I think the GBGB generally do a very good job in organising the open race calendar.

They do their best to keep major events apart in terms of timing, and if they have to clash, they normally keep them apart geographically.

It can’t be easy when the promoters are ultimately are the ones who decide what they want to run and when they want to run it.

In an ideal world I would like to see puppy competitions more evenly distributed throughout the year. Apart from Monmore, most are in the autumn or winter.

It is also disappointing when you lose major four-bend events at the beginning of the year things like the Birmingham Cup, and of course the Arc wasn’t run last year. Those early races were showcases for Derby dogs. Over six bends, the Prestige will also be a big loss.

I realise why there was no list of fixtures last year, when nobody knew whether a SKY deal was possible and the sponsorship repercussions. But owners and trainers really could do with a heads-up on pending competitions several months ahead of time.

Not only when they are being run, but WHETHER they are being run.

The year kicks off with the Coronation Cup on Friday and we have five runners.

Ironically, the two most fancied pair Brigadier Bullet and Saleen Ash, are drawn in the same heat. I’ll be interested to see how our Oaks finalist Chubbys Caviar goes over a new distance for her.

We are also doubly represented in the other heat with Garryglass Champ and Shrewd Honcho.

Looking forward, the kennel isn’t at its strongest but hopefully there will be some stars among the 25 pups who are all due to start trialling shortly.

As I explained in the last column, we are in a rebuilding process. Dogs of the calibre of Rubys Rascal and Roswell Romanov don’t grown on trees.

I am quite excited by a September ’17 Ballymac Vic litter out of Evanta Evita. Her first litter by Confident Rankin are just turned two and look like decent graders, anything from A4 to A7.

But when Gary Goulden, who bred and reared them, took them schooling at Longford, the Vic’s were anything up to a full second faster than the first litter in their first solos.

You can never guarantee anything with pups, but if they were to maintain their progress, you never know.

Gary is doing a great job with the pups, which are sold as youngsters on an all-inclusive deal until they have been qualified to race.

The biggest frustration is apart from three older litters, virtually none of the other brood bitches have been in season in the last year.

Evanta Fantasy and Ribble Aon have both been in Ireland for approaching 18 months, and they were recently joined by Shlowdown Sally, Ribble Atom and Saffrons Bonnie.

But none seem that keen on motherhood.

I would like to take this opportunity to send my best wishes to Jim Hayton, who, as most people now know, suffered a heart attack at Henlow recently.

We have sent a pile of good wishes and I owe Jim a phone call, though he would know better than most about finding 20 minutes for a chat.

Jim is such a decent guy and an interesting man to talk to. He has done so many incredible things in the past, both involving greyhounds and trotting horses.

I could listen to him for hours.