NO IRISH WINNERS AT TOWCESTER AS CHILE BREAKS CLOCK

Ian Fortune

None of the five Irish trained runners in action at Towcester on Sunday managed to get their head in front but all four of Graham Holland’s challengers made the first three.

Bockos Vieira was a 9-2 chance in the opening heat and ran well to finish a close third after a tardy start.

Mickeys Barrett made all to win in 29.53 with Bockos Vieira just a length and a quarter adrift. The Owen McKenna trained Ballymore Border failed to make an impression in this contest after completely missing the start.  

GLORY SECOND TO RED-HOT CHILE

Russian Glory made an encouraging comeback after a layoff in the second of the fourteen trial stakes. He ran into a red-hot Sporting Chile, who rocketed from traps to record a facile seven length success in a sizzling 28.99.

In victory, Sporting Chile became the first greyhound to dip under the 29 second barrier around Towcester. Russian Glory was second throughout and, while he did blow up a little on the run in, he ran an encouraging race in defeat.    

BEST A GOOD SECOND

Chubbys Best also ran into a superb winner in the third trial stake as Warzone Tom posted a sizzling 29.04 after a flying start.

Chubby Best was having his first start beyond 525yds and he was far from disgraced as he raced in second throughout. Warzone Tome by won by eight and three quarter lengths with Chubbys Best holding on for second.

TORNADO TIRES ON RETURN AFTER LAYOFF

Knight Tornado was the last of the five Irish in action in the fifth race.

In what was his first start since the Easter Cup decider, he had to work hard for the lead. He managed to strike the front on the bend but ran out of steam allowing the powerful Faughan Rebel to come through for a three-length success in 29.24. Knight Tornado finished second but gave the impression that far better was to come.