The dogs and I have settled in well at Eric Cantillon’s kennel near Bury St Edmunds.
We set off on Thursday night and arrived on Friday. We have eight runners and thankfully no bad kennelers among them. We brought our biscuit and meat with us but didn’t go as far as to bring Irish water. We have eight dogs here and with no gallop I am being kept pretty busy – in fact I think I’m losing weight!
Overall, I was very happy with the draws and will be glad when things get underway.
Millbank Stevie is our first runner (ht 5) on Wednesday and he probably has the toughest race of the lot. We have Farloe Blitz drawn on our inside and it is one of the six-runner races with several very fast dogs. I am happy with the trap but would take qualification right now. The one thing I can promise is that Stevie is a real battler.
Gaytime Hawk is our first runner on Thursday. We got one trial into him and was disappointed that we couldn’t get another, but it was a cracking first look (28.23). We’ve had him for probably five months and he is just coming to form for us. He is a cracking dog at Cork and was unlucky to be knocked out of the Laurels. He is a very decent dog, and like Stevie, is a real battler. He stays 575 and if he gets the time to adjust to Wimbledon, he should take the runs comfortably.
Riverside Pat and Hoffs Nephew are both in the same heat (18) later on Thursday. We have devised a game plan where Hoffs Nephew leads and Pat comes through on the rails later in the race. They both know their jobs. I would love to get them both through. Pat (T1) is particularly well drawn and could go a long way, if he can avoid early crowding at the first bend.
Vans Viking (heat 19) is well drawn on the inside but will need to lead. He is short of work and will need a few races to be spot on, but providing the draws are kind, he should progress as the competition runs on.
Clares Wonder is in the following heat – hopefully I am not on my knees by then! I think a lot of this dog and was disappointed that he didn’t get any sort of run in his first race at Wimbledon after missing his break. But he is a lot better than that and easily capable of a 28.20 run if he gets chance to adapt to the track.
Sidarian Blaze is probably the best drawn dog of them all in trap one (ht 30) on Friday. He has a 28.15 (fastest of year) win on his card already and I would be very disappointed if he didn’t win on Saturday. The dog is absolute class though of all my runners, he is probably the one most dependent on a good draw.
Sidarian Vega is an outstanding (Aug ‘13) pup but because of injury he comes into the competition slightly underdone. Like Vans Viking, he should improve, providing he gets the opportunities and draws. If not, fingers crossed for next year!
Saturday – a night off! Think I might need it.
