When a trainer of John Mullins calibre describes a greyhound as “she could be the best I’ve ever had”, only a fool would dismiss it.
Rackethall Jess (Droopys Scolari-Leamaneigh Breda, Sep 15) went to traps on a wet Monmore Thursday evening and bolted up by eight lengths in a 480m open in 28.26 on going rated -40. The least surprised man in the stadium was her trainer.
It was Jess’s fifth win in eight outings for the Suffolk based handler but it was a run at Hove in September that convinced him him that Jess was a little bit special.
He said: “I couldn’t believe the Hove run it was that good. She had already won at Towcester for me (29.68-500m), but that (515m) run at Hove, where she didn’t lead until the third bend but won in 29.85 (-10), was just exceptional.
“She was originally with Graham Holland and I couldn’t believe that he would agree to sell her to me, but thankfully he did. She had been running very well for Graham and was only beaten a short head in the final of the Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne. She came in season after Hove and I was just hoping she would come back as good as before, and she has.
“We will keep her ticking over for the next few weeks. I intend to run her in the Lol Jones meeting at Monmore but the long term plan is the Scottish Derby. Make no mistake she is good enough and although she can do it both ways, she has the ability to come from behind Derby dogs.”
