The weather has been miserable with snow and ice and the dogs don’t really want to be out in it for any period of time. It has slowed us up on the galloping and has also had an effect on racing.
Despite the weather, I was quite surprised to see Shelbourne giving the going as .20 fast in recent meetings which has led to quite a number of dogs being back graded. Grading in Ireland is done on times and a lot of trainers have taken the opportunity to drop their open racers into ‘minor open’ or ‘A1’ company.
As a result, a lot of my open racers haven’t had a run. I am not complaining, I use the rules the same as anyone, but it has reduced my number of runners.
I tend not to enter too many in the Gold Cup, we’ve had a few injuries over the years on the winter going, but the Easter Cup starts a week on Saturday and I hope to have at least ten runners.
At this stage the list reads: Ballydoyle Valor, Blue East, Conbrien Prince, Lenson Blinder, Mountleader Cruz, Murts Boher, Newinn Hero, Newinn Lester, Timaru Walker and Wolfe.
Several trialled at the weekend with Wolfe particularly impressive. How he produced a 28.11 run for the 525 with the gales blowing at Shelbourne is quite beyond me.
The only one of my original prospects who is doubtful is Ballyhimikin Jet who finished very tired after his trial.
Also on Saturday, we will have at least six runners at Clonmel, possibly more, depending on what races are run alongside the finals.
It is a feature meeting at the track to tie in with the coursing festival at Powerstown Park which concludes on the Sunday.
The track management know that most people will be one their way home as soon as the coursing is over on Sunday afternoon, but should get a good crowd the night before.
We have two in the puppy final, litter brothers Doolin Duke and Newinn Session who I mentioned late last year as two exciting prospects.
Both won their heats impressively and I would expect them to head the market for the final.
Even though Session ran the faster time, I think there is very little between them. They both have blistering early pace and in a race for six inside runners, I think the draw marginally favours Duke.
I would expect them both to improve for the run. There was a shortage of entries and a gap in the heats between the first two rounds so they were both a bit short of work.
We also have In The Genes with a good draw, but with a bit to find on the clock in the 525 final.
In the 750 final we have Ballydoyle Bee, who is also probably start favourite. I rate her and hoped she would get a run on the Night Of Stars meeting.
Unfortunately there are very few opportunities for stayers and we have had to wait until now to get her back over 750 yards.
She is unbeaten in her first three races over that distance and must have a decent chance in the final.
Then in the 550 final we have Timaru Walker who will also be well fancied after winning his heat and should go into the Easter Cup in decent form.
At this stage, the plan is for Doolin Duke and Newinn Session to head to Limerick for the Kirby Memorial, along with Newinn Taylor.
He has trialled back in two 18.60s for the Shelbourne sprint and with a record of six from six, will presumably be one of the leading fancies for Limerick.
There are no plans to run him in the English Derby unless he was to be knocked out of the Kirby in the early rounds.
The Limerick prize money is so good that you can’t afford to ignore it.
Lenson Bocko clocked 18.52 and 18.67 in his first two sprint trials back at Shelbourne and will have his first 525 run this weekend.
He won’t race until the English Derby. We are planning our first visits to Nottingham for three to four weeks time.
I haven’t finalised our English Derby team but I imagine we will bring quite a few of our entries from last year.
Most of them are now experienced seasoned open racers who have previously been around the track so I can’t see any point in lots of trials.
At this stage we are still planning to bring Blue East despite him letting the side down last year.
He is ‘a bit of a character’ to say the least, particularly if he isn’t getting enough attention. Last year he made more noise as a visitor to Dave Firmager’s kennel than the rest of the team combined.
He makes himself such a pain in the arse that we gallop him first just to shut him up. If you don’t get him out of the kennel first, he picks up the water bowl and throws it on the bed. Sorry Dave!
Finally – some of you may have seen my daughter Rachel’s photos accompanying this column.
They feature our retired dogs Garryvoe Bobby (the black), Clares Rocket (the white and black) and the clearly distinctive Chocolate Lab, Cadbury.
Rachel completely spoils all three and now has her own Instagram page.
You might like to check it out on
thegoldengreyhounds
I was once the Derby favourite you know! – photo Rachel Holland
