With the Brighton Belle and Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup only a few weeks away, Hove racegoers have a busy summer in store.
Local kennel hand Callum Field-Mullins will be casting his eye over a selection of the Saturday night opens in the coming weeks and speaking to some of the local trainers about their runners. Starting tonight. . . .
To kickstart our Saturday night of 11 open races is an exciting young Seamus Cahill trained pup, Maree Champion. Unraced in Ireland, the August ‘21 pup has already set the coastal track alight with his blistering trials, notably a 29.55 run first look over this trip progressing to a very respectable 29.32. This will be his debut.
Assistant Trainer Teresa Cahill said: “He is an exciting young pup for us, and has definitely got his ideal draw, as he rails really nicely at Hove, all were looking for him to do Saturday is come off safe and show a good statement of himself.”
With the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup only weeks away we wondered what could be in store for him
Teresa added: “That’s the aim, see how he fares in this trial stake. If he comes off well we will line him up for that and see where we stand for other races and competitions.”
Trainer Paul Marchant is naturally excited about recent intake Soul Focus who boasts a 100% record in two races.
He said: “He was fortunate enough to win on March 16, when the two dogs came together towards the line. But he showed great character in chasing hard to get the line”
Despite all that happened, he is due to face Bubbly Cherokee who takes his place in the red jacket. Paul Young’s runner was in the same race that involved in a altercation with Front Pasha which impeded him preventing a different outcome of events.
Marchant said: “If I’m being honest the Bubbly dog is the fastest in the race, but I think he lacks early. I’m expecting Soul Focus to come away better this week as it was the worst he had broke at Hove. Considering he took a bump on the bend that Thursday with me keeping him fresh on the lead, any sort of clear run and I can see him making a good account for himself.”
Bred out of Ballymac Best – Pure Paloma, Focus is learning and coming on with each run, I think another big race is definitely on the cards!
The 2022 Olympic winner Ninja Kerry returns to Nevill Road in Category Three company tonight after being knocked out of a very hot heated semi in the Kent Plate at Central Park. Perhaps surprisingly, he is still a very lightly raced dog only having 20 runs.
Belinda said: “He loves Hove and comes away well there. He has had a long lay off, that of which we’re trying to bring him back to his best and his old form which will come in time.
“He will tell us as soon as he is ready and then hopefully we will organise an event/competition for him to compete in.”
This already very well decorated Bonjour Bullet has already reached THREE Category 1 finals: the Oaks at Perry Barr finishing 2nd to Slick Sakina, 4th in the Essex Vase, and more recently 3rd in the Cornonation Cup.
She is often recognised for her amazing show of early pace, which I’m sure many Romford fanatics well remember well as she was only last at the London Road stadium a little over 2 weeks ago. Now she has returned to her “stomping ground” as Belinda Green called it.
She added: “She has done a nice time in her trial Monday recording 29.32 for the 500 standard distance, which she will be stepped up slightly Saturday night for the Brighton Belle Trial Stakes. She always shows that good flash of early, and you always know what to expect with her, she’s a trier”
Bonjour Bullet is definitely one for racing fans to tune in for as it rounds off an excellent night of opens.
