IRISH SUCCESS AS HARVEY LANDS JUVENILE AT TOWCESTER
Ian Fortune
Faypoint Harvey was the toast of Towcester on Sunday afternoon as he handed Graham Holland even more success across the pond, running out a tremendous and most comfortable winner of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile.
This was a contest that cut up a little with the defection of Newinn Syd and, somewhat surprisingly, that of English Derby favourite King Memphis. Rab McNair wasn’t happy with the kennelling arrangements and pulled his star out ahead of racing.
It meant that Patricia Flanagan’s Faypoint Harvey actually went to traps the 11-8 favourite despite having never set foot on the track before. It was all pretty straightforward for the exciting son of Droopys Sydney and Roming Shari, however.
Breaking fastest from trap four, he was in charge from the opening stride. He may have drifted around at the opening bend but was never under any pressure. Maintaining a powerful gallop to the finish, Faypoint Harvey emerged a comfortable two and three quarter length victory over the staying on Clona Curly in 29.21. It was a wonderful prep for the Star Sports/ TC English Derby which now seems likely to be on the agenda for the Munster Juvenile Cup winner.
A WONDERFUL HAT TRICK FOR GRAHAM
Harvey was one of three winners or Graham Holland on the day.
He also won with Romeo Steel and Faypoint Susie.
The former won his heat of the KAB Maiden Derby, leading from the second turn to hold on for a short head victory in 29.45.
Faypoint Susie won the second division of the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby Trial Stakes. Of course, she is more than familiar with the venue after racing there in the past when trained in the UK and it showed. Flashing from trap two, posting a rapid 4.02 sectional in the process, she was always in charge before coming home two and a half lengths clear of Untold Paanga in 29.35.
ABBIE GOES CLOSE
There were a number of Irish trained runners on the day.
Hawkfield Abbie was beaten just a short head in the opening heat of the Maiden Derby for Ginger McGee, failing by just a short head behind former Brendan Matthews trained inmate Junctionfourteen in 29.59.
CRAZE SECOND TO DONNY
Paul Hennessy’s Jaytee Craze was second in the very next heat.
The ex-Jennifer O’Donnell trained The Other Donny got loose in the early yards and made all to emerge on top but Jaytee Craze ran encouragingly in second, finishing five lengths behind the winner who stopped the clock in 29.11. Garfiney Blake was another six lengths away in third or Graham Holland.
AWESOME NARROWLY DENIED
Barefoot Awesome was beaten just a short head in Heat 5 of the Maiden Derby.
Paul Hennessy’s charge was never far away and just failed behind Unanimous Leon in 29.44.
ETIENNE CATCHES THE EYE
Jaytee Etienne also finished second for Paul Hennessy in Heat 6.
He actually ran a fine race despite finishing over five lengths behind Miami Bullet. The latter dominated but Jaytee Etienne had to overcome early traffic, showing fine back straight pace to come through for second. The winner won in 29.20.
Riverside Pingu carried no luck in this contest, eventually finishing at the tail of the field for Graham Holland.
FUDGE SECOND
Swords Fudge was another runner-up for Ireland in Division 4 of the English Derby Trial Stakes.
He chased home the long-time pace-setter Nowitsmyturn, finishing two and a quarter lengths adrift away. Nowitsmyturn posted 29.26.
CLUE SETS NEW FIGURES
Graham Holland’s Newinn Port ran into a hot one in Division 1 of the Derby Trial Stakes.
Newinn Port ended up finishing at the tail of the field, while reigning British Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue was nothing short of sensational as he emerged a facile near-eight length winner in a new track record breaking 28.58.
NOVA CHASES HOME FIREBRAND
Nomadic Nova was the last of the Irish trained runners in action.
The Graham Holland trained son of Broadstrand Bono was two and a quarter lengths behind 29.45 winner Romeo Firebrand.