Greyhound News: A busy week in dog racing

Greyhounds News / Editor / 01 August 2009 / Leave a Comment

"Those who follow this column will have been delighted to see Droopys Bocelli strike in the sprint final. We have been a big fan of his here, and know he an trap a lot quicker, so to reel in leader Ballymac Pines was top-drawer. Keep with him."

Our man in the know tells us who's won what and where in the intriguing world of greyhound racing.

That man Claude Gardiner will soon be rivalling Mark Wallis as the trainer to follow for 2009 as he added the Sussex Cup to his Cesarewitch win. Why not a place in the Trainers' Championship next?

Raithby Syrah was a worthy winner of Hove's big TV race on Tuesday, for sure. But the jury would have to be out whether he was the fastest dog in the final - Ballymac Ruso just seems to flatten out come the big, big nights and Windy Millar lacked heart for the challenge when it was presented to him. Both could have won, but the locals ran out the winners with a Hove-trained one-two.

Those who follow this column will have been delighted to see Droopys Bocelli strike in the sprint final. We have been a big fan of his here, and know he an trap a lot quicker, so to reel in leader Ballymac Pines was top-drawer. Keep with him.

Corrig Count had things set up nicely for him in the opening TV race over 515m. He had run well in the Sussex Cup semis and was always likely to be the subject of a punt, but Shadayid showed great pace, is perhaps coming back to his best, and a race at Belle Vue could be his for the taking soon.

Capel Smiley couldn't match the four-bend speed of Loyal Rebel but Lee Gifkins's runner looks a very nice stayer in the making. He might have been bought with the career-ending injury of Capel Wilson in mind, and might just be a ready-made replacement for that unlucky runner for connections.

The 740m showed Dazzle Special to be just that. A bitch very much at the top of her game, another step up in class is on the cards and might not half her progress. From being a bitch difficult to win with, she looks the real deal now.

But it will also interesting to see if connections take Lilys Nod on the road. John Gammon's bitch ran with credit behind an impressive winner and a nice open somewhere could be within her compass, as it might for bitches' final winner Swift Ribena . She showed great pace throughout, although Little Jig wasn't disgraced in second and might strike next time.
Gabba Gabba Hey was having his first race since a pretty decent Irish campaign when staying on second to Shelbourne Janie in the 695m race. Andy Clarke's dog needs a test now, and a step up to eight bends could be interesting.

And while much was made of Bubbly Eagle's tail hanging out of the traps in the marathon, it cannot be used as an excuse for his defeat against Gas Hawk in the marathon. He was close enough if good enough, and this bad traveller was not quite at the races on the night.

Later on at Hove, Glenard Rocket eased his way past Bubbly Maestro in the style of a dog on good terms with himself and he should repay continued support, while Bridge Man showed all-round ability to make up for defeat in the puppy heats. He looks an exciting ex-Irish addition for Chris Cronin.

Finally from Hove in the past fortnight, Raithy Toure didn't make the sprint final, but showed in the heats he retains great ability and a return to the winner's enclosure will not be long in coming.