Bungle should prove too zippy for Towcester Stud Book rivals
RIOJA BUNGLE can make a winning start in his bid for a third title of the campaign by proving strongest all-round in the opening heat of the BGBF Greyhound Stud Book Trophy over 500m at Towcester (3.11).
Kevin Hutton's dog powered to victory in the Category One Birmingham Cup final at Perry Barr last weekend having landed the British Bred Maiden Derby at Newcastle in May and has clearly developed into a polished performer.
Rioja Bungle (T2) led early when winning at Towcester in June
He went from the front when winning a heat of a competition supporting the Derby over the course and distance in June but that latest top level success showed he is not by any means reliant on an early advantage and he can plot a path to be in charge when it matters.
Romeo Command is arguably the one to beat in the event and Patrick Janssens' 2023 Derby runner-up looks a class apart in heat two at 3.49, while Phil Milner's Produce Stakes finalist Keefill Goose can land the third at 4.26.
Elsewhere on the card Diane Henry's St Leger runner-up Clona Curly is preferred to last weekend's Doncaster winners Fabulous Dyna and Breton Molly in the 2.52 over 712m and Janssens' top class Barntick Bear can again find a way in the 5.03 over 500m.
Mullingar's afternoon card features the first round heats of the Droopys Stud Fair Warrior Open 400, a unique sprint competition which utilises the four-bend starting traps but will a winning line in what is usually the back straight.
Pat Buckley's Road Exile is the star attraction having reached the Irish Sprint Cup final at Dundalk then, more recently, the Irish Laurels semis at Curraheen Park.
He can make class tell despite lacking course knowledge when he goes in the last of the seven heats at 4.37.
JJ Fennelly's 2023 Produce Stakes winner Burgess Supreme can put down a marker in the opening heat at 2.44 with other suggestions being Aidan McVeigh's Pavilion Gold (3.03) and reigning champion Pavilion Fire (3.59), John Atkinson's Leahs Best (3.22), James Kerr's Manalishi Jet (3.41) plus John Byrne's Feshtys Mo (4.18).
The early Sunday open action comes from Valley where the feature is a Monkey Maiden final over 460m at 12.54 in which Steve Howard's runaway heat winner Crokers Fluffy looks an obvious pick.
Kate Harrison is currently without the services of temporarily-sidelined phenom Different Speed but still landed the sprint open last week with Waste House Oz who returns for the 2.03 over 260m where he may have most to fear from new kennelmate Charlies Choice.
Two heats of a 460m competition can go to Mike Burton's Cassidy (12.21) and Leigh Williams' Good Streak (12.38), while other Valley open picks are Tony Morgan's Evies Choice (11.29) and Donna Davy's Hawkfield Irish (1.47).
There are also Sunday SIS meetings at Doncaster and Clonmel with Jimmy Gaskin's Ballymac Nagini (11.54) and Billy Murphy's Ascot Benny (8.43) the respective suggestions.
Clona Curly (nap)
T4 Towcester 2.52