Friday we were organised super early as we had the Monmore Xmas Festival Finals which are always keenly fought as the prize money for the Lawrence Jones Memorial races are worth £5000 for two runs. I went out on a limb free tipping an 8/1 shot Ballygibbon King in the 480 Standard Final. He was unlucky in the heats and I was determined to give him another chance. I went for the safer each way option rather than the win but I was keen on him. I did fancy another two at bigger prices, all Seamus Cahill dogs, so I did a trixie on them. After lunch I popped down my local betting shop where surprisingly there were more punters than FOBT players! We have Caleb who loves a favourite, Hughie who is a canny scot and very rarely leaves it behind and Alec who loves a reversed forecast on the dogs. They all know I’m likely to appear, when there’s open racing on the bags and they do press me for some help with the dogs.
I’m only to happy to help them if I can, I pointed them in the direction of the free tip. They all backed it not for a lot of money. I was there best friend when Ballygibbon King pinged the lids and strode clear to win very well out running his huge price. That was the second winning leg of my trixie after Southfield Jock 11/2 landed the first leg. I was waiting on Express Max in the last final to land three bags of sand. Unfortunately Max couldn’t get past the favourite finishing second. Close but no cigar, still a monkey wasn’t a bad consolation prize. Nipped home to send out a second selection Phil Simmonds High Falcon was expected to win a marathon on Sky but just failed to clear the field at the 1st bend. This looked easier tonight and he was in my notebook worthy of a second chance. I had a bit of the 9/4, well what Ladbrokes would give me, before topping up with Bet 365. A spot of tea before settling down to watch the action in my office. I wasn’t that interested in anything than Falcon after my already good afternoon. Falcon fell out and I was expecting him to lead, but good track craft allied with excellent middle pace saw him hit the front and victory was ours. A very good days work for all involved.
Saturday all roads led to our newest greyhound track Towcester. The cardinal, cheesey and I had arranged a visit with our respective partners. The table was booked in the Empress stand restaurant as was the hotel five minutes from the track. I wasn’t overly keen on anything as a selection at a a track that was only having it’s third meeting. But as it was a sky night I felt I had to step up to the plate! So I sent out two selections that both had solid chances IMO. Swansalona Diva 5/2 appeared to have a draw to die in the stayers final and Touch Tackle 13/8 looked like doubling up from his win last week. Both backed and sent out to subscribers. Arrived at Towcester greyhounds and I was suitably impressed with the whole package. I couldn’t fault anything. Unfortunately winners were hard to find and both selections never really gave us anything to cheer about. However I did win our £25 pp table tipping contest (felt bad – not really) it was never in doubt. Gave the winnings to Mrs D to keep her sweet if I buy another dog in the near future. All in all it was a very good night despite the tipping failure, I highly recommend a visit – you won’t be disappointed.
Sunday morning felt a tad worse for wear though not as bad as cheesy who did look rough but it wasn’t surprising after what he had drunk! A hearty breakfast set us all up for a visit to the nearby Heather Dimmock kennels to take our dogs Goes Hot and Wotnofizz out for a walk. We couldn’t take them far as they were both racing tonight at Sittingbourne. Headed down the M1 homeward bound. Later I was going back up the A1m to Henlow to watch Wotnobubbles in her 428 Final. I had a quick forty winks to recharge my batteries before learning that the trap one runner Sidarian Sport was a non runner. This changed my thoughts on how the final was going to be run. Now I never tip my own dogs as most readers of my column will know. I thought Laura was poorly drawn outside Loyal Rock as she was in the heat where she just couldn’t clear him – we wanted to be inside him preferably – though my mate Andy who owns the dog with me said that he thought she would break better tonight. I thought Our Little Mix would get first run on the field and she had an impressive record over c&d. I backed Mix before having a saver on my own bitch then sent out the email to the subscribers. I met Andy and we set off to Henlow to take up our table in the restaurant, next to Sir Eric Cantellion. He’s a very funny man and a good trainer. The night seemed to drag but then it was race time. Andy and I left the warmth of the restaurant to take up our position on the first bend, I remarked to him that Laura looked really well on parade. The lids went back and Laura catapulted from the boxes and was well clear going round the 1st bend and the race was over as a contest. Our Little Mix ran a stormer finishing third after anticipating the break by head butting the traps but the bird had flown. Laura had broken the split track record by a length – a lot on the very short run from the traps to the winning line! She clocked an amazing 1.55 the previous record was 1.63.
I was delighted for Andy winning his first open race final with Laura and his delight was there for everyone to see when he accepted the winning trophy with me on the podium. I was still buzzing when I was listening to Patch winning his sprint heat so another final to go to next week. I was hoping Fizz could land me the trixie that I narrowly missed on Friday afternoon. But it was not be he came third as I listened on the way home to the commentary. I was glad Andy was driving as I was shattered after my weekends events.
Monday I took it easy recharging my batteries and catching up on watching the weeks videos. There was nothing at Nottingham in their opens that interested me in having a bet. So a no bet email was sent out to subscribers. Patch got trap six in next Sundays final and being the fastest heat winner will go off a short price.
Tuesday followed a similar pattern with no open racing on anywhere in the UK. No bets advised.
Wednesday featured an all graded card at Romford that didn’t excite me nor the Peterborough card that featured two opens. I wasn’t feeling anything strong enough to put out a selection. I will not bet for the sake of it – to be a successful gambler you must have patience & discipline. So another no bets email was posted out. I popped up to see Tommy as I hadn’t been to see him for a while before getting stuck into tomorrow’s cards for a winner.
Thursday at last saw some decent open race action at Hove & Henlow. I watched Hove videos again and formed an opinion to take on the favourite in the Maiden Final. Kevin Hutton’s Jolly Redeye (evens) would struggle to clear the rails seeking Maglass Loch all this pointed towards the other Hutton Finalist Stanton Ranger (10/3) as the most likely winner IMO. I bet him accordingly and I sent out the email telling subscribers to do likewise.
I went to Henlow to watch Marco in his Cesarewitch Semi Final as I arrived I was told that it was a three dog race now as the trap 1 runner Blackrose Vic was pulled out lame, this was not a surprise as he was knocked over in the heats. Marco did the business in the race, flashing out, leading all the way clocking a fast 33.23. The Hove races were delayed due to the hare breaking down but I was able to watch our selection badly stumble from the boxes and lose all chance of victory. The favourite who somehow managed to avoid the Loch dog still got chinned on the line! I went into the Savana bar to watch the draw for Boxing Days Cesarewitch Final, hoping Marco got a decent draw for once in a final. He was last out of the dish and was given T4. This is the sixth final he’s been in and that’s four black jackets and two white ones. You couldn’t make it up…..anyway he’s the best dog in the Final let’s hope he gets the chance to show it.
Friday morning and the flying four races offer very little value to put out to my readers. I think all the favourites appear to have solid chances of winning. Adageo Bob 4/9 and Blonde Razor 4/6 are short as is Aayamzone 1/1 so we will side with Dower Matt 7/4 in his shoot out with Laughing Gravy. The Romford legend versus the young pretender. I’m going for experience over youth. Matty is in sparkling form and he can make it a five timer.
FFT
Romford 10.26 Trap 3
Dower Matt
Win bet @ 7/4 Power & Ladbrokes
Be Lucky!
Back next Friday.
Kevin Dear
Greyhound Master Tipster
http://go.betfan.com/1000/124
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