Who can forget the exploits of Pat Guilfoyle and the brilliant Skywalker Logan one year ago? Without doubt, one of the most successful dog men in Ireland with a string of classic wins, Pat is also a thinking man’s greyhound trainer. Here – in his own words are his views on Nottingham, the Derby and his team:
Mark Pierrepont
The event
I was delighted to hear that Nottingham would play host to this year’s English Derby. I thought they made a great effort last year and most importantly it is a lovely circuit that was in fantastic condition for every round last year. Last year I had one entry in Skywalker Logan and it was a great experience to go so close with him in the final. Any Derby is special. I’ve already won one with the brilliant Good News, ran up with Magical Bale and finished a close third with Logan.
The Irish racing calendar is something that needs to be addressed. Its clearly not effective. The Gold Cup and the Easter Cup are penciled is for a mid January and mid February start respectively. Open class dogs cannot be properly prepared at this time of year. As a result some of the best four benders we have miss these competitions. As a result the stakes don’t fill and the desired crowd attendance also suffers. I think the English Derby will benefit from the poorly organised Irish Calendar.
The team
This year I plan to bring six dogs for the English Derby. They are:
Skywalker Logan: Logan needs very little introduction. He is the current track record holder at Nottingham and has also won the 2019 Irish Cesarewitch at Mullingar and Corn Cuchalainn at Shelbourne. Logan heads my little team. He hasn’t raced since November but has wintered great. In his first four bender in over two months he clocked 28.35 at Limerick on a slow track and recently did an 18.52 private sprint there. He is trialling at Nottingham on March 9th and I hope to run him in a trial stake there on March 23rd. Logan is a special greyhound who is owned by a true gentleman (Ray Patterson).
Muckinish: A lightly raced young dog. I think he’ll love Nottingham. I haven’t really pushed him too hard at home yet on the gallop as he hates this harsh weather. He has won in 28.23 at Shelbourne Park and has also done 28.26 around Limerick He trials at Nottingham on March 9th and I would hope to run him in trial stake on March 23rd also.
Magical Cormie: Cormie has bags of potential. He is owned by sister Emer and my little nephew Cormac. He made a great start to his career but lost his form later in the year as the weather worsened, just like his brother Muckinish. He has done very good trials in recent weeks. He’ll relish the long run to the bend at Nottingham. He too trials on March 9th and will hopefully have his first race of the year in a trial stake at Nottingham on March 23rd. He’s as good as anything I’ve ever handled.
Cabra Firmino: very fast established open racer. On the clock he was the fastest four bender to perform around Shelbourne Park on the Night of Stars clocking 27.97. Last year he was quite highly strung but he seems to have really settled of late and has become more consistent. We recently put a middle seed on him and he appears to be more comfortable with that. I cant wait to see how he goes around Nottingham!
Laughil Josh: Like Cormie and Muckinish he was only two years old last July and he too is a Head Bound and I think Head Bounds are three years old and older before they show their best form. Josh is a home bred. He’s a very fast dog. He has some brilliant form. He is currently running in the Easter Cup. He’s pencilled in for a trial on March 9th. If he is still in the Easter Cup he’ll trial on March 23rd instead.
Patterdale Greg: Greg is owned by close family friends, the Mounsey family. He looked real exciting puppy last year and currently finding that form again having run a brilliant race last Saturday night in Shelbourne. He won a puppy stake at Shelbourne in 28.28 and the St Leger consolation final. He needs a few races to settle him again after his winter break but he has plenty of ability. He could run a great Derby.
Other Thoughts:
Travelling Plans: I’ll be travelling the day before the trials and races again this year, just like last year. We arrive in the UK the night before the races and stay with our great friends the Russell family near Telford. It ensures the dogs get a good night’s rest and a nice walk the next day through the English countryside before the one and a half hours drive to Nottingham. We then make for the 2.30am ferry after racing. It worked great last year.
New Traps: I think there was indeed a trap bias last year so I welcome the new double ram traps. I also think that such a bias is perhaps more evident in a competition like the Derby. The installation of the new traps also reflects how proactive and determined the Nottingham management are and I applaud them for that. In an era when greyhound racing faces many obstacles, isn’t it refreshing to have a Derby staged in a venue like Nottingham where the management clearly strive for perfection.
