I am really thrilled that Towcester have made it though to the final of the BAGS/SIS Track Championship after landing our home leg last Friday, but I’ll probably remember it as the night the wheels nearly came off – literally.
We were on our way to the track and were doing 80 mph (or that might have been 70 – Ed) when we had a tyre blow out on the van.
It was bloody scary and I nearly lost control with 14 dogs on board.
Fortunately, I managed to keep the van from swerving off the road and we were only about 100 yards from a lay-by.
The wheel was down to the metal, but I managed to change it and we got on our way.
We phoned ahead, when we realized that we would be late for kenneling and the track phoned ahead to get permission from BAGS to delay the start of the meeting.
I was just relieved to get there, though there were a lot of moans, and I think there was the odd individual who would have preferred that we crashed. Anybody would think we did it on purpose.
It didn’t help the mood of some that we had a winner our three seconds with our four runners in the event.
I’m looking forward to the final now, just before Christmas and think Towcester must have a decent chance.
Unlike most of the tracks, the dogs aren’t specially put aside to run in the competition. They are decent dogs who genuinely run graded at, in my opinion, one of the highest grade tracks in the country
We will be setting off at 11am for the Oaks and Laurels card at Belle Vue on Wednesday.
As I explained in the column last week, there has been a lot of sickness in the kennel, and all three of our Oarks semi finalists went down with it 48 hours before they were due to race.
Thankfully, it only seems like a ’24 hour’ bug and they were all fit to go by Friday.
Aero Babooshka was unlucky to go out, but the other two made it to the final.
When you have six railers in a final there is no such thing as a good draw. Even with trap one you know that there are going to be five other runners trying to cut across you.
We have Domino Storm in three and Evanta Evita in five and whoever wins it will have to trap at their best, particularly to lead up Charlie’s bitch (Tyrur Caroline T2) and Hayley’s bitch Roxholme Hottie (T4).
I think our two are both in good shape. Ideally, Domino Storm would like a little further, 470 metres is a bit on the sharp side for her these days, whereas it is spot on for Evanta Evita.
It is a second Oaks final for Evita of course who finished behind our other bitch Cashen Maureen who was absolutely at the top of her game on the night.
I expect a good run from both bitches because even when we have been beaten in category one finals this year, I don’t think a single runner has run below form. We’ve had lots of big priced finalists but they have all done us proud on the night.
I am hoping that some of our best bitches will be covered by Adageo Bob who is due to join his breeder John Marriott this week. His first job will be for him to be fertility tested.
We have had lots of enquiries about using him at stud, though eventually it would be nice to have him back here with us.
Billys Bullet ran an absolute cracker to finish third in his first open race back after injury on Saturday.
He stayed with the winner (Cabra Miller), who is in great form, until the fifth bend before blowing up.
You can give a dog as many trials as you like, but it isn’t the same as racing experience.
But he came off sound and should improve for the run. I will probably trial him again before he races at Towcester on Anglo-Irish night at Towcester on December 17.
He is only just turned three, with very little racing on the clock, and should be a big player in 2016.
