The return of greyhound racing at Towcester for the first time since 2018 is highly anticipated after the pandemic put a delay to the start of proceedings - and some of the nation's quickest racing dogs will descend on the Northamptonshire track for the historic day on Sunday.
The opening race of the day at 16.42 is an invitational race including some of the fastest greyhounds in the country - watch out for Tony Tuffin's Steel City Cup finalist Deadly Expert (5/2) who has great early pace and it would be a shock if he didn’t lead from the front.
This is despite strong competition in Sharon Thompson's Romford track record-holder Sparta Master (5/2), Mark Wallis' Coronation Cup champion Antigua Rum (6/1) and Hayley Keightley-trained Roxholme Dolly (7/2).
An excellent evening will be rounded off with an A2 race which is of the highest quality, where Alien Sea (7/4) who was an expensive purchase into the Wallis kennel and was thriving over 575 at Romford prior to lockdown is a classy performer.
Towcester betting
The venue in Northamptonshire, which was opened in 2014, staged the English Greyhound Derby until 2018 when it entered administration and closed, alongside the neighbouring horse racing track which remains shut.
But the greyhound stadium has been revived by Kevin Boothby, the promoter at Henlow Stadium in Bedfordshire, who signed a 10-year lease and hoped for racing to restart in March 2020.
That was postponed due to Covid-19, but reopened on 22 May for trials - and this Sunday's opening race evening is a week later than planned to ensure the track is sufficiently prepared, coming just a fortnight after greyhound racing became the first sport to return in the UK following the easing of lockdown.
There will be 10 races every half an hour at Towcester on Sunday to comply with social distancing rules - restriction which is due to be lightened on Monday at most other tracks who will be allowed to run unlimited races within a meeting at gaps of 20 minutes, should they choose to.
This has come after discussions with promoters, trainers and kennel staff, meaning GBGB, the sport's governing body, are confident that the sport is ready to take this next step earlier than planned whilst still retaining the highest levels of safety for all.
16.42 Towcester
T1 Roxholme Butt: 4/1
T2 Saleen Again: 10/1
T3 Sparta Master: 5/2
T4 Deadly Expert: 5/2
T5 Antigua Rum: 6/1
T6 Roxholme Dolly: 7/2
21.12 Towcester
T1 Miss Brentford: 11/4
T2 Tuftys Delboy: 5/1
T3 Ivy Hill Skyhigh: 6/1
T4 Stoneyholmeblitz: 6/1
T5 Alien Sea: 7/4
T6 Masonspeedymac: 4/1
