Greyhound Betting: A week in the world of greyhound racing

General / Jonathan Hobbs / 30 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Jonathan Hobbs looks back at the week's best performances from the world of greyhound racing and tells us who to keep an eye on in coming weeks.

Barnfield Loreto helped continue his trainer Pat Rosney's terrific run of form with victory in Thursday's Gold Collar final at Belle Vue - and the Leyland handler has a fantastic team of dogs just now.

With chief owners Robert Ferrari of the 'Vatican' dogs fame and Barnfield Loreto's owner Paul Scott also owning the likes of Shadayid and sprinter Swift Sapphire, Rosney's really is a kennel to note on the open-race scene.

Now whether the Gold Collar champion himself gets the St Leger trip as planned is another thing, and a problem for punters for another time (!), but over similar six-bend distances him and runner-up Commander Chief should continue to pick up races. Speed and stamina is a heady mix!

Looking in behind the front two, ROMEO TURBO did nothing wrong throughout the event. He won his heat well enough and was not disgraced in semi-final or final, despite not really being favoured by the race conditions in term of the short run to the turn and his wide draws. Respect him whereever he goes next.

Performance of the night away from the final, however, came from JESTERS NAP in the puppy race.

Jim Daly's dog is proving one of the best of his generation just now having won the Puppy Derby at Wimbledon, and the way he handed out a beating to a top-class field was impressive.

For sure, Fear Zafonic will improve. He boasts awesome pace, and in one-offs must always be feared, although in competition I wonder whether his strong preference for the rails will present problems in tougher events.

MOVEALONG BLUE, very much in-form for Paul Philpott, must be in the front rank for possible glory in the Betfair East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth after another solid effort behind FARLEY MAGIC, who also goes into the notebook after showing plenty of speed in winning over four bends. He led his rivals well and should continue to be followed.

Lochbo Meg continues to lead the way in bitches' race, but in behind LIVELY LOTTE caught the eye. She remains in good heart and could be placed for another success imminently.
Earlier on, BUBBLY EAGLE might not have justified short-priced favouritism, but the dog clearly has unreal ability. He ran very green, almost lacking the courage of his convictions, but when it all clicks into gear he makes giant strides.

LODGEVIEW BILLY was also not disgraced behind Vatican Jura and Bubbly Eagle. He showed good pace and another easy six bends should see him return to the winner's enclosure.

Keep an eye out also for ALSTON MASALA. He is better than his bare third-placed formline in a puppy race on Thursday suggests.

OTHER eyecatchers from last week include BARNFIELD CHUBBY, who lines up in Tuesday's hurdles final at Romford, and FARLOE NIALL, who finished fast in his heat of the Steel City Cup at Sheffield and runs in Tuesday's semi-finals.