Sunday sees the conclusion of the 2023 Bresbet Gymcrack at Kinsley with five supporting opens.
It is a highly lucrative card with the final prize money being interestingly distributed; £9,000 to the winner (instead of the standard £10K) but with £2,000 going to the runner-up and £1,500 for third. The supporting opens are each worth £600 with £120 to the runners-up.
The main event has a long and interesting history going back to Hackney in 1994 where the first winner of the Gimcrack (!) Moral Standards was destined to land the English Derby just eight weeks later. The next two (renamed) Gymcracks were won by two fabulous British breds, Staplers Jo and Night Trooper.
The closure of Hackney saw the event switch to Hall Green in 2000 as the ‘Gymcrack Puppy Championship’; the first winner was Paul Young’s Droopys Woods.
Kinsley took over the event in 2011 and saw the track record broken in the final by the Nick Colton trained Taranis Rex. The competition was not staged between 2019-2022.
Before checking out the form, here is a reminder of last week’s semi finals.
A fabulously competitive bitches open featuring some of the most successful female open racers from their respective tracks. Lightfoot Doak is quickest over Doncaster’s 450 this year, Witton Venus recently broke the Sunderland 450 record, Kilbarry Meadows and Starson Melody both have open race winning form while Acomb Irene and Easy Cookie are among the best locals. In a tough call, it has to be Kevin Ferguson’s Acomb Irene, mainly ased on her familiarity of a circuit on which she was schooled. Now back with her breeder following his holiday, her recent 27.52 (FOY) for the 480m at Sheffield suggests she is somewhere near her best. 5-2-4
A quick glance at the wons/runs ratio of the sextet gives some indication of the issues here, added to which, some would clearly be suited to longer trips. Locally trained Honkwhenyouhome is likely to be among the early contenders but has never been beyond 550 yards and his stamina is unproven. Although he has no form at this track, Easy Diablo probably has the best overall racing record, based on the quality of opposition. He sees out the trip and provided he can stay out of trouble, should be there or thereabouts. 1-6-4
Crystal Countess and Laughil Flash are both proven quality open race sprinters. As the sole wide runner, and with recent course experience, Trevor Coote’s bitch looks the stand-0ut selection. A straight forecast option. 6-2-3
Another very competitive contest with tons of ‘sub28’ form and plenty of match-ups. However, the draw suggests possible problems on the inside.Gymcrack non-qualifier Breakthebiscuit has decent trial form on his home track, but no wins from six. This might not be his track. Starcash Henry is a dragster who struggles with bends. Can either/both Acomb Alfie and Glenview Pat clear them? On the outside are the golden oldie Glenvale Gav and old A2 rival Brynoffa Bob. Fingers crossed for minimal argy bargy with the possibility of Alfie escaping the worst of it. 3-2-4
Credit to the racing office for staging a rare eight-bender but this is no TV Trophy! Four local graders take on two very minor open racers. Of the locals, Vote For Pedro and Highview Capital would appear to have the best chances, though Pedro was passed in his only venture over six bends. Capital might just stay on. On the basis that ‘something has to win it’, Slippy Marina has the best four bend form and might hold on. Probably, possibly, maybe. 2-1-4
Anybody watching last week’s semi finals will find it impossible to oppose Stormy News. Mick Hurst’s fawn has a sprinter’s early pace and looks ideally drawn in four. In short, he looks a very fine greyhound. The obvious danger is Watchhall Sid in six though how he reverses the four+ length deficit is hard to imagine since although the pair were in the same troubled semi final, both had largely clear runs. (Sid experienced some minor crowding on the charge to the turn). Onthegravytrain is open to improvement but may be a trap five sandwich in the early yards. Wrighty looks the best of the inside trio. Of the Heaton pair, Ballymac Pria was beaten on merit last time out, Ballymac Betsy probably has a career over six bends awaiting. 4-6-3
