William Hill have installed Kentish Man as the new 9-2 favourite for their Springbok competition.
Tony Collett’s black, twice a 28.94 winner over Sittingbourne’s 480 metre flat course, and a 28.40 triallist at Wimbledon, clocked an impressive 29.27 (-10) in his first race over the Wimbledon jumps circuit. The well fancied Brinkleysdominic was beaten nearly four lengths. (Alittlelesslip’s 29.11 was the fastest time over course and distance last year)
Collett said: “The dog’s owner Colin Moore phoned up one day and said, ‘do you fancy sending him to Barry’s (O’Sullivan’s) to try him over the hurdles. He was with Barry for 16 days when I got a call saying, ‘you might as well pick him up, he’s a natural.’ He’s had four official trials over the hurdles and has improved every one. I wasn’t particularly surprised last night because he had trialled with Ricky Holloway’s good hurdler, Razldazl Raidio, and ran alongside him, jumped cleanly and won the trial.
“He still has a bit to learn, he is still dragging a hindleg occasionally, and did it last night at the last hurdle, but I expect him to keep improving. He is actually a very fast dog on the flat, and genuine, though he has shown an inclination to give up if he gets behind. Going over the jumps could be a different proposition, as well as sharpening him up if we want to run him on the flat again.”
