The Virtual Kennel: Two BAGS runners to watch

BAGS / The Hawk / 07 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

New greyhound columnist The Hawk is creating a 'virtual kennel' of hounds to watch in the UK BAGS scene. We kick off with a couple of Sheffield dogs...

In a new column, The Hawk casts his expert eye over greyhounds running on BAGS cards with the aim of pinpointing future winners.

The idea is to identify dogs who have been unlucky in running, who are running into form or who raced well from a recent negative track or trap bias.

These dogs will be put forward as canines likely to win a race within their next three appearances and will be placed into the Hawk's 'virtual' kennel - as soon as the greyhound does win, or if it runs three times without registering a success, it will be removed from the 'virtual' kennel.

Sheffield

Appropriately enough the first greyhound to be placed into the Hawk's 'virtual' kennel is a son of Westmead Hawk, Go Far Mickey. This April '07 whelp plies his trade at Sheffield in A5 grade and on 2nd January was noticeably well backed on Betfair in the last few seconds before the 6.56pm.

He went off the [4.0] second favourite at the track, and trapped poorly being fourth at the first bend, where he was bumped. Go Far Mickey then made relentless late headway to finish second, four lengths behind the winner without ever looking likely to win.

Go Far Mickey is still relatively lightly raced and has won three of his 14 career starts - twice in A6. He does miscue his start at times but has led on other occasions and posted a smart 30.34 when leading all the way four runs back. He is due to run within the next week.

1pt - Go Far Mickey, Sheffield, A5

Elaine Parker's Newtown Abbey has only raced three times at the Owlerton Stadium but showed much improved form on January 2nd when finishing a 3 ½ length 2nd in another A5 contest. The Brett Lee May 2007 bitch posted a 30.69 having led at the first bend and showed her first bit of back straight pace at Sheffield. She had previously been crowded and bumped in her only two other runs, and is running into form. She looks capable of posting a fast time as she gets stronger and gains more experience.

1pt - Newtown Abbey, Sheffield, A5