Sky Night Reaction / Editor / 11 June 2009 / Leave a comment

The Sky cameras were focused on the action up in Manchester and so was The Lord, so who's he looking out for in forthcoming races?

The furore over the photo-finish at Belle Vue on Tuesday naturally overshadowed what was a good card at the Manchester venue - albeit with one or two clear-cut refusals!

Plan had a major chance to win but threw it away and, although Jimmy The Singer did win the puppy race after all, he almost threw it away by putting the brakes on. The marathon race was also a case of 'after you, claude', allowing Vatican Iona to swoop.

But in the quest for future winners - and hope you were on [6.0] beauty Jimmy Lollie, not to mention Deanridge Fury, after last week's recommendations - we start with the puppy race and Ballymac Well goes into the notebook.

Admittedly his proximity to the winner(s) flatters him somewhat as Jimmy The Singer reckoned he'd done enough (and had!), but Pat Rosney's dog is the one to follow after showing definite greenness but good pace in equal measures.

Plan threw away a winning opportunity in the bitches stake, but both Maltese Force and Southern Sunset took their chance well, while Platinumlancelot proved what most of us felt, that he is the country's best hurdler just now. Awesome.

Laverick Limmo was backed as if defeat was out of the question over six bends, even though the trip was possibly on the sharp side. But Pat Rosney's dog was not beaten that far, is coming back to himself and a step back up in trip can be rewarded.

Barnfield Brooke's performance in the marathon did not please everyone, given she struggled to pass Love Pearl. But let's credit the pace-setter and give Paul Philpott's Dorando third the benefit of the doubt. Back her next time.

Hurleys Hero proved himself a new six-bend star with a facile victory in the Cock O'The North final, but runner-up Gabba Gabba Hey was not disgraced in behind. He does struggle to get a clear run but did well to finish second and is worth following.

Kryptonite signed off from a great British career under Charlie Lister's tutelage in the four-bend event, leading at the bend and winning again. The 2008 Derby finalist now goes back to Ireland, where he's sure to keep up the good work.

Talking of good work, Chris Allsopp's one-two in the Scurry Gold Cup was a magnificent training performance and both Centaur Allstar and Officer Donagh will keep winning for the kennel. The former, in particular, looks a real tool having now settled in following his switch from Ireland.

Before leaving Belle Vue, add Blood Of Kings to your 'dogs to follow' list. Trained by Julie Bateson, this lightly-raced sort was beaten in a sprint before the Sky action kicked off, but was a unlucky loser after rallying well to finish close up following trouble.

Win or lose in next week's Gymcrack final, Farloe Lee was the eye-catcher from the midweek semis at Hall Green.

Charlie Lister's dog has been mixing it with the very best, but impressed again when closing on winner Droopys Bogart after being five lengths behind at one point. He prefers to lead but showed he has talent in behind, also.

Talking of Lister, and maybe you're reading it here first, his Farloe Razl could just be the next Fear Zafonic or Bandicoot Tipoki. He took off at Nottingham in only his second race at Nottingham on Monday, posting a fastest time of the night. A star in the making?

And talking of stars, Hove's ongoing Olympic event has plenty of them. Most of the leading lights managed to make it through to this weekend's semis, but what was interesting was the progress of Barrie Draper's Thurlesbeg Joker and Magna Venturer.

They are out of the top drawer, and the news from the Sheffield trainer that the pair will head to Ireland for the Derby at Shelbourne is also interesting.

The Drapers made a real bold bid to win at Shawfield (Thurlesbeg Joker) and Wimbledon (Boherna Best), and it would be ironic should their best chance of Classic glory this year comes in Dublin. And with the pair joined by Boherna Best, who knows?