After a year when you have won five Category One finals including the English Derby and Oaks, plus a string of ‘Cat 2’ competitions, it takes a brave man to practically close down his kennel for refurbishment and reduce his kennel strength by two thirds. But the bullet was bitten in 2019 and Kevin Hutton is looking forward to reaping the benefits in 2020.
“We completely upgraded all the facilities for the dogs and the staff and I couldn’t be happier with the result. But to do it, the kennel strength was reduced to around 45 at one stage. We are now back up to mid 60s and we have quite a few pups due to arrive in the kennel in the next couple of weeks.”
The almost inevitable repercussion was a dip in results with a sole Cat One win – Dalcash Behold in the Henlow Maiden Derby plus a forecast in the Brighton Belle. Despite it all, the kennel is still likely to finish no lower than sixth of the Trainers Championship table.
Kevin said: “The Henlow race was particularly pleasing because we won it with a dog who was really just an A1 grader at Monmore. Seeing Galloping Moon leading hom Lassies Gift was also a great night at Hove.
Of course, the year is not quite over for the kennel going into Saturday’s English Oaks Final with Bull Run Byte.
Kevin said: “I am very happy with the draw, she is a very tough bitch and if she can hold her path to the first bend, I think she has a fair chance. I am delighted with her preparation and there will be no excuses if we get beat.
“We also have quite a strong team of five going for the Olympic, though I would have to make Headford Ranger the leading fancy.”
Ryan “all his fault” Sidebottom & Julie Collier at the Derby lunch
Ask Kevin to name his worst moment of 2019 and it didn’t come on a track, in the kennel or a vet’s surgery, but in a London hotel – and Ryan Sidebottom was to blame!
The former England fast bowler had just pulled the name Magical Bale from the drum and the Hutton runner was destined to run from trap one in the Star Sports/ARC/LPS Greyhound Derby Final.
Kevin said: “I was absolutely gutted because I knew Bale couldn’t win the Derby from trap one. Nothing against Nottingham, I really like the place, but I am from the school who would like to see those starting traps changed.”
There will be a few new faces among the Hutton kennel strength in 2020 and big things are expected of June ’18 pup Ballydoyle Blake.
Kevin said: “He is out of Fear Emoski and I would expect him to make a solid 550 yard dog, but his early trials have been very promising with low 28s at Swindon (28.08, 28.02). I had hoped he would have had his first race by now but he has been delayed by the cough.
“We have a possible decent stayer from Pat Buckley in Southfield Code, plus one of the first Forest Natalee pups called Sign It Blaze. He has gone very well in his schooling at Newbridge. The first five dogs have arrived in the kennel, though he is the pick of them. It will be a while before he is racing though, they are only September ’18 pups.
“We also have the first pups out of Dorotas Star currently being schooled and Paddy Kehoe has some promising youngsters by ‘The Wildcat’ out of Forest Dot. As you can see, we have a lot of pups coming through.
“Of the older dogs, we have Druids Busyman due back. He broke a hock in a Derby trialstake but seems to have made a full recovery, plus Bentley Crew who looks a very capable sprinter and won D1 at Monmore in his only race.
“Do we have a Derby dog? At this stage I am not sure we have.”
And if you could choose one of somebody else’s?
“Easy decision. Ice On Fire, he looks the complete package. A tremendous greyhound.”
