In the past 24 hours Liam Dowling has confirmed that he will definitely not be travelling over this year, Brendan Matthew’s confirming the same and so too has Peter Cronin.
All three trainers citing travel difficulties at this current time as the major factor. Peter has sent over Distant Star for the competition who will be handled throughout by the Carol Weatherall Kennel and trialed yesterday.
The Star Sports Bookmakers & ARC English Greyhound Derby drew ever nearer as the final special Derby trial session before the competition begins took place at Nottingham’s Colwick Park stadium.
A bumper trial card saw an abundance of star hounds showcasing their talents, however it was yet again Richard Yeates’s Hove raider Faughan Rebel who took star billing with a fastest of session 29.41 off the back of a 514 split.
The next fastest run of the day came from the Mark Wallis trained, Amanda Jeal owned Hopes Doggy.
Known on Irish shores as Surprise Me Now this June 2018 son of Skywalker Puma/Pinkies Glory has a winning record of 6 from 13 including semi final and final of a Dundalk A3 stake in August.
It was his subsequent trial runs at Shelbourne Park which really take the eye though, a 28.20 run over 525 yards was followed a week later by a superb 29.32 over the Irish Derby distance of 550 yards.
Wednesday’s run comes on the back of a 17.93 effort over the 305m trip in a trial here last week.
Patrick Janssens’ Bockos Doomie recorded an excellent 29.64 off a 5.12 split and he was also fastest of the day to my halfway marker, hitting that point at 14.79.
Nicky Holland headed across the Irish sea on Tuesday night with his English Derby team. Although the Irish Derby champion Newinn Taylor stays on home soil for this year, Graham sends a formidable team of six.
Irish Derby champion of 2019 Lenson Bocko stopped the clock in 29.82, however it’s worth noting that he anticipated the start, charging the traps he was on his way back as the lids opened and was value for a little more in the early pace department than his 512 sectional suggests.
Feudal Sprit has a winning record of 7 wins from 11 starts in Ireland but having run out an impressive winner of his first and second round Irish Derby heats he was eliminated in last place at the third round stage.
He recorded a moderate enough 30.08 off a 5.14 split, keeping a middle enough course throughout, there is better to come.
Fastest of the Holland trio to trial though was Newinn Session. A greyhound who wouldn’t have been seen in this years English Derby had it not been for the enforced lockdown which has delayed the competition.
Session emerged victorious in each of his first six career races. Last place finishes have since followed in the semi final of the Produce Stakes at Clonmel and subsequently in the first round of the Irish Derby at Shelbourne. A huge ante post gamble has seen Session supported in the past week from as high as 33/1 into as short as 8/1 clear favourite in a couple of places.
He ran the track well, maybe moving off slightly around the opening two bends but he strode out nicely and generally handled the track very well. Hitting the line in 4.99 first time and 29.80 overall, supporters will be pleased with the effort.
Recent East Anglian Derby Champion Kilara Lion recorded 30.07 off the back of a 5.21 split, rain had got into the track by this stage of the trial session with the going having reached an official .10 slow from the earlier normal.
David Mullins Troy Firebird recorded 30.07 off a 5.03 split and beat off kennel mate Piemans King by 4 3/4 lengths.
Paul Young’s Bubbly Magnum strode out nicely on what was his first look at the venue. Moving off a little on run up from his trap four berth he cut the bends well stopping the clock in 29.71 off a 4.99.
He is extremely lightly raced but could be anything, a record so far of 2 wins from 3 starts with both victories coming in Puppy opens at home track Romford. Based on Wednesday’s effort the Derby trip will hold no fears.
Pat Rosney was more than satisfied with the 29.76 run of his All England Cup champion Bower Luke.
He said: “I’m very happy with that run, it came in the very last trial before the track was regraded so it could probably be upgraded a little, I’ve also entered Bower Jet for the competition”.
Jet is another unexposed young greyhound who falls into the ‘could be anything category’. Grading straight into A1 at Perry Barr he finished a very creditable third despite a troubled passage throughout.
A similar fate awaited him in an open here at Nottingham but he has since rattled off a hat-trick in top grade company at the Barr and is a greyhound destined for a career on the open racing circuit.
Carl Perry’s Geelo Josh (ex Laughill Josh) was having his second look at the track recording 29.87 (normal) compared to 29.65 (+10) last week.
Carl told me “I was expecting an improvement on his time today in all honesty but looking at the runs recorded of the other greyhounds that have gone round I’d still be happy enough. That’s him now he’ll head straight for the first round and he’ll be our only entry for the competition”.
Elsewhere on the trial card Hiya Boyo (ex Droopys Pension) recorded 17.88 on a rain soaked track officially given 20 slow for the sprint trip. He was slowly into his stride, recording a moderate 706 to the turn on my unoffical clocks with a time of 25.10 to my pick up marker. The start will improve as will the stamina, connections will be delighted with the middle pace shown by the recent Monmore Gold Cup Finalist.
Dave Mullin’s brought along his star sprinter Shrewd Call to gain experience of the track while the opportunity presented itself and recorded 1800 (-30). Moderately away he still paced up well to hit the bend in 6.99 with his pick up time of 25.66 highlighting the fact that this greyhound is an out and out sprinter but with his ability in the sphere he need not be anything else.
Kevin Hutton’s extremely well bred Signet Ace was having his first look around the track, recording 1811 (-30). He showed huge pace but left plenty on the track. He will improve for the look massively, he hit the first bend in 6.99 and the pick up in 25.47 to my unofficial markers.
