Probably the most intriguing evening of trials and races at Nottingham post comeback in preparation for the Star Sports Bookmakers & ARC English Greyhound Derby.
Carol Grasso’s Berties Blake won the first trial stakes of the evening in game fashion. After showing good early to lead to the bend he was out railed by Stuart Tighe’s Final Mad. Tighe’s Newcastle raider led for most of the trip and though he was picked up close home by the rallying Blake , he lost little in defeat when going down by half a length in 29.72.
The second trial stakes of the evening looked a competitive affair on paper but Jimmy Fenwick’s Look Like Power came into the race seeking a trial stakes hat-trick. Once again drawn perfectly in T3, he pinged out , got across to the rail and never looked like getting beat , stopping the clock in 29.62. Power is improving on his times with each week , loves the track and is heading towards a Derby campaign in superb form.
Carol Weatherall’s Hather Regal took the third of the evening’s trial stakes in dominant fashion. Scoring by 7 1/2 lengths in 29.91 from Jim Hayton’s Kirabilly Kathy.
Gary Ferguson’s Knockboy Jet looked drawn to perfection on the rail for trial stakes 4. Owner Billy Thompson was in confident mood pre race saying: “I really fancy the lad tonight , a level break away and gone we’ll be getting the money”.
Billy was right. Jet took a flyer from trap one and once taking command of the rail he didn’t ever look like being caught stopping the clock in 30.04. It was Jet’s first race in a couple of week’s having taken a first bend tumble on his last start , he’ll improve for the run. Liz and Rab McNair were making their first appearance at Nottingham in some time and they’ll have been pleased with the effort of their King Cash who finished runner up here beaten 2 1/4 lengths.
Cash was moderately away and then hampered at the first turn by the moving off Sporting Daniel trained by Robert Hall. Daniel carried a rails seed here but is more known for middle running at home track Perry Barr , he may benefit from such a switch on his next appearance here at Colwick Park.
Robbies Turbo made it a double on the night for trainer Gary Ferguson and owner Billy Thompson, leading all the way to take trial stakes 5 in 3018. Ken Humphrey’s Master Reed tried, Gary Griffith’s Droopys Boss tried but neither could find a way past this battling son of Romeo Recruit who held the pair off by 3/4 length and a short head respectively.
Last but by no means least Little Emir‘s victory in trial stakes 6 ensured that the journey back up North would seem a little easier than the trip south when leading all the way to score by a length in 2982 from Carol Weatherall’s Fight The Power. This was an excellent performance from Gary Carmichael’s dog who was having his first sighter of the Derby course and distance. He will without doubt improve for the look around and his superb early pace will serve as a potent weapon in any race which he lines up.
Pre the race meeting there was an extremely interesting trial session taking place. Alison Kelly-Pilgrim had 3 trialling at the session and though Deanridge Sirius has been the talking dog for sometime from the kennel , it was Deanridge Rapid who took the lead role on a star studded trial session.
Rapid, previously known in Ireland as Ballymac Notisme, scorched around Colwick Park in a fastest of the session 29.39. What made the run even more impressive was that he was held up around the opening two turns by Ted Soppit’s Blackstone Milo. Milo showed excellent early and middle pace, leading until the third turn where Rapid was once again momentarily held up. Clear by the fourth however Rapid strode clear putting 5 1/4 lengths between himself and Milo at the finish with Newinn Nidge for Pat Rosney a further 1 3/4 lengths back.
It was some performance from Rapid and owner Ray Dean told me “I feel I bought the wrong type of dog for Nottingham last year. I’ve made a concerted effort to find the right type for this years event and hopefully with this lad we’ve done just that. He is very keen on the rail and I suppose at some point that might play against him but he’s without doubt got gears and the run tonight didn’t come as a surprise”.
Jumeriah Sprite moved very well for Debbie Calvert on his first four bend here at Nottingham. He showed excellent pace throughout and run the track very well when recording 29.61. Ballymac Reece clocked 29.77 for Newcastle trainer Stuart Tighe and moved nicely. Whilst Julie Bateson’s Gonzo was a little behind on the clock when recording 29.93 he left any amount of time on the track, particularly around the opening two bends and there is without doubt much improvement to come from the recent Ladbrokes Gold Cup Winner.
Jimmy Fenwick has left people in no doubt as to the regard in which he holds his bitch Nice As Ice and she once again impressed, recording 29.83 in a solo trial but leaving the impression that there is plenty still to come.
Tom Heilbron’s Ballymac Inspeed, one of the favourite’s for the competition moved well and stopped the clock in a more than acceptable 29.64. Heading to the pick up though it was clear that something wasn’t quite right , his stride shortening and a flick or two of the tail suggesting that all wasn’t right. A recurrence of a wrist injury initially picked up in Ireland looks to be the problem and he is due to see a specialist vet today. His participation in the Derby would seem extremely unlikely at this stage which is a devestating blow to Tom and connections.
For Jimmy Fenwick and owner Dave Spraggon the dream is still on for their superstar greyhound Ice On Fire. Participation in the Derby itself looked near on impossible not too long ago but Jimmy has worked miracles to give ‘Fire’ a fighting chance of being there come the first round. On what was his first post comeback four bend run he popped out of the 480m traps nicely and recorded 28.87. He’s not quite there yet but he’s heading the right way. Don’t bet against him just yet !
Trials are full already next Monday but Wednesday 16th available … need to book trials in for that day by 11am Friday 11th September. Tomorrow’s trials kenneling at 9.30am
