Fromposttopillar and Havana Bale Out have both been withdrawn by the Monmore stewards from their respective 630 metre opens on Saturday “on the grounds of welfare”.
Neither of the pair, who have both previously been seeded ‘middle’, had trialled at Monmore and both had drawn trap one on Saturday.
The Monmore Racing Office appear to have responded to criticism of the their decision on social media following the draw.
Assistant trainer Rab McNair said: “I accept the decision from the Monmore Racing Office. I also accept responsibility for looking to change the seeding without a trial. Of all my runners, it is bizarre that they had to be the two to be drawn in red.
“Both greyhounds will have solo trials on Saturday from trap two and I will have them videoed at the first bend to see where they run. I would expect them both to rail.
“But there are just a couple of points that need to be made.
“At no stage, when they have been seeded middle, did anyone ever go on Twitter and complain when they were drawn five or six. Because however you look at it, five and six are not boxes for middle seeds.
“And don’t forget they could also have been drawn red in races, particularly if there weren’t any railers. If its that much of a risk, should we withdraw middle seeds from finals if they are drawn trap one?
“Queen Pink, who is the tightest railer in the kennel, is drawn trap four on Saturday, but that’s dog racing.
“Also, is this now a widespread rule? Will all trainers have to trial their dogs if they want a seeding change? I wouldn’t want to go down that route, but you can’t force just one kennel to do it. Obviously I’ll be keeping an eye on it.
“As it was, because for the four day rule, and both having run on Saturday, I wouldn’t have had time to give them sprint trials and entered for Saturday anyway.”
The kennel’s other two runners, Queen Pink and Havana Top Note, will both still race on Saturday.
