Brendan Matthews isn’t a man known for leaving the money behind. When his Anonymous was backed for his heat of the English Puppy Derby recently as if defeat was out of the question it must have left bookmakers the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland fearing the worst. On that occasion they were saved by an unforeseeable stumble as he left the traps. This time around there was no saving them as a fluent start soon saw Anonymous taking control of yesterday’s Towcester opener as he sauntered to an 8 1/2 length Premarket Pets Blue Riband Trial Stakes victory in a stunning 2927. This is a greyhound with the world at his feet and he looks destined to become one of the leading players on the competition scene on both sides of the Irish sea. I spoke with Damian Matthews as he headed back home to Ireland and he said “It was a stunning performance but to be honest it came as no surprise. He’s a top class greyhound with incredible pace. It was a shame what happened with him in the Puppy Derby as we really felt he could have won that competition but that’s racing and these things happen. We’re delighted to have got his two litter brothers (Maturereflection & Enthusiast) through to the final and glad to be coming back next week. They’re a nice litter and give us plenty to look forward to next year”.
A good day for the ‘Newry Maestro’
Skywalker Forte took advantage of trouble at the first bend to slip through on the rail and take semi final 1 of the English Puppy Derby for Ted Soppitt. There’s no doubting he benefited from the trouble but there is also no doubting the clock and 2958 was far from a pedestrian run for a lightly raced and strong running greyhound moving in the right direction. Callmesteve for John Mullins looked to be in an unpromising position but also took advantage of the early trouble between Alien World and Romeo De Niro and followed ‘Forte’ home for second with the aforementioned Maturereflection taking the third spot in next week’s final for Brendan Matthews.
Kevin Hutton’s Signet Denver was very well backed to take the second English Puppy Derby semi final and supporters had few moments of worry as he smashed out and made all in 2951. This son of Forest Natalee was just touched off after leading for the majority of the BGBF Puppy Cup Final over 470m here in October by kennel mate and full sister Moments Of Magic but he’s strengthened up since then and will be a major player in next week’s final. Make Noise qualified in second for Seamus Cahill and gives him another crack at landing the competition having won it last year with Unsurprising whilst Enthusiast gave Brendan Matthews a second final qualifier.
