I am hoping Wimbledon can put some sort of plan into place before entries for the Derby close next Tuesday.
The trial sessions have been huge, I wasn’t able to get my trialists in until next week and I expect the number of entries will go a long way past the 192 needed for a standard first round.
My personal views is that if they are unable to stage an extra round to allow the first three through – and time has run out on that idea – they should be fair to all the runners.
While there is no perfect solution, but the random nature of some dogs being drawn in a ‘two to qualify’ heat is the worst of all options. Though not ideal, I would prefer that the first two go through as right, and the rest, to make up to the 192, go through on times. That also sorts out your reserve order.
I accept even that idea isn’t perfect, particularly when going allowances come into it, but there is less ‘chance’ involved where you could easily get six outsiders in a ‘three to qualify’ heat but the top three in the ante post betting drawn in the same heat and one has to go out.
In general, I would like to see the GRA do a bit more thinking ‘out of the box’. When last Wednesday’s morning trial session was fully booked, I was told they couldn’t put on an afternoon session because they couldn’t get veterinary cover.
That’s not good enough quite frankly.
I have a lot of sympathy with the racing office staff, who I like personally, but they seem always under such pressure. Yet this is the biggest race in the Calendar and extra efforts should be made because of it.
My Derby team has whittled down between 15-20 entries of which I want to trial 14 or 15. The rest will be running elsewhere prior to the start of the competition, but are all adapted to Wimbledon.
As for our chances – this year I would probably go ‘hopeful’ more than ‘confident’ but you never know.
Overall, I think Wimbledon is a very fair track, and that is backed up by the number of Irish runners who will be entered.
Personally, I prefer the track running as it does now, with the starting traps on the old backstraight. But in latter years, even the old circuit had improved dramatically thanks to the work that they did on the first bend – which is now the third bend.
The other thing about Wimbledon is the going. It was always spot-on when it was prepared by John Forster and they have managed to maintain that standard.
I have read comments from Graham Holland about the distance to the pick-up and I do get his view.
But I just think, the whole stamina issue is part of the event and I have never liked dogs being stopped in the bend after the winning line, it can lead to injuries.
Besides, we won the competition with a dog who was at the end of his stamina range in Blonde Snapper – so it really can be done.
I was delighted to get a call from the Savva kennel this week asking if they could use Adageo Bob for a mating to their brood bitch Westmead Sula.
It will take place just before the start of the Derby – but who knows – it might do him some good.
