BAGS Dogs To Watch: The Virtual Kennel continues...

BAGS / The Hawk / 14 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

The column got off to the best possible start when Go Far Mickey, the very first dog highlighted, won on his very next race by five lengths. This week the Hawk adds three more dogs to his kennel, all of whom he feels will be winning within their next three runs.

Monmore

Duisk Prince looks a winner waiting to happen in A5 grade company, even though the black bitch has yet to taste success at Monmore Green in five starts. She enters the 'virtual kennel' having finished third on Monday January 12.

This early-paced May 2006 whelp noticeably missed the break before showing electric pace to sprint past four dogs from trap three to lead at the first bend. Indeed, such was the pace from the first bend to the third bend that Duisk Prince went a couple of lengths up despite having mistimed the break. She was then reeled in by two fast finishing types who had better recent times than her. Still, she was beaten less than a length into third with the others well beaten off. If she can get off to a level start from a middle trap draw she will be mighty hard to beat next time.

1pt - Duisk Prince, Monmore A5


Sheffield

Rockmount Whizz is not a young dog, having run 98 times, but he does win his fair share (16% success rate) and his turn is not far away.

Running at Sheffield's Monday morning BAGS meeting the Top Honcho April 2005 dog was noticeably well adrift of his field at the first bend, but made relentless headway to run third beaten, albeit, a fair way behind the winner. But he was not fancied here (the Sheffield bookies sent him off at [6.0]).

His trap five draw didn't really suit in this make up either, but he is more than capable of winning in this grade (A5). Rockmount Whizz was winning in A2 category in May last year but had seven months off until coming back in December, and this was his fifth race back.

It could be that he won't regain his old form again - but I'll take a chance that he wins one of his next three races, as an A5 contest should be within his compass, especially if housed in trap six.

1pt - Rockmount Whizz, Sheffield A5


Nottingham

Colwick Park is one of my favourite BAGS venues. It is a very fair open track and the relatively long run to the first bend usually means there are fewer hard luck stories than at other BAGS circuits.

However, on Monday night Clover Holly experienced serious traffic problems yet still managed to finished second in an A3 contest. Drawn trap two, the blue bitch was coming to win the race at the third bend but tangled with the inside trap runner and lost four lengths or so as the 11/10 favourite in trap five swept by.

She stayed on well up the home straight to beaten 2.5 lengths. Clover Holly last won in October, in this grade, coming from last (at the sectional) to first. With a nice inside draw, especially if inside a rails-middle running, quick starting trap two, she can return to winning ways shortly.

1pt - Clover Holly, Nottingham A3

The Hawk's virtual kennel now has four inmates:

Newtown Abbey, Sheffield (0)*
Duisk Prince Monmore (0)
Clover Holly, Nottingham (0)
Rockmount Whizz, Sheffield (0)

* indicates number of runs since highlighted - mamimum of three runs allowed before dog is 'sold' out of virtual kennel if failing to win.