Jonathan Hobbs: ‘Goldies Hoddle is unsurprisingly one of the favourites.’
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Greyhound journalist and Coral ambassador previews Golden Sprint
Hobbsy here – and ready to cast an eye over Coral Golden Sprint which kicks off at Romford on Friday.
Ante-post prices are available and not surprisingly Goldies Hoddle at 13/2 is towards the top in his bid to become only the second greyhound in the event’s 30-year plus history to successfully defend the title.
It was Linda Jones’s Kinda Magic who won back-to-back Golden Sprints in 2001/02 – at which point her son-in-law Mark Wallis was head man. Now a handler in his own right – and some – he has won no less than 11 champion trainer titles!
Goldies Hoddle played his part in Patrick Janssens becoming Trainer of the Year in 2020 and this prolific-scoring sort will again thrown down a huge challenge given his brilliant record at the London Road venue.
Shrewd Call is the reigning Sprinter of the Year and his appearance for local trainer David Mullins is a real boost for the competition. His early pace is second to none and he remains another very popular greyhound.
However, Bockos Jon Jo at 10/1 and Geelo Gold Dustat 8/1 are Hobbsy’s two against the field for the Coral Golden Sprint.
Another Janssens-trained runner, Bockos Jon Jo is a 23.50sec dog at best for the 400m at Romford and that puts him right up there in this 36-runner line-up. Trapping is key, of course, as are inside draws – if both are achieved he takes the beating.
Geelo Gold Dust represents Sheffield trainer Carl Perry. She was awesome in a trial stakes over C&D last week and arrives fresh after a recent spell off, so improvement throughout the competition is very possible.
Prices are available for all 36 runners so support your fancy. Some of the bigger each-way prices certainly look tempting with the John Mullins-trained youngster Malton Manor catching the eye at 33/1. He’s a cracking trapper and early pacer on his day.
The first three places in each of Friday’s heats will make it through to the following week’s semi-finals with a £10,000-to-the-winner decider on Friday, March 19 – Cheltenham Gold Cup day, of course.
What a day that promises to be for horse and greyhound racing fans.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.
