Virtual Kennel: Ice Doll must win soon!

General / The Hawk / 16 July 2009 / Leave a Comment

The Hawk trains his beady eye over two new additions to the virtual kennel...

Ice Doll is a small bitch that ideally needs a clear run as she is prone to being bumped around a little in the early stages. Earlier this week, this June 2007 whelp put in an eye catching performance despite not getting the best of runs and eventually finishing last in a Newcastle A3 event.

She went off the 9/4 favourite that day and was crowded at the first bend where her chance of coming home in front were well and truly finished. But, she showed tenacity to get back among the middle running dogs in the last quarter of the race and given that this bitch has an A3 record of 1-2 now, she can win soon at this grade- especially if she is drawn nearer the fence and has a slow starting dog on her outer. She has won a decent 5 from 24 races at Newcastle but being small will need a clear in the early part of the race in order to get her stride going.

She has now gone nine races without a win, but some of those races were in top grade - she has run 25% of her races at Newcastle in A1 - and she has recorded a speedy 29.38 in A2 class - only a month ago!! She must win soon!

Ice Doll A3 Newcastle

Shaft looks like winning soon at Sunderland. Having won an A3 a month ago this So Breezy July 2005 dog continues to find A2 his right class - he has been successful at this grade recently, but is too good for A3 events at the track - and showed that his time is near with a decent running on performance last time. He has been an unconsidered 5/1, 10/1 and 8/1 chance in recent races but got to 1.75 lengths of the winner in a time of 28.06 last time despite being miles back at the sectional (5.28).

And that is his problem - slow starts. He does though show early speed on occasions, as his run four runs back showed when he got out in 5.08 from trap three and went to record a 27.81. It's been eight races since he completed a race without a crowded or bumped comment, and if the grader gives this old timer a chance from a middle draw I can see him gunning down some early paced sorts late on soon. He needs space and time to wind up but in a field of starters could be a decent bet in his next two or three races.

Shaft A2 Sunderland