Virtual Kennel: 'Back me next time!'

General / Editor / 25 June 2009 / Leave a Comment

Despite a narrow defeat the Hawk hasn't got the blues as he trains his beady eye on two dogs whose turn should come soon...

Ragtime Hawk has run some 43 times and has been successful on eight occasions in A3 class at Nottingham. Last Tuesday, the March 2007 whelp put in an eye catching front running display in A3 which shouted 'back me next time'!

The son of Westmead Hawk has led in a number of his races at Colwick Park but he has slowed down appreciably before the run in or off the third bend to record times in the 31.50+ bracket of late. But he has recently gone as quickly as 31.01 and he showed he was in that sort of form last time out when he was only nabbed half way up the run in by a strong running in form dog who had been on his shoulder for half the race.

I backed Ragtime Hawk on Betfair at [7.0] that day mainly on the premise that if he could clear the inside runner (which was more than a 60% chance in my book) he would probably lead the others around the first bend (trap three had been running in the black box recently and did indeed run middle to wide). Unfortunately, for me the three dog, who was the fastest finisher in the race followed our fellow around the first bend and only had clear daylight and Ragtime Hawk to chase.

Still, Ragtime Hawk did run on okay and was only overtaken in the home straight. That performance indicated his turn is not far away. I would especially like to be on Ragtime Hawk if he was drawn in trap two (or even three) inside one or two average starters/railers, as he too drifts rails to middle on the initial run in.

Ragtime Hawk A3 Nottingham

Brunos Ghost is no spring chicken, but he looks likely to win his 16th race at Newcastle shortly. He races mostly from the stripped jacket these days - he's nine from 47 from the outside trap - but he can operate in the orange jacket too, as he won an A3 by five lengths from trap five back in February.

The July 2006 dog took the eye recently when running on in A3 class. He was recently plying his trade in A2, but A3's and perhaps a drop down to A4 could see him win soon. Brunos Ghost usually runs on, but has been known to crack out and make all, as a 4.66 recent sectional clearly demonstrates. He was surprisingly beaten the last time he led on 13th June, but a strong finisher did turn handy that day. Next time he ran no race at an SP of 4/1, and if you can forgive him that run he could well reward us at big odds next time in A3. If dropped to A4 even better!

Brunos Ghost A3 Newcastle