Betfair Official Blog

Dog shortage hits the 'Don

Darrell Williams rounds up the week's happenings at south-west London's celebrated track

Wimbledon are shortly expected to advertise for an additional trainer to help combat an unusually low pool of dogs at the track. Although the arrival of Paul Donovan earlier in the year took the tally of contract trainers to eight, it has become apparent recently that the number of dogs available to grade has taken a marked drop.

Figures usually tend to fall slightly in the summer but it has been noticeable that the kennel strength has failed to pick up again, resulting in dogs being asked to race more often than usual.

Last Tuesday's card, for example, included 11 greyhounds that had raced the previous weekend. The reduction in prize money earlier in the year will have done little to encourage owners to purchase additional dogs, an effect that has been felt at tracks across the country.

Walthamstow, for example, has recently allowed three outside trainers to supply runners for its six-bend graded races in order to boost numbers.

Wimbledon will stage additional meetings on the three Thursdays leading up to Christmas, racing on the 6th, 13th and 20th December, and in a repeat of last year's arrangement, the meetings will concentrate on Open racing. The track has recently advertised details, which will include races over a variety of distances and disciplines, including 256m and 276m hurdle races, plus stayers races for puppies over 668m, as well as races over the more accustomed four and six-bend trips.

Roquefort Addson continues to make a name for herself after another win in top grade company on Tuesday, stopping the clock in a rapid 27.57, to make it three wins in four starts in A1 company. Still open to further improvement after only eight starts at the track, the Tony Taylor bitch, while most effective from the front, also remains a potent threat when forced to challenge from off the pace. She categorically remains one to follow.

The main eye-catcher this week is Hondo Reunion, who ran on well, before leading at the pick up, on her comeback race in A7 company last Friday. Top grade over six bends at her peak, she could be worth a look in a not dissimiliar race on Saturday (19:45).

Bag Lady, also made the notebook on the same card, clocking a decent 28.29 for A8 company. Although hammered two levels by the grader, she remains one to be interested in and also runs on Saturday (20:00).

The step back up to six bends should make Craggyman an interesting propostion in the feature S1 race at Wimbledon on Saturday night (22:15). A regular top-grade winner earlier in the year, and responsible for the fastest time by a grader over the trip this year when clocking 41.13 back in May, she has returned from season in good form over the shorter trip but can improve further for the return to 668m.

Friday's card also features two grade one races, with Anarkee, another fast S1 dog back in the spring, taken to confirm the promise of an impressive win in lesser company last week by claiming the six-bend race at 22:15, while Allenbuild Flyer looks hard to oppose in the A1 at 22:00. Tony Taylor's bitch has been running well against better dogs than she meets here and looks a solid bet.