Virtual Kennel: A Lion joins the hounds

BAGS / The Hawk / 18 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

The BAGS selection service with a twist continues...

Black Lion has had 44 races at Yarmouth and has now gone ten races since last winning - but that did occur in A4 grade and he is now in A5 class. He was very unfortunate not to win last time out when being picked up right on the line from trap five. The Honcho Classic July 2005 dog coursed the hare in the home straight and looked like holding on until a strong running red jacketed runner - keeping straight and true - ran on up the inside and got up in the shadows of the post. Black Lion posted a smart 5.44 sectional on this occasion and there won't be as strong a finisher and as well fancied a greyhound as Cooley's Champ behind him next time (went off evens). I hope Black Lion is given the stripes too as that would undoubtedly aide him - especially if drawn outside a kipper in the orange jacket.

Black Lion, Yarmouth, A5


Moyar Honcho has joined the virtual kennel following an impressive display at Nottingham earlier this week. The Top Honcho 2007 whelp has raced just eleven times and is still a little green, as was demonstrated on Monday night when he was baulked at first bend when looking for an inside run but checking to go outside. But for that he would have turned handy, yet he still showed enough back straight pace to get up to the leaders approaching the third bend before being stopped in his tracks again - interestingly he was backed from 4.5 into 3.5 just before the off. It's not the first time he's moved off at the first bend and it might just be that a middle draw, perhaps in the white jacket, may help him. Equally I would like to be with him big time if he were to be boxed in blue outside a fast starting red jacketed runner, with ideally a wide running trap three as well. If that was the case he would be a very good bet in this A2 grade.

Moyar Honcho, Nottingham, A2

Virtual kennel mates...

Onthewayout (1*) Poole
Ashfield Tiger (0) Sunderland
Reckless Revival (1) Sheffield
Coolanoran Black (1) Hall Green
Julie (1) Kinsley
Mill Ethan (1) Newcastle
Moyar Honcho (0) Nottingham
Black Lion (0) Yarmouth

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

Update: Mistley Palace went off a short priced [2.5] favourite at Sunderland on Friday night but despite starting well could only finish second and he now leaves the virtual kennel. Reckless Revival and Coolanoran Black both ran and were crowded out of things while Mill Ethan lost by just 1/2 length at SP 4.5.They all remain to fight another day.