It has been a great start to the year, having the runner-up in the Coronation Stakes and then winning the Prestige at Hall Green with our only runner in the event, Billys Bullet.
This last week has been particularly good including a five-timer at Towcester on Sunday.
We actually have four of the five track record holders now in Cloudbursting (260m), Domino Storm (480m), Billys Bullet (655m) and Vanrooney (686m). So far we haven’t had a runner in the marathon.
The Goden Jacket is the next major event and Black Francis will be my only runner.
I plan to give him a trial at Crayford on Tuesday. It was a full session but thankfully Racing Manager Harry Bull managed to find a slot for me.
I really wouldn’t want the dog going around the track without a preparatory sighter, simply so that he doesn’t do himself or any of the others any harm.
If all goes to plan he will then go straight into the first round. I think 50-1 is way too big with some of the bookies.
After consulting with the owners, I decided against entering either Billys Bullet or Vanrooney in the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket as they are both big dogs, over 36 and 37 kilos, who I don’t think will adapt to the track.
In terms of ability, I don’t think there is very much between the pair. They are both top class dogs over six bends. Vanrooney has long been a class act but has a bit of age on him now.
Billys Bullet is the young pretender who is getting stronger. Vanrooney has beaten Bullet, though the latter has improved a bit since then.
They should hopefully form part of my team for the Trainers Championship meeting at Sittingbourne.
If it was held tomorrow, I think we would have a good chance, because they are all in good form. You don’t know what the situation will be in a month’s time.
At this stage, I would have Vanrooney in mind for the ‘708’ and Billys Bullet for the ‘642’.
I think they stay equally well but I don’t like putting wide runners like Vanrooney over distances with a short run to the bend.
Adageo Bob is still on his bed but hopefully he will be back in time. He should be trialling next week. He takes a little while to get fully fit and the ‘500’ would seem ideal.
We also have all three still in the Gold Cup at Henlow. Blonde Razor beat our other runner in his heat, and then Blackstone Marco won the following qualifier.
Razor (33.15-550m) was the fastest qualifier, and Marco was a bit slower in 33.29.
That probably reflects their ability though Marco is the more consistent of the pair and won the Henlow Cesarewitch at the track in December.
Razor is brilliant when he is on the hare but looks so clumsy if he gets behind. Vanfrenchie, who also reached the Cesarewitch Final is probably a little behind the other but is young and still improving.
Although the event didn’t get the 36 runners, it is still a cracking competition, very competitive with a lot of dogs capable of breaking 33.30. You could probably make a case for about eight or nine winning it.
I am excited about Blonde Nipper who looks to be our main Derby dog. He won the Harolds Cross Leger just before Christmas and looked very good in qualifying trials at Towcester clocking 28.10 for the 480m.
He has one more trial to qualify and then we’ll play it by ear. A maiden might make a relatively easy start for him.
What is really exciting is that he is a son of our Derby winner Blonde Snapper. From what I have seen so far, Snapper has made a great start to his stud career.
Our other Derby winner Kinda Ready didn’t really go to stud. I thought there were some unfair things said about him being a lucky Derby winner and it put a big dampener on things, though they did have a litter with him and take some straws.
Ready is a family pet now with his owners Daren and Lee Johnson. His litter brother Kinda Easy is also a house pet and I often get photo emails from his owner, showing him enjoying life.
When I eventually get the time, I intend to update my website with lots of pictures of our old runners in retirement.
Patrick Janssens (former head man) has Fear No One, who was his favourite dog and I have Discreet Cat living at home with me.
He wasn’t necessarily our biggest star but he was always special to me and the family.
