It’s the start of a new year and like everyone we start at scratch in the trainers championship. I am so proud of the eight we have won so far, particularly when I see some of the great trainers who are on the list. But there is that famous quote from AP McCoy about the first one is the hardest . . . . but then staying at the top is even harder!
I have always said that you need to win big events to win the championship and 70% of our points come from a handful of dogs. The 27% strike rate was also pleasing because that would include a lot of runners who we had been asked for by racing offices to help fill opens.
I am expecting the competition to be considerably tougher this year. I think Paul Young had a great 2016 with plenty of Cat 1 wins. He has built a good team of dogs and has probably never been stronger. I am good mates with Kevin Hutton and I think he will put up another good challenge along side me at Towcester. Then there’s Seamus (Cahill), and Jimmy (Wright), and at least half a dozen others. For example, the Keightleys have an amazing record with a handful of dogs. I have always said, you can win the trainers championship if you have a dozen of the right dogs and they would be more than capable of that from their new base.
I am not expecting a fast start from our kennel in 2017 for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we had some major refurbishment work done in the older kennel block at the end of last year. It was all to GBGB standard, but it was looking very tired and tatty. I am so thrilled with the place now.
The original quote was for £17,000 but went massively over budget and just as important, six weeks over deadline. We had to cancel the arrival of a bunch of new dogs and had to ship out and pay for some of the others waiting to be re-homed. As a result, we are a bit behind schedule with some of the new arrivals.
Secondly, we have lost a whole crop of top class greyhounds. This time last year, we had Domino Storm still capable of big wins, plus Billys Bullet on his way back, Patchys Kerry and others like Clondoty Alex with the potential for a big race win. This week we have also retired Evanta Fantasy (right) who has been a prolific winner for us and of course we also lost California in tragic circumstances. I am convinced that this would have been his year.
At the start of 2017, the only established stars we have are Rubys Rascal and Ferryforth Fran, who is actually in his third season and was an unexpected bonus in 2016 going from S1 grader to dual Cat one winner. They are backed up with a bunch of young dogs who will hopefully continue to develop and win big finals.
They would include Roswell Romanov, Mashmad Eyebrows and I can see Ela Ela Genie (below right) establishing himself as an experienced solid sprinter capable of winning 15 or 16 opens in the year.
So far Roswell Iceman has failed to live up to expectations but with any luck he could turn out to be ‘this year’s Clondoty Alex’.
I was intrigued to see that Romanov is being quoted as favourite for the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket but it is far from decided that he will take part.
A this stage I am not convinced that he would see out the 714 metres and I will assess him again after the Coronation Cup semis – and final -should he make it through.
THREE FOR THE YEAR
RUBYS RASCAL – owner John Clarke
He is obviously already a category one winner and providing he stays sound, I think there are more big race wins in him. I think he will take to Crayford and will see out the trip no problem. We are also looking forward to Hove (Regency).
CINCINATTI – owner World Syndicate
He is a young dog, also from Ian Greaves, and is currently on the injured list after four races. But he has shown tremendous potential as a pup. I don’t think we will see much of him now until he turns two – in April – he looks as though he could make into a very high class stayer.
GARYGLASS DASH – owner Terry Coveney
He is a young dog with some decent Irish form (6 races 5 wins 29.11 debut at Kilkenny). He was expensive but not silly money and could be a nice find for the year.
