There was another interesting trial session at Nottingham on Monday evening in the build up to the 2020 Star Sports, LPS and ARC English Greyhound Derby WRITES MARK PIERREPONT.
Mark Pierrepont
Deanridge Sirius, trained by Alison Kelly-Pilgrim and owned by Ray Dean and Paul Surridge once again caught the eye. Having what was his first run over four bends since arriving here in the UK he stopped the clock in a fastest of the session 29.89 (normal) despite noticeably easing at the sough and costing himself a minimum of a couple of lengths in the process.
The Other Rex has been in excellent form at home track Sheffield recently, winning three of his last four; an A2 success being swiftly followed up by maiden and latterly standard open race victories.
He was brought for his first sighter of the Colwick Park circuit by Barrie Draper kennel representative Paul Hector.
Paul said: “He’s been in good form at Sheffield just lately and has really found his way, the A2 success has acted as a spur for him to kick on and we thought we’d see how he went around Nottingham.
“I’d be happy enough with that for his first look, 30.10 (normal) after slightly missing the start, it was a good introduction”.
Indeed Rex initially gave Swindon trainer Robert Smith’s Amka Rofe early ground but comfortably out paced him to the turn before cutting the bend and kicking on.
Rofe himself has been in tremendous form at Swindon recently, winning four of his last five including 3 x A1s and an A2.
Rofe stuck on well, beaten 3 1/2 lengths and if anything narrowing that gap slightly as they headed into the pick up.
He will improve upon his 30.38 first look, running off at the first bend and easing slightly at the third he’ll be better for the sighter.
Pat Rosney’s Vatican Saab has an excellent record in top grade company at Belle Vue, winning her last 3 races at the highest level there.
She was also sent off a short priced 6/4 favourite for the Angel Of The North Oaks Final at Newcastle in October last year after a dominant performance in her heat.
Saab was beaten in the final 4 1/4 lengths behind Kevin Hutton’s Magical Vera. She remains in good form and her 29.10 (normal) effort in the sole 480m trial of Monday evening was a good effort from the bitch who ran a wide course on the straights and railed well around the bends.
Laurence Tuffins Deadly Expert posted a fastest of session 17.79 (normal) over the 305m course.
This was his third look at the track and was a big step forward on his 18.13 (-10) from the previous week. Expert trapped level with his kennelmate Tuftys Dellboy but soon outpaced that rival to the turn and pulled away for a 3 1/2 lengths success, maintaining that distance into the pick up.
Assistant trainer at the Tuffin kennel Arlene McCartan said: “He’s had a few niggles that we’ve had to work on but that was much more like his Irish form and hopefully he can kick on from here”.
Pat Rosney’s Bower Luke continued his comeback with another trial over the 305m trip, this week recording 17.93 (normal) compared to his 17.93 (-10) last time out. The perceived small loss in time this time around likely being attributed to a not quite so fluent start and moving slightly wider than previously off the second turn.
He powered to the pick up however and is heading in the right direction and gaining fitness with each run.
On the racecard itself Jimmy Fenwick’s Look Like Power made it 12 wins from just 18 career starts when comfortably accounting for his Puppy Open opposition over 480m.
This was Power’s third victory in three starts here at Nottingham and took his record to 7 wins in his last 8. His sole defeat during this period came in a gallant half length defeat to Levante Beach in the final of the Alconex Northern Puppy Derby final at hometrack Newcastle.
He was the first leg in a double on the evening for Jimmy with Dilly Dilly running a gutsy race in the Ladies event, back running Alex Hopkins Glory Millie.
Dilly is getting better with each sighter at the track and has now won her last two here.
Jimmy said: “I’m really pleased with both Power and Dilly Dilly tonight. They’ve both run extremely well, Power seems to love it here. He is a young dog but he’s strong and can only improve.
“Dilly Dilly didn’t seem too at home at Nottingham on her first visit but she’s improved with each look and runs the place really well now. I’d say at this stage these two would form part of a four greyhound team for the Derby, headed obviously by Ice On Fire.
“We’ll more than likely bring along Lemon Ronald too. As for Ice On Fire he’s down to trial for us tomorrow (Tuesday) at Sheffield over 480m. His first engagement likely to be the Racing Post Juvenile a week on Saturday”.
Though Doncaster handler Alex Hopkins was out of luck when seeing the aforementioned Glory Millie picked up in the ladies event, she wasn’t to wait long for a winner and how impressive was Kilara Lion.
After pinging from his trap 3 berth in the new double rammed boxes at Nottingham he made every post a winning one, holding off Bev Heaton’s Ballymac Ambrose by half a length in a fastest not just of the evening but of the year to date 29.69 (+20).
He subsequently held off Ambrose (590m Belle Vue track record holder) all the way to the pick up. This was a strong galloping performance from a dog who has only reached 2yo this month.
Alex said: “He’s a very nice young dog, he reached the final of the Bob Holmes Memorial in December which we were really happy with as we know he still had and indeed has a lot to learn. He’s only really had his draw once, he wants trap 1 and when he did get his box at Monmore he won.
“He’s overcome the draw in three tonight which would be as wide as he wants, grabbed the rail early and I was so impressed with how well he’s held off a strong, much older and real good class dog in Ballymac Ambrose.
“As for the Derby I’m not sure yet, we’ll take it one step at a time and I’ll have a chat with the owners and see which way we should go with the dog”.
I caught up with Belle Vue trainer Gary Griffiths who was at Nottingham with three runners on the evening.
Gary told me “I didn’t think Magical Fox really run to the level he can, he was a bit at sea on his first look at the track. He’s better than that showing though and I’ll bring him back for another look around, he can only improve.
“I was probably most pleased with my dog in the sprint Factfile, he trapped well and though he’s been beaten 5 1/2 lengths behind a good dog in Droopys Premier in the end
“It would have been no more than half that bar blowing the second bend badly, again on his first look. He’ll improve for that as will my other dog Droopys Boss who paced up well before again needing the look around, beaten just 4 1/2 lengths in third behind two good dogs in Kilara Lion and Ballymac Ambrose.
“He’s got terrific early pace has Boss and it will serve him well. I’ll be back with all three dogs. I’ve no doubt they’ll all improve massively for the look.
“They’ll need to show me a little more of their best around the venue before committing firmly but I’d like to think we could be confident enough to enter Fox and Boss for the Derby. They might only go a round or two but they’d give us a bit of fun I’m sure”.
Matt Dartnall has been particularly pleased with the progress of Killeacle Gus, a dog who originally began his UK career with Ken Tester.
Matt said: “Gus is coming on all the time now, improving week by week. He’s not tow years old until April so obviously lacks the experience of some older dogs but he’s pleasing us.
“He’s now won 7 of his 11 starts for us, all coming in open class at Hove and was desperately unlucky not to qualify for the Winter Derby Final there last week.
“He was beaten less than two lengths into fourth place. He then came out in a nice race on final night and won in 29.08. Volcanic Reef won the final itself in 29.25 so it highlights the calibre of the run perfectly.
“Distant Village is a real nice dog for us, he’s 8 from 13 and pleased me at Hove on Monday recording 1632 (-15) in his comeback trial. It was a really solid effort and being a September 17 whelp this could be a big year for him. At this stage they’d be my main two contenders for the Derby and we’ll get up for some trials”.
Popular Irish handler Peter Cronin has been a regular visitor to UK tracks over the years and a man who knows the time of day and the right type of greyhound to bring over for our events.
He said “I might be a bit thin on the ground for England this year. I’ll be honest most of my thoughts currently are on the Con and Anne Kirby Memorial competition over here.
“After that we’ll see about the English Derby, possibles would be Jacks Tornado and Worseforwear.
“The Tornado dog ran a game race to win his first round heat at Nottingham last year at a big price, it was a shame we had to withdraw him injured from the second round
“Then of course Worseforwear ran well to reach the quarter final before being eliminated in the race won by Magical Bale.
“So they’d likely be the main two with maybe one or two others but we’ll see. I’ve no real firm plans just yet and as I say we’ve got our eyes firmly on the Con and Anne to start with”.
