The Lord's Dogs Column: Sallis celebrates Betfair Arc 1-2

/ The Lord / 05 February 2010 / Leave a Comment

"Sallis's kennel supporters will have been cock-a-hoop with the forecast and there is no question that Farloe Titan won on merit... "

The Lord reflects on the last week down the dogs - including a great night at the Betfair Arc for one trainer and the dramatic return of Crown Rover...

After producing one of the great training performances to get Drink Up Zorro to win first time up after injury at Hall Green two weeks ago, Paul Sallis was at it again on Tuesday when sending out Farloe Titan to beat his own Klockwork Kyla for a kennel one-two in the Betfair Arc final.

Sallis's kennel supporters will have been cock-a-hoop with the forecast and there is no question that Farloe Titan won on merit as he led into the turn and never gave his rivals a look-in. And while there was some degree of crowding for the favourite, he never really picked up at all and looked a beaten dog even at halfway.

Almost two-and-a-half, Farloe Titan remains lightly-raced for his age and that burst of early speed will continue to serve him well, and the winning time (28:38) on Tuesday puts him in the top bracket.

A strong supporting card was spoilt by the no-race in the first, but don't tell me the result was affected!

Farley Totti, tipped up by his column as a potential star a fortnight ago, was brilliant and looks among the top batch of pups, especially around a galloping track. Another Draper star Magna Flintoff looked desperate in the 480m.

Having his first race of the year, he popped out nicely but just couldn't navigate a way round early-paced Birchfield Hero, and was then stopped in his tracks heading into the third bend. He'll win next time!

The sprint was won nicely by Jimmy Lollie after his smash break, but in behind King Lee caught the eye. He was never a factor after fluffing the breaks, but he showed awesome pace and back to four bends shortly might just announce himself a real Derby contender.

Raving Black did it well again in the stayers race and, while he was coming back to them off the last bend, had plenty in hand, and hardly had the easiest route to the front. Stay with him for now. And while Centurion Enrtry is becoming frustrating and a difficult dog to win with, he caught the eye back over four bends. He found all the trouble going, but wasn't beaten far and his come will come soon.

Elsewhere, Crown Rover announced himself back with the biggest bang of all with a scintillating win at Sunderland. The scene of his greatest success in last year's Grand Prix, Jimmy Wright's dog was knocked out of his stride on two of three occasions, but came with a powerful run to sweep to the front and go clear. Big-race glory beckons again.
Other races that caught the eye were the 450m where Nifty Crash stayed on with real purpose to finish second.

Kevin Wright's dog was having only his fourth race and might well be worth watching when stepped up in trip. Also worth keeping tabs with are two dogs trained by Jimmy Brown.
His Centaur Hunter wasn't disgraced in the sprint won by Bellpac Moonbeam, while Droopys Ulrich put a fair field to the sword over the one lap and the winning time (27:25) was decent.

And finally, let's look forward to another clash between sprinters Rotar Wing and Jimmy Lollie. The former won well at Nottingham on Monday, as did the latter on TV on Tuesday. and there's no question two-bend racing is strongest of all just now.