Saturday Round-Up - March 9, 2024

Still Going For Gold

Never Say Go maintained her grip on the Coral Golden Sprint with another flawless display at Romford on Friday night.

The Patrick Janssens trained 13/2 ante-post favourite before the event got underway and is still available at 5/2 to land next Friday’s final.

With 13 of the 18 semi-finalists seeded as railers, trouble seemed inevitable, and so it proved with only two making it through. (There is no argument for a going bias on the night with T4 winning four of the 11 races, T3 had two winners). Thankfully the final – see below – has a much better seeding balance.

The opening heat set the tone though an additional factor was brought into play with sprinter Bombout Bullet failing to see out the 400 metres on a slow track and failing to qualify by half a length. The unfortunate Bombay Zero was KO’d with the contest going to 7/1 outsider Kila Detail.

The second qualifier saw Rapido Lady come off worst though the favourite Druids Say Go already had the race within her grasp.

The final qualifier saw middle seed Seomra Paws (T6) match Bombout Bullet’s 3.61 sectional before being reeled in by the stronger finishing Aero Convey.

Taylor-Made Win and Clue Has the Answers

Ballymac Taylor continues to show her growing maturity with another impressive performance over Oxford’s TV Trophy distance of 847m.

Recently crowned Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue was the night’s other big attraction. His three-and-a-half-length win over the 650m track record holder Top Note was returned at 39.34, just five spots outside that record, and off a 14.92 split; one spot quicker than the sprint open.

The prospect of Clue taking on Taylor’s litter brother Garfiney Blaze is perhaps the most eagerly awaited spectacle on the racing horizon.

Meanwhile, the £15,000 TV Trophy first round is scheduled for next Saturday.