SATURDAY ROUND UP

Alice Fronted up for Kevin’s Golden night

The name ‘Kevin Proctor’ might not feature as often in the headlines as ‘the big name’ trainers, but his story will raise a smile among many of the lower profile folk, without whom, this industry would not exist. On Friday night, Kevin’s 14/1 chance Front Alice landed his first major final – the Coral Golden Sprint – and this is how she did it.

A Bethnal Green boy, at 14 Kevin used to go with his mates on the bus to the local tracks, Hackney, Harringay and Walthamstow. It was only in the later years that he was able to engage in serious ownership and training. While we have written about how builders, fishmongers, and even nightclub bouncers have funded their hobby, Kevin is a complete one-off.

He says: “Around 20 years ago I came up with the idea of supplying homing doves to be released at weddings and funerals. We’ve been doing it all over London and surrounding areas ever since.”

In recent years the hounds have been many and decent. Kevin owned runners with various trainers including Ernie Gasking junior and Mark Wallis. There have been some fabulous ones too. Who can forget the fabulous sub28.00 Shelbourne bitch Front Armani who twice beat Susie Sapphire in the Irish Oaks but then failed in the final?

But Kevin’s decision to become more ‘hands-on’ happened almost by accident.

He said: “I had some pups being reared in Ireland by Martin Tucker. One day he said that a little bitch in the litter wasn’t really thriving and did I have the facility to bring her home?

“I had a stable and brought her home and decided to get another one with her. I asked my friend Wayne Murphy to look out for one and he came up with Front Edge.

“At that stage GBGB had introduced a new licence for owner trainers and after speaking to Harlow, they agreed that I could race there. The little bitch eventually made the track and won A6 at Harlow. Front Edge won my first open race, a heat of the Monmore Puppy Derby. My second win was a heat of the English Derby. Edge made the quarter finals where he finished fifth, beaten less than four lengths by Queen Beyonce.”

The involvement has continued to grow. Kevin has two litters out of Front Armani, the first of which, by Ice On Fire, are looking very promising in schooling. The second are by Ballymac Cashout. There is also a litter of Ballymac Bolgers in Ireland.

He also broke new ground by breeding and rearing his first litter at his kennel near Harlow in June 2022.

He said: “They are by Droopys Sydney out of Front Society and progressing really well. One of them is up to A2 already. It was quite an eye opener, rearing through two winters, and all the mud. But it was very satisfying too, that extra interest when you have bred them yourself.”

In addition to the litter of seven, he has just two racers, Alice, who was sourced by Wayne Murphy and Front Mali who finished third in last year’s Gold Cup at Oxford.

So what are the future plans for Front Alice?

Kevin said: “I would really like to go for the Oaks, I think the 480 metres would really suit her. The thing is, she was in season last July, and isn’t surpressed, so that may not work out. I’ll decide in the next couple of days whether or not to go for the Brighton Belle. The 515m might be on the tough side, so I will have to think about it.”

One remaining question, was the £10K supplemented by a few pounds in the ante post market?
Kevin said: “I never back my dogs but this was the first occasion that I decided that I would. I decided to have £100 at 25/1 and couldn’t find anyone prepared to lay the bet. It is a sad reflection on the way the game is going.”

Golden Sprint Final run up: Front Alice (t5) has the outside as Kila Detail (t1) denies Druids Say Go the rails – Seomra Paws (t3) also in the mix. Photo: © Steve Nash

Golden Sprint winner Front Alice with owner/trainer Kevin Proctor, flanked by his mum Ellen Proctor and partner Justine Maynard. Photo: © Steve Nash

Today’s action

The first rounds of three very different competitions get underway today, starting with the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby from Monmore.

From a punting perspective, puppy competitions can be challenging, since by definition, inexperienced youngsters are open to both making mistakes and/or significant progress. The final isn’t always won by the best dog in it – nothing new there – though as a showcase for outstanding talent, every final features two or three hounds destined for greater honours. (Ante post prices)

The opening heat has a look of ‘hounds suited to Monmore and hounds who aren’t’. Although it is a tremendous leap of faith to attempt to transpose Crayford form onto Monmore, Miss Syd could not have been more impressive in her races to date. She has very decent early and was not stopping as she passed the 380 metre mark. It is questionable whether she would beat either of the Droopys runners in a two-runner event, but if she was to lead . . .

All the interest will be on the inside three in here – possibly the toughest heat of the six and featuring three of the top five in the ante post betting. The books make Untold Dollar an 8/1 chance on the strength of his Irish form, though British bred Greenwell Ovett, recently purchased by Tony Brealey, has done nothing wrong. It really is coin-flip territory here but on the balance of having proven UK form, we’ll just edge it the to Jimmy Fenwick trained runner who was so impressive a week ago. Deelish Nora was slightly slower on the same night.

Probably the most competitive of the six heats. There was only a head between Headford Genius and Clona Kody last week. Slick Serenity had no excuses when leading at being picked up on the same card. Just have a suspicion that the Janssens runner will have come on for the run. However, it is Gary The Arb who has particularly impressed the racing office and given a clear run on the rails, assuming Serenity leads up, he can power on in the latter stages and post a quick time.

The ante post prices suggest where the big hitters are drawn in here. Both Droopys Eunice and Droopys Display contested the recent Northern Puppy Derby Final with very little between them. The selection is Droopys Display, based as much on the draw, as the sole wide runner, as any perceived superiority. Icemans Girl is making her UK debut for Nathan Hunt and Gezzy Price and is best watched on that basis.

Three more Northern Puppy Derby finalists in here and based on that form, winner Clona Curly is the one to beat. This probably isn’t the ante post favourite’s ideal course and distance but he reeks of class and just needs a clear run. Coppice Ella, third at Newcastle would seem to have a decent career in front of her and may eventually stay a bit further. Omuircheartaight finished fifth at his home track and cannot be discounted.

The weakest of the six heats – on known form. Probably the best line of form is Barntick Bear‘s 29.24 run at Towcester, though that was from trap five. Expect a decent front running performance from Droopys Auntie.

Full form for the meeting in the ‘Opens’ link below

ARC Kent Plate gets underway at Central Park this evening.

Liz McNair is dominant in the ante post betting with four of the top five headed by dual Cat One winner King Memphis Here ia s reminder of what husband Rab had to say earlier in the week about the kennel’ss six runners.