Sky Night Reaction / Jonathan Hobbs / 05 December 2008 / Leave a comment

Jonathan Hobbs marks the ones to watch from the Essex Vase.

Tuesday's Essex Vase final was one of the races of the year, both in terms of sheer excitement in the build-up and during the 35-odd seconds of its running.

Before, it had all been about Bubbly Totti and his Greyhound of the Year claims, but it was Brickfield Dream who came out on top with a trap-to-liner as he edged out Bomber Blue and the unnatural Droopys Carvalho in a TV cracker.

No question that the front two were coming back a touch, but it was still a marvellous run in defeat from the Mullins dog and, while he is as exposed as Bubbly Totti, his terrific year deserves another win or two before we head into 2009.

Destined for the winner's enclosure again is Blindin Bell, who blasted out of the boxes and ran right up to his Golden Sprint-winning form to give the Dave Mullins camp something to cheer about after losing Be All in the hurdles race. Watch Blindin Bell run up a sequence now.

The maiden stayers saw the six-bend bow of Masterful, the Romford Puppy Cup finalist.

He showed great pace in the middle part of the race and should be watched over a stiff four bends. But the winner Westmead Zest can keep up her form over six bends as she continues to improve for in-form trainer Pat Rosney.

The hurdles race proved a messy and unfortunate affair, but keep an eye on Black Flyer.

He had run close-up to the ill-fated Be All in a trial and, while he fell out in the race, was relatively close-up at the finish. He has ability and will pop up at a price in a decent hurdles race soon.

Vatican Jinky (pictured) ran a stormer in the Essex Vase 'consolation' and was value for a more comfortable victory.

He had a long spell off the card, and the priority will be to keep him sound, but there are plenty of races left in him. And when Bubbly Sally steps back up in trip she, too, will be winning again. She ran great in second also.

Keep faith with Vatican Iona. She was closest at finish after dropping herself out in the marathon, but with Pat Rosney's bitch it's about avoiding the company of other dogs. Best when bowling along in front, a bigger track will also play to her strengths. 'I want to be alone' is her mantra!

Pride N Passion took off to dead-heat with Bonville Stan over 400m and Chris Duggan has a pacey ex-Irish sort. He was lacking a touch of early, but certainly ran on very strongly. Not many dogs would have got to Bonville Stan with such a lead.

Before the Sky action kicked off (and not because of his name!), Hillcross Hobbs caught the eye when second Kingsmill Beau.

The winner got away well and could afford the luxury of moving middle on the dash to the turn, but the second never gave up and ran well for his first time at Romford.

He is well regarded, well-bred, and well-named! Keep tabs with him.