MARK’S NOTTINGHAM DIARY

Ice On Fire, clear antepost favourite for the Derby , lined up for the RPGTV Juvenile at Sheffield on Saturday evening as the strong odds on 2/5 favourite to add yet another title to his burgeoning collection.  He was being touted in some quarters as a certainty , unbeatable , however this was his first race back after claiming The Laurels title at Newcastle on the 19th December.

Sure he’d been trialing well but trainer Jimmy Fenwick had made no secret of the fact that he felt he was possibly one run short of ideal due to circumstances beyond his and Fire’s control.

Fire did what he had to do though , as all champions do , he found a way.  On a rain soaked track that appeared patchy in places Fire smashed out from his trap one berth and held off the strong and persistent challenge of Ted Soppit’s new recruit Waikiki Lad by 1/2 length in 29.21.

The winning time a clear indication of the prevalent conditions.  Jimmy and connections were delighted with their stars performance with Jimmy stating “We’ll go away now and have a think about it , taking in the forthcoming Steel City Cup here at Sheffield is a strong possibility, the dog needs running , he thrives on it , if he were to reach the final that would still leave us a three week period to get a couple of fresh looks into the dog at Nottingham”.

Never one to mince his words Ted was bullish about his dogs chances on the night and indeed going forward into the Derby.  “I believe he’s a good chance tonight. But he’ll improve and I expect him to go very well during the Derby itself”.

Lad kept Fire up to his work throughout. In fact he looked to be going well enough at the last bend to maybe even claim the scalp of Fire but in the end Fire dug deep and got the job done.  Both trainers will have been delighted.

Trainer Nathan Hunt said:”Curly looks like being my sole entry for the Derby this year.  I had him booked in for a trial at Nottingham last Monday in preparation. He recorded 30.00 (+20). He is a very game dog , does his best running off the front but he’s capable of qualifying from behind also”.

Roman Empire will be missing the Derby altogether , connections have decided to stick with a six bend career for their greyhound , stating concerns that he will be drawn wider than ideal in against top class four bend greyhounds.

They feel their greyhound has the pace to secure an early pitch in against six bend types but are concerned about possible crowding over four.  Ironically he drew trap 4 in the Ladbrokes Winter Festival 630 at Monmore on Saturday night , though made lightwork of the opposition , leading all the way to score by 4 lengths in 37.80 (-60).

Littermates Grangeview Ten and West had exceptional years, backed up in England of course by our dearly missed Salacres Punch.

It was a really enjoyable evening , set many miles away from the brightlights of the city , in the middle of the country and at a stunning venue that provided good service and value for money for those in attendance.  Food for thought maybe?

Bocko was simply superb when landing the Irish Greyhound Derby Final for themselves and of course fellow owners Len Ponder and Austin Whelan in September last year.  Graham said “Of course we’re expecting Bocko to go really well. He should love it around Nottingham.

“Don’t write off Bockos Doomie though. He’s recorded 29.06 (normal) at Hove over 500m last Thursday when winning his heat of a dual distance competition and can only improve.

“Patrick (Janssens) believes there’s plenty of improvement to come and I don’t really buy into the theory of some that he’s massively draw reliant.  He’s had 22 races in his life , only ever raced from traps 1 thru to 4 and has won out of all four boxes winning 15 times.  He’s an exciting dog and at 50/1 I wouldn’t put anybody off having a bit each way”.

Lenson Bocko recorded a more than satisfactory 29.50 , trapping well and keeping a middle position on the track. He recorded a 4.96 split, he ran off at the first bend on what was his first look at the track.  He will improve in the coming weeks.

There was an interesting two dog trial between Sparta Master and Liberty Hawk with Master getting the upper hand by a couple of lengths in 29.47.

It was a very decent effort from Sharon Thompson’s greyhound, but Alan Bellis was equally as delighted with the effort of his Liberty Hawk who is much the best when in front .

He said: “I was thrilled with that from Hawk. I said to you recently that I feel despite him being 3 1/2 years old I’ve got him as good as he’s ever been.  For his age he’s a very lightly raced dog.  He’s not quite come out as well as he can tonight and that’s meant he’s given a a top class staying dog in Master an early lead.

“There aren’t many dogs, if any, that would be back running him over four bends so for Liberty to go down by just a couple of lengths , I really am delighted.  I’ll put him into a trial stakes now next week”.

Drahbeg Dash ran the track well on his first look for Gerry Ballentine , stopping the clock in 29.70 but the fastest time of the session came from Graham Hollands Lenson Austin who was sensational in recording 29.29 off the back of a 5.00 split.

This strong running son of Good News and Coolavanny Kelly was an impressive winner by  7 lengths over 575 yards at Shelbourne on Night Of Stars at the end of November and subsequently ran up to Ballymac Anton in the final of the Irish St Leger at Limerick.

Austin obviously run the track well on what was his first look but the frightening thing is he appeared to have improvement left to come and will no doubt be better next time round.

Robert said: “I was more than pleased with that effort. Nottingham is obviously a track he enjoys and knows well , but it was noticeable that he’s just lost his footing a little at the second bend and had to straighten himself back up. He has come home really well though.  I’ve got him booked in for another sprint trial next week , all being well it’ll be a 500m trial the week after and then hopefully a couple of trial stakes prior to the Derby itself”.

He can win from the front or from off the pace and the result was never in doubt after he secured an early lead last night , stopping the clock in 29.46 (+60).

Colin Wilton’s Swift Ferdia lost nothing in defeat , going down by 2 1/2 lengths in second.  Strides Farran continued his good run of form for trainer Jim Hayton , landing his trial stakes in 2982 (+50) by 1 1/4 lengths from Graham Hollands 2019 Derby finalist Clonbrien Prince.

Prince ran off the second bend and lost position; he’ll be better for the reminder of the Nottingham contours.  Deanridge Sirius has been well supported in the antepost markets recently after a succession of impressive trials.

He was sent off a warm 4/7 favourite for what was a hot maiden but could only manage third place behind Gary Ferguson’s Brinkleys Kid and Glenn Foots Headford Brae.

All three greyhounds are a bit above maiden class and it won’t be long before the second and third are losing their tags.  Knockboy Jet provided Gary Ferguson with a trial stakes double when winning his race in 29.81 (+40), beating Lenson Blinder in the process. Despite being sent off a strongly fancied 4/6 favourite appeared desperately in need of the reminder of the circuit.

In the final trial stakes of the evening it was almost a red letter day for Gary Ferguson with his Pennylane Fionn almost pulling off what would have been a memorable treble.

He was just touched off by a short head by Ken Humphreys Nottingham regular Master Reed with Emers Cookie the same margin back in third.