This year’s St. Leger has been widely panned in the media due to its reduced prize money. But the calibre of Saturday night’s St.Leger final is more than worthy of an event that has had its fair share of shocks over the years.
Here are the thoughts of the trainers of the six finalists. Latest betting: 11-8 Magical Icarus, 2-1 Calico Ranger, 5-1 Slippy Maggie, 8-1 Ridgedale Max, 16-1 Minnies Highway, 33-1 Token Memory
Phil Simmonds “We are delighted to be there; Max has been trained throughout by my assistant Nathan Hunt who had done an exceptional job.
“Max has had a slightly disappointing career with plenty of breaks. He has never had any injury issues, his problems have all been related to him concentrating on the job.
“He has a good draw in the final, having qualified from a difficult one. I don’t think anyone is surprised to know that his best distance is around 660-680 metres, he really struggles for that last 30 metres.
“Although we don’t want anything unfortunate to happen behind him, I think he will need trouble to get home in this company.
“I would like to thank Perry Barr for the putting the event on. It is the St.Leger and much as we would like to see the winner’s prize of £12,000 or £20,000, it only goes to one person, and you only think about that at the end.”
Ian Bradford said: “This is actually my third Category one finalist but I was on the flaps and couldn’t train them NGRC myself. I had Navigation Lad (Puppy Derby) with Phil McComish and Knock Split (Monmore Puppy Derby) who I put with Barrie Draper.
“I can promise you one thing, this bitch is not a 33-1 shot. She has done well to qualify because we’ve had to put up with a lot of fireworks or the last fortnight and she is very nervous, but I’ve put some work into her this week and I think she will come on for it.
“She doesn’t quite see out the trip, and I plan to take her to Nottingham for the 680s. She is still young and should be a better bitch next year.”
John Mullins said: “You look at all the criticism of the event and you end up with what looks like a fantastic final, as good as any St.Leger final.
“There is probably one of the six who you wouldn’t have picked to reach the final and that happens in every competition which is a great thing about the sport.
“I am realistic about our chances. If we lead and the six gets a run, he can come from behind us. If we lead, he gets up and Hazel Kemp’s bitch gets a run, she can pick us up.
“But this is dog racing so you never know and I am just delighted to have a runner in it.”
Hazel Kemp said: “The five looks to be the one to beat and Maggie can’t afford to give him too many lengths start. I wouldn’t exactly call her ‘quirky’ but she certainly has a head on her.
“We are hoping for a big run from her this week. She was a bit below her best last week. There was some sickness about and she seemed a bit subdued. This week, when Michael has put her out in the paddock she has been running around refusing to be caught. All the time we are thinking, ‘for God’s sake don’t hurt yourself.
“It is just great to be there and whatever happens we will give her a couple of weeks off and then think about the TV Trophy.”
Dave Jeans said: “We bought him unraced from Pat Guilfoyle. He had a 28.69 trial on his card at Limerick. Owner Malcolm Dagger was desperate for a top class stayer and Pat promised him that Icarus was what he was looking for.
“In fact everything Pat has said about the dog has proven to be true. We have half a dozen of his dogs here, they were all immaculate when they arrived and have all turned out to be good.
“I worked with my dad for 30 years and know how it feels to be making up the numbers when you come up against the good dogs. It makes such a difference when you finally get one like this.
“I respect all the other five in the race, but I don’t fear any of them and that is a lovely position to be in.
“I would expect our lad to lead up the four and the six and even if he doesn’t, he can do it either end. You have to remember he is a very young dog who should continue to improve.
“You can never afford to be cocky in this game. I’m not, but I am confident.”
Carol Weatherall said: “He loves Perry Barr and runs it well, is in good form and very well in himself. But he is a bit like his dad Holdem Spy, and the rest of the litter, he will do things his own way. Once he goes in the boxes, it really is down to Ranger.
“ I would love to see one of the litter win a big race. ‘Brandy’ and ‘Blackjack’ are both coming back after broken legs, but it would be nice to get one under our belts.”
