Alongside the semi finals of the PGR Regency and Coral Sussex Cup, Hove’s Saturday night card sees the opening round of a new competition to track, though one of the oldest and most novel events in the Calendar, the Springbok.
Following umpteen trials sessions and Thursday night trialstakes, who better to provide an insight into some of the leading contenders than Brighton and Hove Racing Manager, Rob Abrey?
He said: “First of all we have been very pleased with the amount of interest that has been shown to the competition, now being able to field some of the best 18 novice hurdlers around. Equally, it’s been excellent to watch, to see how each hurdler has transitioned and improved since we first introduced the trials and trialstakes.”
Rob has been on the forefront for most of the preparatory trials and races. Though cautious overall, he definitely sees great potential in Crafty San Diego.
He said: “I just think we haven’t seen the best of him yet. That being said, having seen him week in week out, he’s continuing to improve with his jumping and may well be saving his wins for the competition. Regardless, he’s got a lot of pace and although only a short competition I can see him making the final next Saturday.”
Of the rest?
Rob said: “Gemma Davidson’s lone entry Patterdale Zorro has to be up there for his scintillating run beating the favourite that night Distant George by 8 1/4. But he still has a bit to prove to represent his ante post favourite status. Ricky (Holloway) fields a strong team too and you’ve always got to keep a look out for Feora Noel who is very experienced even without the obstacles, as he showed beating Droopys Chaser not to long ago.”
Is there the possibility for more hurdle racing at Hove for the future perhaps?
Rob said: “It’s been well received so we would definitely look to. We are hoping that holding this competition will ignite that spark within trainers to train a jumper again. We would certainly like to maintain the competition here.
“Providing all goes well it looks likely there will be supporting opens on Thursdays in weeks to come. It has been a competitive and exciting time for us though, the crowd absolutely loved Space Jet last week, and there were some good times on the Sussex Cup scene too despite the effects of the weather!”
Ricky Holloway is what’s considered a master of his trade when it comes to hurdlers. In recent years he has had a high calibre of greyhound clientele come to him at his kennels in Kent and he almost always follows them up with consistency and competition wins to tally.
This year however, he doesn’t send out as many novices as he would normally . Instead he has gone for quality over quatity resulting in what he believes is his strongest team yet.
“25/1, bet of the year” So said the trainer about his ‘Coppice Fox’ going into this years competition.
“He has already made the semi-final of the English Derby in 2022, and I find it quite unusual that he isn’t favourite for the competition considering he has done the quickest time going into it, on a 29.89, and a runner up spot behind Ritzy Flyer in his trial stake. Had he not been taken out by my other runner Glengar Scholar he would’ve won that easily.”
Moving onto his second of five in the competition Ricky had this to say about his wide runner, Feora Noel.
He said: “Everyone loves Noel, and he also comes to me with a lot of experience previously making the Sussex Cup Final last year with Liz and Rab McNair, he knows the track well and has a great makeup in his race. Noel is completely 100% and has a desire to win. Only last Saturday he was posting 23.60 for the Crayford 380H. I’ve deliberately kept mine away this year to keep them fresh and I’ve full faith it’ll give the effect I want.”
Ricky had asked me to include a message toward the end, “I just want to wish all trainers, runners and connections the very best of luck for this years competition and especially for taking the time to school and believe in hurdle racing. It takes a lot of effort, and hopefully we will see hurdle racing prosper, like it once was, in the future.”
Three of Paul Young’s five runners have very good chances to put the Romford trainer into finals the following week.
Assistant Trainer Mim has . “Droopys Chaser is a natural jumper and was very good for us on the flat before being disqualified, but Barry (O’Sullivan) schooled him well and he is in good form. We’ve kept him fresh by keeping him away and doing some prep work this week before his race tomorrow. 500 is as far as he wants but we’re hoping he can put the race to bed early, and the heat tomorrow should bring him on a bit too.”
The kennel is also double handed in the second semi-final of the Regency where Roll On Sydney (66-1 to win out) and Bubbly Scorchers (16-1) will have plenty of supporters
Mim said: ““Scorcher is out of our Bubbly Firebird and Good News and has only just turned two last month, so there is lots more to come. He still has a bit of learning to do with passing dogs, but after last week’s run, if he can bolt out like he did, then he should have a good chance as he is plenty strong enough over the 695 at Hove.”
Finally Rathnagore Syd goes in the second heat of the Sussex Cup
Mim said: “Syd has fallen in love with Hove. He is so brave and runs a brilliant first bend, that’ll be what puts him in the best position this week if he’s lucky enough to qualify for the final. He has had a few niggles treated by the physio this week, but is otherwise in great shape.”
Another man who has been known to train some very good hurdlers is Jim Reynolds. He is represented by Icaals First and Ritzys Flyer.
“These two are without a doubt incredible natural jumpers, Donna has been putting in excellent work like she has done over the past few years with our hurdlers and it’ll show.
“Ritzy Flyer is an amazing hurdler at Crayford and had the competition been staged there, he would’ve been an absolute certainty. He hurdles lovely on the home straight at Hove but is having a bit to do down the back-straight. That’ll come soon as he is always learning, he is without a doubt the fastest dog in the competition.”
