Handful Andy gets his double century

“He’s more like a pet labrador than a greyhound in some ways, but he is a proper character. We have to put j-locks on all the other kennels because if he gets out, he knows how to open the other kennel doors and he lets all the others out.”

Kinsley A6 grader Ask Andy (Ballymac Vic-Noirs Peaches, May 16) passed the 200 race mark last week, a little more than four years after making his debut for Mark Lyons.

Andy is just one of the 56 runners who make the 90 minute journey from Bishop Auckland to Central Yorkshire.

His trainer cut his teeth on the North East independents – Easington, Wheatley Hill, Ashington and the rest – before going ‘under rules’ with a licence at Pelaw Grange.

Although there were other opportunities to train closer to home, Mark switched to Kinsley roughly six years ago and has never looked back.

He said: “I started out with four or five and it gradually built up the strength. I like Kinsley, and get on well with Keith (Murrell) and John (Curran).

“I’ve had a few fall outs with John over the years (who hasn’t? -Ed) but once we’ve had our say, that’s the end of it. It’s a good track and very well run.

“These days most of the work in the kennels is done by my neice Beth and nephew Thomas with another nephew Declan also helping out.

“When things weren’t looking so good during Covid, and the uncertainty over the tracks and contracts, I didn’t know how things were going to turn out. So I decided to go back to my main job as a butcher’s slaughterman.

“I’m still actively involved with the dogs but Becky runs the kennel from day to day.”

As for Ask Andy, he has had quite a career. Beaten in his A4 debut, he won his next five in a row and was a regular A1 runner in his early days.

Although he now languishes in A6, he won race 197 and can still hold his own.

So no signs of retirement?

Mark said: “No, we’ll keep him going as long as he is enjoying it. The truth is, he looks after himself a bit on the track. He puts in as much as he wants to.

“He is very educated about the game, and a bit mischievous. Everybody loves him and we just like having him in the kennel.

“We have got a few younger pups coming through and once they are all ready to grade on, we’ll perhaps think again.”