BRITISH BREEDERS STAKES FIRST ROUND PREVIEW

RAISE THE STAKES – bred to stay , being out of open race marathon performer and Crayford Boxing Day Marathon winner of 2013 Em Millie.  Lightly raced for a dog who will be 2yo in a few weeks , but no doubting his class.  A winner of his first and second round heats of the Produce Stakes at Swindon , he finished second in his semi final of that competition before finishing last as even money favourite in the final itself.  His next engagement competition wise came in the GMG Puppy Classic here at Nottingham.  He finished just 3/4 length behind the high class Roxholme Butt in his heat of that competition before unfortunately being withdrawn lame from his semi final engagement.  He’s been off the card since , however won a 3 dog 305m trial here by 4 1/4 lengths in 1810 calculated on 1st October.  Has his draw and though he’ll improve for the run is a leading player.

SALACRES BUSSELL – Bussell may not yet be as well known as his brother Barley but make no mistake this dog has ability.  Injury has held up his career so far but back to back wins firstly in A3 and then in the heat of a recent puppy competition here at Nottingham when he recorded 3033 (+30) outlines this good looking black dogs potential.  Finishing third in the final of the aforementioned puppy trophy final Bussell can only improve for experience and fitness and is one to keep in your notebooks.

DECOY JUNIOR – A winner of 6 of his 20 career starts to date including when winning his first and second round heats of the produce stakes at Swindon as well as his semi final.  Finishing fourth in the final itself.  Junior finished third beaten 3 lengths in a trial stakes for this competition last week.  No doubting this dogs ability however inconsistency at the traps is so far preventing him from winning as many races as he should.  A danger to all when coming away.

KING DYLAN – A member of what looks to be one of the most promising litters of the modern greyhound era and potentially the greatest ever British Bred litter.  Dylan is the sole dog from the litter yet to win but his turn cannot be far away.  Just two races to date , beaten on debut at Hove before racing at Central Park last time out.  He missed the break and encountered trouble around the first couple of bends , however his pace was clear to see from the second bend home , going down in third place by just a length in the end.  Will undoubtedly improve for the look around this Colwick Park venue and this looks a tough heat for a pup without a trial , however his class could just get him through and if doing so he will find a ton of improvement next time round.

BET ON SPOT – Poole raider with a record of 6 wins from just 16 career starts , going through the grades from winning A7 to winning A2 last time out.  Trialed around here in 3106 calculated on 8th October and though that trial will serve him well , will need to show considerable improvement upon that to trouble some of his rivals here.

ROGUE CONVICT – Strong running sort who could find this 500m galloping track ideal.  A winner of 6 of his 31 career starts including 2 x 515m opens at Hove and a 592m maiden open at Harlow.  Lacks a trial but did win first time around Harlow by 8 lengths without a look , a track many rate as one of the most difficult in the country to run without a trial.  Interesting.

ROMEO MANDATE – The first of two John Mullins representatives in this first round heat.  A winner of 12 of his 44 career starts , his most notable achievement to date came when reaching the Coronation Cup Final at Romford in January this year , winning both his first round heat and semi final before finishing runner up in the final itself.  Lacks a recent look around but has experience of this venue including when being unluckily eliminated from this competition at the semi final stage in 2017.  Difficult to keep out of the frame in any race in which he lines up.

CARN BREA – Huge 40 kilo greyhound with a winning record of 12 from 49 career starts.  Hasn’t been without his problems throughout his career but really thrived just lately including when finishing a narrow second in the final of the 3 Steps To Victory at Sheffield.  Strong runner who is always difficult to keep out of the frame.

AWESOME ALFIE – Extremely well bred dog who has more ability than his 1 win from 13 starts might suggest.  Now in the hands of Nottingham’s leading lady trainer Anna Thompson after previously being trained under the guidance of Barrie Draper at Sheffield.  No doubt at all that Alfie will be winning races around Nottingham , however that may come at graded level.  Warrants his entry though and should give connections some fun over the coming months.

KING SHEERAN – The second of the ‘King’ runners and he already has a competition win to his name.  Sheeran was successful on his first 3 career starts , a maiden at Central Park before winning heat and final of the Trafalgar Cup at Monmore.  Sheeran then went on to finish second at odds of 2/7f in his heat of the Eden The Kid Young Guns competition at Central Park before finishing second behind litter mate King Nelson in the final itself.  Unlimited potential , track should suit but again will come on leaps and bounds for what will be his first sighter of the venue.

THISCHAPSINWORK – Vastly experienced sort with 87 races under his belt , winning 17 of those and finishing second a further 13 times.  A regular in A4 company at Hove , likely to find a few too good in this competition and trialed only averagely when recording 1849 calculated for the tracks 305m trip.

FREE FLIGHT – A3 runner here at Nottingham who has improved through the grades from A7 since arriving here at Nottingham with trainer Jill Llewellin.  Up against it in a competition of this calibre.

PRIME TIME – well bred bitch who’s record of 7 wins from 22 career starts is more than reasonable considering the class of greyhound she usually competes against.  Reached the semi final of the 2017 Produce Stakes at Swindon before unluckily being withdrawn at that stage due to season.  Has open race success over 550m on her card at Henlow and most recently competed in the British Bred Oaks at Doncaster , reaching the semi final stage before being eliminated in fourth place , beaten just 4 1/2 lengths in total by eventual competition winner Tea For Tess.

BANSHA PAT – good class , solid local performer who put a run of 11 races without success behind him when taking advantage of a plot rails draw in a trial stakes for this competition last time out.  No doubting that Pat has a strong preference for trap 1 and for gaining an uncontested lead , may qualify tonight but likely to find a few too good at this stage of his career as the competition progresses.

KING LENNON – the third of the ‘King’ pups and possibly the fastest of them all.  Showed his incredible promise when winning a 480m Central Park maiden on his career debut , the time may not have been anything special , but given the trouble he encountered throughout it was some performance to eventually win by 3 1/4 lengths.  Beaten next time out at Central Park , Lennon then headed to Monmore for the Trafalgar Cup.  He ran away with his heat to win by over 10 lengths in an incredible time of 28.00 calculated.  Some performance from a pup on his third career start.  He was then beaten in the final after a troubled passage , eventually falling on the run in.  A trial around this venue last week of 29.88 (+20) shows him in good health , he can only improve for that , this pup could be absolutely anything.

PAGAN LORD – Hugely experienced Belle Vue grader with 21 career victories from 86 starts.  Well beaten behind Bansha Pat in a trial stakes here last week and though he should come on for that look around , he looks to have plenty to do in a competition of this quality.

RUSSANDA RUBIN – Hugely experienced veteran who was a winner of heat , semi final and final of the British Bred Derby at Towcester in 2016.  Lightly raced this year and obviously not without his problems these days.  A danger to all if recapturing his best form but at this stage that’s a big if.

DOWN TO THE FELT – Started his career off in graded company at Towcester but was surprisingly winless in 7 starts around that venue.  Has three wins to his name , two of which came around this venue so obviously has a liking for the track.  Ran brilliantly throughout the recent Steel City Cup at Sheffield , culminating in a final appearance where he finished a good third to Roxholme Nidge.  Win record could be improved upon , but no doubting he has a touch of class , enjoys this venue and stays well.

ENZO SFIZIO (ex – Westmead Maxi) , bred by the grand master of British Breeding Nick Savva.  A winner of 10 races from his 32 career starts most recently winning in A3 company at home track Hove.  Trialed here in 1837 calculated over the 305m trip and had some further experience of this venue when running in a maiden here earlier this year.  Has his draw but likely to find a few too good as the competition progresses.

BUBBLY MAJESTIC – beaten and eliminated at the first round stage of the recent GMG Puppy Classic here at Nottingham but not disgraced by any means.  Has since won a 575m maiden open back at home track Romford.  Trialed well here at Nottingham last Monday over the 480m trip when recording 2885 (+20).  Undoubtedly improved since last here and an interesting contender.

ALFIES PRINCE – Strong running veteran with massive pace from behind.  Ran with huge credit throughout this years Star Sports English Derby at Towcester , reaching the quarter final stage before being eliminated.  Beaten finalist behind King Elvis in the 2017 British Bred Derby at Towcester.  Was sent to Ireland to compete in this years Irish Derby , however didn’t really settle over there and is now back home with owner / trainer Barry Denby.  This dog can catch pigeons on his day and will be extremely difficult to keep out of the frame.

KING NELSON – The fourth of the ‘King’ pups to run in this competition.  Proved expensive to follow on his first 4 career starts , beaten at odds on in all 4.  His pace has never been in question though and it was only a matter of time before he put it all together.  He finally justified the short odds of 1/5 when landing a Central Park maiden in impressive fashion.  Though beaten into second in his heat of the Eden The Kid At Stud Young Guns stake he made amends in the final when beating litter mate Sheeran into second by 2 1/4 lengths.  Again he will come on for the look around this venue but he is another from the litter with unlimited potential.

GEELO MONTY – 17 victories from 42 starts for Carl Perry’s British Bred superstar.  Had gone under the radar a little before winning the British Bred Puppy Cup at home track Sheffield in April 2017 but from that point onwards he never looked back.  Capable of some huge efforts over six bends , Monty has had his injury problems in recent times but is now hopefully well on the way to recovery.  Winning a British Bred open on his comeback recently despite trainer Perry feeling he’d benefit for the run , Monty followed that up by carving through his B1 opposition like a knife through butter on his most recent start.  If he can continue to progress he is a danger to all in the competition.

COOKIE CROSSAN – Just 2 wins from 31 starts show that Crossan isn’t the most prolific greyhound in the world.  He does have a bit of class though , highlighted by reaching the Kent Derby Final recently at Central Park.  Trainer Kevin Boon is noted as saying the dog is lazy at home so is kept on the go regularly to maintain his fitness.  Difficult to keep out of the frame.

HARTON ROSS – 5 wins from 23 starts at home track Sheffield , 4 in graded company and a 480m puppy open win.  Good all round pace and trialed well enough last week without being spectacular in 3059 (+20) calculated.  Should improve but will have to to trouble the competitions leading players.

QUEEN BEYONCE – The fifth member of the ‘King’ pups to be competing in this competition and the only bitch in the litter.  What a bitch she is though , 6 wins from her first 8 starts , an easy winner of her recent British Bred Oaks Semi Final at Doncaster before being beaten at odds on in the final itself.  Top class bitch pup and is sure to be a leading player in any race she enters , particularly in Oaks competitions where she looks like being a superstar.

COMMANCHE STORM – Huge 39 kilo greyhound , a winner of 7 of his 20 career starts to date and put up a personal best effort recently when winning a ‘winner of one’ open at Perry Barr in a decent 2867 calculated.  Suffered a troubled passage when well beaten in a trial stakes for this competition here last week behind Bansha Pat.  Will have to improve upon all known form to reach the final but is still young enough to do so.

BURTON LODGE BOB – Top grade / minor open class performer at home track Romford with an excellent record of 12 wins from 29 career starts. Beaten 4 1/4 lengths in a 480m trial here last week behind kennel mate Bubbly Majestic when recording 2939 calculated.  Will have to improve on that effort.

VIKING JERRY – 3 wins from 14 starts in graded company at home track Kinsley.  Has been gaining some much needed experience of this track in open class company lately , nice touch of early pace and with time on his side and in good hands he should continue to improve.

BLYTHE SWIFT – 5 wins from 31 starts in graded company at Belle Vue.  Lacks a trial and totally out of her depth against opposition of this quality.  Trainer Llewellin holds a joint contract at Belle Vue and Nottingham so would be no surprise if this race acted as a trial in preparation for a switch to graded racing at this track.  Would be of interest in a mid to low grade race if doing so.

BARLEY VANGERWEN – 6 wins from 15 career starts to date.  Recent arrival at the purpose built Salacres training facility headed by Peter Harnden.  Showed decent pace down the back straight in behind new kennel mate Salacres Bussell and looks like Nottingham should suit this strapping individual.  Just a November 16 baby and looks sure to improve for experience over the coming months.

LET ME TELL YOU – reaches veteran status for trainer Angie Kibble at the end of this month.  Has been a credit to connections throughout his career with 19 wins from 85 starts including opens around the country and importantly at this venue.  Has a touch of class , prefers a rails draw but can run from any trap rails to middle.  Will give it his all as usual and an interesting runner.

LOWGATE MALFOY – hugely consistent sort for trainer Jim Hayton and has masses of experience around this Colwick Park venue.  A win record of 21 from 87 career starts , finishing second 16 times and third a further 16.  So difficult to keep out of the frame and made the final of this competition last year.

BELLEBOB ZURI – 5 wins from 20 career starts all came in graded company at home track Newcastle.  Was well fancied to win a maiden around this venue recently but was picked up very late on to finish second.  Looks up against it on all known form but I suspect we haven’t quite seen the best of this greyhound just yet.

KING DIAMOND – The sixth and final representative from the superstar litter by Eden The Kid x Skate On.  Not quite done the times of some of his litter mates as yet but 2 wins from 6 starts all the same winning at A2 and A1 level.  Will have to step up on that form to trouble the leading players in this competition , including those from his own litter , but he’s plenty young enough to do so.

ARTEMIS – 7 wins from 17 starts in graded company at home track Poole.  Heading the right way and run away with a good A1 race at Poole last time out.  Will have to improve greatly on his 3084 (+20) trial around this venue though.