The Lord: A pair of pooches to watch at Nottingham

General / The Lord / 14 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

"Borna Rocker looks a very nice youngster for Chris Lund. To win on debut as he did was mightily impressive , and in such a good time, less than a length slower than hotpots Farloe Lee and Eye Onthe Storm clocked in their great battle."

Our top dog looks back on the action at Newcastle and Belle Vue and ahead to Nottingham

I can't say Wednesday's action from Newcastle was the best meeting Sky has ever broadcast - the racing was generally poor and trouble-marred - but what is certain is that Boherna Best was brilliant in defending his All England Cup title.

Despite track conditions which were at best very average, Boherna Best quickly went clear to put a good class field very much to the sword. And what a great achievement for his trainer Barrie Draper to train the big-race one-two, with Farloe Rocket second.
Indeed, the last-named is one to watch. Not perhaps for his next target, the Eclipse, but when the Sheffield handler and his brother Trevor opt to try the younger dog over six bends. He could be a star.

So not much to report on the undercard at the Byker track, but the race before the cameras rolled was a cracking sprint with high-class trio Target Brett, Boherbradda Mac and Blood Of Kings featuring.

To be fair to the veteran Boherbradda Mac, he ran a cracker in defeat and went past the winner after the line, while Blood Of Kings took off into the turn but handled the bend poorly. He was going just too fast!

It was difficult to weigh up the performance of Jimmy Wright's Droopys Kentucky in defeat in the puppy race, but to the eye it looked good. But be warned: it wasn't a great field in terms of quality or quantity, with just three rivals facing him.

Impressive 480m all-aged winner Uncle Ollie showed pace and could be anything, but it's Bower Surfer who again gets the bold type in this column as he continues to rise up the six-bend ranks. He is getting better all the time,

The unluckiest dog on the night was Elwick Joaquin. He almost went round in front, only to take a battering, but then rallied to almost catch winner Stormy Virginia. He is a dog that seems to make things hard for himself, but a draw nearer the fence looks the answer.

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Nottingham kicks off a star-studded Eclipse on Monday and open-race fans are in for a treat with the action live on SIS.

Each week, the Colwick Park track comes up trumps open-race wise and this week was no exception - put these dogs in your notebook.

Borna Rocker looks a very nice youngster for Chris Lund. To win on debut as he did was mightily impressive , and in such a good time, less than a length slower than hotpots Farloe Lee and Eye Onthe Storm clocked in their great battle.

Tearaway John is another promising sort. He amazingly came from last to first at Nottingham in a sprint and then was hardly disgraced in a two-bender at Romford on Friday. Keep Seamus Cahill's dog on your side.

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Another betting shop boost has been the Northern Oaks at Belle Vue, and Thursday's heats will be remembered not just for the errant Cabra Fly throwing away another winning opportunity.

The giant strides made by Marshalls Angel in her heat was noted, as was the marked preference for the wide ground. Trap five in the final gives this likely outsider a squeak in my mind.

As for those missed out, Plan did her reputation no harm with a blistering run in defeat. Bet her next time, wherever she is!