MARK IN YOUR NOTTINGHAM DIARY

The calendar might say ‘February’ but the big names are already starting to migrate to Nottingham for the 2020 Star Sports , LPS and ARC English Greyhound Derby – WRITES MARK PIERREPONT

Things kick off as early as Saturday as Boylesports King – runner up in the 2019 Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park last September – takes his first look at Colwick Park.

Dolores Ruth’s dog has finished runner-up in eight of his eleven career starts to date and possesses a finishing kick that few, if any can match at the sports highest level over four bends.  His lack of early pace has at times got him into trouble, but he is also capable of sensational ‘second halves’.

One of Ireland’s leading open race judges, who wishes to remain anonymous, having invested in a life changing gamble on the 37 kilo black noted: “It will take a natural disaster to keep this dog out of any frame you can make up, have the lot on each way and then have a bit more”. 

Also on Saturday Robert Holt has his 2019 Select Stakes hero Trickys Dumbo booked in to trial over 305m.  Notably the only greyhound in training to beat antepost Derby favourite Ice On Fire twice , Robert will be hoping to get a run of consecutive runs under the belt of Dumbo after a troublesome past few months with niggly, if not serious, injuries.

Graham Holland makes his first venture over to Nottingham for trials next Monday 2nd March when he has the 2019 Irish Greyhound Derby champion Lenson Bocko, plus Irish St Leger runner up and Night Of Stars winner Lenson Austin both due to trial over 500m.  Also on the card Graham has both Lenson Blinder and 2019 English Derby Finalist Clonbrien Prince due to take part in the first batch of trial stakes for this years event.

Entries are also in the book for the trial session on Monday 9th March and already it looks like being a top class session.

Pat Guilfoyle’s Nottingham track record holder and alround superstar Skywalker Logan is due to trial over 500m. Pat also has Laughil Josh, Magical Cormie and Muckinish booked in to trial over the Derby trip.

Lee Fields’ Burgess Doc who qualified for the Springbok final at Central Park when winning his semi final on Sunday night is an interesting trial entry , he’s an extremely pacy sort and it will be interesting to see how he fares.  The aforementioned Trickys Dumbo is provisionally pencilled in to trial over the 500m at the same session with more greyhounds likely to be added over the coming days.