By Mark Pierrepont
NOTTINGHAM – MONDAY
First semi final
Enzo Sfizio lines up from trap 1 for Hove trainer Jamie Kingsley in semi final 1. Despite being sent off a 20/1 outsider for his heat last week there was absolutely no fluke about his victory. Leading from the outset he put up a terrific display of all round pace and gallantly held off the late challenge of Geelo Monty.
In trap 2 is Angie Kibble’s Let Me Tell You who despite being just a couple of weeks off veteran status landed his heat in style.
Harton Ross lines up from trap 3 , trained at Sheffield by Stephen Naylor he qualified in third in his semi , improvement will be needed this time around.
Russanda Rubin who runs from trap 4 has been a regular top class performer over the past couple of years and was a proud winner of the British Bred Derby Final at Towcester in 2016 when in the hands of British Breeding stalwart Jim Hayton. Now with Gary Birtles this April 2014 veteran looks as if his best days are behind him and he’ll need to find considerable improvement on his well beaten heat run behind runaway winner Down To The Felt.
Liz and Rab McNair has a night of mixed fortunes during last weeks heats but their King Sheeran put up a performance that took the crowds breath away. Looking in an impossible position early , he showed devastating pace along the back straight to put the race to bed. He was all out at the finish but had done his running to get back into contention. This dog has unlimited potential and will be putting in some clock when he times his break right.
Down To The Felt isn’t a consistent breaker but when he does time it right he’s capable of some huge runs , he got it spot on in his heat and never looked in danger , leading from start to finish to record 2987 (+30). To think the McNair trained pup Sheeran recorded 2981 (+30) despite getting so much wrong early doors , it shows the calibre of the run.
Second semi final
The Paul Young trained and Bubbly Club owned Bubbly Majestic lines up from trap 1. As noted in the pre competition A-Z for this competition , this September 16 whelp had improved since his previous visit to Colwick Park for the GMG Puppy Classic. Despite a troubled passage around the opening turn , he was beaten less than 3 lengths in his heat behind Enzo Sfizio and with more improvement to come you’d not rule out a place in the final.
Peter Harnden’s local hope Barley Vangerwen lines up in the blue jacket of trap 2. Owned by Dave Barber from the Barley Kennels set up , he was sent to Salacres kennels shortly before the start of this competition. Probably up against it amongst some of the leading lights remaining in the competition , however he was far from disgraced in finishing third behind Let Me Tell You in his heat. He can only improve over the coming months regardless of tonight’s result.
John Mullins Romeo Mandate wears the white jacket of trap 3 , after taking an early lead last week many would have expected him to convert that into a solid victory. King Sheeran is no ordinary pup however and his burst of middle pace altered the running pattern of the race for Mandate who eventually finished third recording 2995 (+30). He’s going to be a very difficult dog to keep out of the frame.
Carl Perry’s Geelo Monty finished second in his heat behind the big priced winner Enzo Sfizio. Most of the crowd expected Monty to come through on the run in to claim victory , however he had a troubled passage early and that was just his third race post comeback from injury. He should be much sharper for that run and rates a danger to all.
Viking Jerry lines up from trap 5 and when winning his heat , he not only landed the first open race of his own career but also became the first offspring of his illustrious sire Viking Jack to do so. This dog has a nice touch of early pace that should serve him well , was noted taking a move to the inside from this trap 5 berth last week , he got the gaps on that occasion but will need to tread carefully again tonight.
Decoy Junior had been due to line up from trap 6 in this second final but has been withdrawn ‘off colour’ by trainer Kevin Cobbold.
Third semi final
Carn Brae lining up for trainer John Mullins in trap 1. This strapping 40 kilo brindle dog has found a new lease of life since returning to the Mullins kennel. He ran yet another good race in his heat , finishing second behind the aforementioned King Sheeran. He’s a strong runner who is a difficult dog to get past , he should run well again.
Heather Dimmock’s Raise The Stakes lines up in trap 2 , he landed a substantial off course gamble when winning his heat from trap 1 last week. Supported all day long as if defeat was out of the question , he led early and held off Decoy Junior by a length in 3013 (+30).
Pagan Lord runs from trap 3 for the dual Belle Vue / Nottingham attached Jill Llewellin. He did well to finish third in his heat , although well beaten and will need to improve significantly to secure a final spot. He could well take advantage of his trainers dual contract at some point to line up in graded company here at Colwick Park and if doing so would be of interest at a track that in the right company plays to his strengths.
King Diamond was probably one of the McNair teams lesser fancied runners coming into the competition. Given the night they had last Monday though they will no doubt be glad to see him lining up from trap 4 in this semi after finishing second in his heat. He can trap better than he did in his heat , though will need to if he’s to qualify for next weeks final.
Burton Lodge Bob has been a solid A1 performer at home track Romford for some time who has lately added a maiden around that track and a further open to his cv. He trialed well enough for this competition over the 480m trip and backed that up with another good effort when finishing second behind Viking Jerry in his heat. He’ll need something close to his heat sectional of 501 to put him in with a chance of qualifying , but who’s to say he can’t do so.
Last but by no means least we see the Belinda Green trained Rogue Convict lining up from trap 6. He came into this competition without a trial and after being out the back in his heat early , was noted making good late ground on well supported winner Raise The Stakes. He can only improve for that look around and any crowding on the inside could see him creeping into contention as the race progresses.
