Although much more welcome, the staging of the Golden Crest is harder to predict than a visit from the mother in law. The latest edition of the Calendar tells us that Poole’s biggest event of the year, which has fluctuated in recent years in every month between March and July, will get underway on April 11 and conclude eleven days later with a £4,000 to winner decider.
Last year’s final went to the Bill Black trained Castlehyde King and racing manager Ian Sillence hasn’t ruled out another local from lifting the spoils.
He said: “We have several in the top heat who aren’t really open racers but they will take some beating around here. Faran Toner has been running well in recent weeks, and Sevenofnine is never far away.”
One of the real finds of the year is Mexico (Makeshift-Maggie From Cork, Sep 14) who went six races without a win at Towcester but has been a revelation since joining Alma Keppie. He has won four of his last seven A1 and recently defeated both Faran Toner and Sevenofnine.
Although there are no open race scheduled before the start of the Crest, as last year, there will be supporting opens on all three nights.
Sillence reports a graded strength of 260 runners which he rates a fraction below the optimum.
He said: “Its a little below ideal but we only have two Saturday BAGS meetings left and we have quite a few dogs trialling back. We haven’t had many enquiries for the new owner trainer scheme though I don’t think many of the potential new owners would be aware of it. We will probably put something in the racecard which they are sure to see.”
