Newcastle GM Ian Walton is hopeful, rather than confident as the Geordies head to Kinsley on Sunday for the last of the penultimate ties in the BAGS/SIS Track Championship (Northern).
Newcastle are rated 10-11f to win the group with Sheffield, 39 points adrift with a home leg to come, and rated 11-10 chances. The hosts are 66-1 chances but Walton reckons they have the potential to be wrecking the best laid plans.
Walton said: “You can never be confident going to Kinsley. They may be behind but we know from past experience that their dogs are very tough to beat at their own track.
“On paper, we have some good draws and if this leg was at home I think we would have outstanding chances. I can imagine us having a few at short prices but I wouldn’t want to be backing them.
“Before it started, you might have expected us to do well in the elite section but we haven’t won a leg yet. Steely Charm has been unbeaten for Belle Vue who are also capable of surprising every one with a winner or two.
“We have our ambitions set on 40 points, give me those now and I’d be a happy man.”
Walton has no plans to introduce permit racing but would not rule it out in the future.
He said: “Quite honestly, it isn’t something that we need to think about. Our numbers are down a little bit with Dave Spraggon retiring and a bit of kennel sickness, but we have lots of pups coming through and otherwise are fine.
“But I have nothing against the idea in principle and we might review that again at some stage in the future. Before then, I can imagine it could be a huge help to quite a few tracks who are struggling for runners.”
The battle to be Newcastle’s most prolific winner in 2016 sees a four-way battle between Drumna Gin, Head Iton Scoogs, Jonathon William, and Mollys Frankie with a dozen wins apiece.
In terms of strike rate, Heat Iton Scoogs (Westmead Hawk-Head Iton Steffi, Jun 13) is top of the table. Her 12 wins and 11 seconds were from just 35 races, 480 and 640, level breaks, handicaps and opens.
A special mention too though for Stuart Ray’s Mollies Frankie (Droopys Scolari-Blackhouse Molly, Jun 12) whose wins were mainly from scratch over 640m in a career that is now up to 155 races.
11wins : Crooks Assassin, Mollys Carlo, No More Heroes, Queenies Vinny
10 wins : A Bit Of Gold, Alnwick Esme, High Hill Beauty, Target Carla, Woodys Aurora
