Loyal Honcho trainer Seamus Graham talks to Betfair ahead of Saturday's Derby final

Derby Betting / Editor / 29 May 2008 / 2 Comments

Saturday night sees arguably the most open Greyhound Derby final ever. Betfair met Seamus Graham, trainer of last year's runner-up Loyal Honcho, for an exclusive chat about what to expect at Wimbledon

You've won the race three times before in your career. Ready to make it four?

Well it's probably the most open final there's ever been. There's a lot of good dogs in there but I'm happy with the way Loyal Honcho is coming to it. We think we've got his preparation just about right.

So how did you get into greyhounds?

Well I've kept the dogs for 40 years. I started out just owning some, but I got my trainers licence 20 years ago and I guess I've been lucky with how it has gone since then because as well as winning the Derby three times I've won the Oaks three times as well.

That's a great record, so what's the secret?

It's like anything in life, there is no secret other than hard work. You have to live for and love the dogs 24 hours a day. If that means sitting with one of them who has got an injury or is unwell at two in the morning then that's what you have to do. Each of them has his own character and you get to know them as your friends. You find out what makes them tick. I suppose it is a bit like a football manager knowing all his players. You have to know the dogs because they all have their own personalities

But the top football stars can be highly temperamental and have a bit of an ego. Are the best dogs like that?

Actually no. The best dogs, believe me, every one does most things right. The dogs you have plenty of problems with tend not to run so well. By problems I don't mean injuries, I mean them being moody and difficult. For instance Loyal Honcho has had his share of injuries, and just little niggly things as well and he would be unlucky in that way, but he's a brilliant dog. He's got a great temperament, he travels very well in the car, he kennels well at the track. All those things are a factor in how they perform, because if you have a bad kenneller his energies are gone by the time he runs.

So do you research the dogs' likely temperament before you buy them?

Yes you do, you need to know what you are getting. That's why I don't buy a lot of dogs now. I breed them, and bring them on myself. If you do that you get them thinking the way you want them to think. We've got 25 dogs in training now, and I've got people working in my kennels and the dogs can be noisy and boisterous about them, but when I come into the yard they go as quiet as lambs and I don't have to even talk. They know my footsteps, you know.

Tell us a bit about Loyal Honcho, what makes him special?

I trained him first for a fellow that owned him, and then a friend of mine bought him off him. I liked Loyal Honcho from the first time I worked with him, and I told my friend he was a dog that might do well in the English Derby. I thought he would win it last year, to be honest, but he had a mishap in the semi-final that probably cost him the race. The trap didn't open the first time around, and he seemingly hit his foot against it and cracked a little bone. It took us a long time to find it, and he did amazingly well to get through to the final and still come second. Once we did sort out the injury and it got repaired he came back and ran brilliantly again. Then he got a couple of other little injuries, but he's okay now, I think he's going to run a big race on Saturday

How well has he travelled?

Some dogs can hate a long journey, but he just gets into the car and he sleeps all the way. He's very good. When he comes from Ireland it's a long trip so you need a dog to do that well. It's less of a problem anyway this week because I'm staying in England at the moment, so he's with me here already. From where I'm staying it's only about three quarters of an hour to Wimbledon, so that will be a help for the preparation.

You've got everything right and ready to improve on last year, then?

I hope so, but it won't be the end of the world if we don't. I've had it both ways over the years with good wins and bad luck. I don't think that I get that nervous before big races. Maybe somebody observing me would think differently, but I don't feel it. Maybe you get a little tense coming to the race when he's going in the box and you are hoping he does things right. But when it's over it's over, win or lose, I don't get upset about it.

Do dogs pick up the mood if the trainer is nervous beforehand?

Oh yes, the dog loves you to be confident with them when you are handling them. It's a bit like a football manager, I suppose, if he goes into the dressing room and gives the idea he's convinced his team will win they pick up on that mood. The dogs know me well. They aren't fools, they know who is kind to them. We'll need to get him perfectly ready to run because there are a log of good dogs in this final. It will take a lot of winning, but we will hope for the best.

We'll wish you luck too. We've a free £50 bet for your favourite charity to say thank you for your time.

I'll put that to Cancer Research. I've been very lucky to enjoy good health in my life, but I lost a sister with cancer recently and it was a huge loss to me. Lots of others have the suffered the same thing. As for the bet there's only one choice - I'll back Loyal Honcho to win at [4.3].

Comments (2)

1. william bell | 31 May 2008

   Great Trainer, Great Dog

2. mike fitz | 07 June 2008

   backed him at33s before hand believed in the man
   A LEGEND