The Lord's dogs to watch from Hall Green and Monmore

General / Editor / 19 June 2009 / Leave a Comment

More hounds to put in the notebook from The Lord.

Droopys Bogart was the star of the show on Hall Green's Sky card on Tuesday and, having earned a recommendation in these columns just a matter of weeks ago The Lord's form remains solid!

Hats off, Ascot-style, to Liz and Rab McNair for their great effort with the youngster, who showed blistering pace up to turn a length in front of market rivals Eye Onthe Storm and Farloe Lee.

That pair came together, and Farloe Lee took a nasty tumble, but the winner was away and gone in the style of a good animal. His initial burst of pace will continue to serve him well in future races.

But he's exposed now, so we're on the lookout for those slipping under the radar at Hall Green. And the first in the book is one-time Derby contender Deanridge Ammo.

He has struggled to recapture some top-class puppy form, but was noted running on strongly in the race won by Driving Up Pal, and maybe, just maybe, he is coming back to his best - and that would make him a real force.

Lethal Ace and Freedom Emma are both worth keeping tabs with. They produced a great buckle in the four-bend race, each giving nothing with the former edging a thriller.

Officer Donagh, the Scurry runner-up, continued his rich vein of form by picking up Robbie Rocks well, but he's also exposed now and more of a player at a price next time might be Tyrur Rodge.

At Belle Vue or Hall Green recently he's been unable to lead, but with a chance to dictate terms next time he could be worth siding with. He certainly hasn't been beaten far and is a different dog out in front. But can he get there?

Directors Chair deserved his sixth Hall Green success and Mark Wallis's admirable veteran won the six-bend race really as he liked, but a four-year-old can hardly be expected to improve still further.

But Hillcross Pluto could be. Paul Sallis's dog showed blistering boot to lead a field of very good starters. He did it a shade comfortably, too, and just has to be a must-bet next time.

Admittedly, he had no answer to the finish of Hidden Sky on Tuesday - the winner, too, looks a nice type - but that sort of pace to halfway should win him plenty more races.

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Eye-catchers from Monmore's open-race bonanza on Monday include Fabulous Opera, who now goes for gold in Friday's bitches' final.

Dave Firmager's bitch really struggled to get momentum at any stage but was finishing with purpose and must have a squeak in the final before carrying on the good work elsewhere.

Dogs knocked out of the Monmore events who should pay to follow are Magna Flintoff, who didn't seem to chase hard past halfway and can do better, and well regarded Micks Ginger, who was all over Praematurus even before that runner checked at the sough (the hare pick-up).

Having said that, Praematurus did well to recover and qualify and if not repeating the trick down the far side in the 'sprint' final must have as good a chance as any.