his semi last week. But perseverance is paying off and he had started to show his form again, and is certainly improving when it matters most. His sectionals and finish times are going the right way, and perhaps he just likes this time of year. I’m delighted for Duncan [Begley, his owner] that the dog has made it here again for him. With the snow there’s not a huge amount you can do, but we’ve kept him fit with plenty of walking – we have a walking machine, which is useful just now - and a bit of laser. He’s lovely at home, a happy, friendly dog, and we’re certainly hopeful.
Owner Duncan Begley
5 Adageo Brae
Mark Wallis
33 starts and only two wins, but it’s not his fault. Adageo Brae has been been coming up against some good dogs, but we’ve recently switched him from rails to being a middle seed, and he’s certainly run well through this, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t change his luck and run up a sequence. He’s got a good draw and a nice burst of early, and in an event where there have been plenty of shocks, there might be one more ahead. His owners, Dick and Ann Barfoot, of course got Adageo to the Derby final in 2010, and also own the exciting Glanmire Lad, who won the Puppy Cup here. He picked up an injury at the back of last year, but it’s cleared up. We’re not rushing him back, but we’ll be looking at the Trainers Championship sprint [expected at the end of March], then the Golden Sprint, and we might then take a chance with the Derby.
Owners Dick and Ann Barfoot
6 Mash Mad Snowy
Seamus Cahill
He’s a Puppy Derby finalist, a nice dog who came into us after a few runs at Galway and has progressed since stepping up in trip. Probably 575 is about his best distance. We went into the semis with him being least ‘expected’ of our three, but it just goes to show. The inside runners didn’t seem come away, and out went Adrkill Star (came off with a minor dew claw problem) and Seals Babe (she’s now in a Golden Jacket trial stakes 9.56pm Crayford tomorrow). The draw is perfect for Mash Mad Snowy and after this we’ll see about getting a trial for the Springbok. He’s had a schooling trial and went well, it’s sad that so few tracks and trainers seem to have the time for hurdles nowadays. We’ve made a good start to the year and have a nice blend of dog to look ahead with, but will first celebrate at Sunday’s awards, when Loughteen Blanco is a nominee.
Owners Con Boles, Andy Bradstock and Corinne Wright
