North West Ranger the 66/1 Laurels winner

A week after ex-Yorkshire flapper Richard Wales landed the Grand Prix at Sunderland it was the turn of the Red Rose independent lads to get their hands on a trophy with Kilwest Ranger taking the £12,500 ARC sponsored Greyhound Laurels for that for former Chester regular Tony Harmes.

Ranger went to traps at 9/2 for the Perry Barr decider having started the year in D2 at the same track. The son Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Sanjose was never headed after taking a flying break from trap six.

He was pursued throughout by favourite Jet Stream Angel who would hold on courageously for second though *the race was marred by a first bend incident which saw Wicky Hiker KO’d at the first bend.

The race was a triumph for trainer Tony Harmes, joint owner John McGrath and Chris Stokes who had played such a major role in the dog being acquired.

Tony said: “I was originally told about Ranger by a friend in Ireland, Tom Keating. Ranger had run against De Lahdedah (in the Juvenile Derby) in Ireland. Although he was well beaten in the end, he had been thereabout until the third bend. I hoped he would be a decent grader at Perry Barr if he could see out the 480.”

But it wouldn’t be that simple. Ranger left Ireland in October but registration hold-ups meant he couldn’t run his first trial for two months and it was far from an impressive entrance, 29.03 for the Perry Barr standard.

Tony said: “We found a few problems with him.We took him to Tom Peppercorn who treated him and between him and Mark Skeech we managed to get to the bottom of the problem”

Ranger did 16.84 and 16.47 in his qualifying trials and made his debut in D2. Well backed into 15/8f, Ranger found another five lengths to clock 16.06.

Tony said: “He then won an open and we took him blind to Sheffield where he ran pretty well. The plan was to step him up to four bends again with a maiden at Monmore and we trialled him but it didn’t fill. But when he came back to Perry Barr and he clocked 28.41, I could really see him starting to improve.

“He got beat fair and square by Darley Diglake back at Perry Barr and I wasn’t sure what to do with him. I was chatting to Martin Seal (Perry Barr RM) and he suggested he thought that the dog was good enough to be considered for the Laurels.

“I suggested to Chris that he was worth a few pounds at 66/1. He ran really well and disputed the race with Acomb Irene before fading late. I knew that he would definitely run himself fitter. Ladbrokes were still offering 50/1, boosted to 60/1. I had a few bob on but the closer we got to the semi finals, I could see Ranger really coming to himself. By the Friday, he was full of it, and wouldn’t stop barking. I knew there was some huge improvement in him and told everyone to have their maximum bet.

“We backed him down to 5/2 but they came in for one of the others and he drifted out (to 9/2) and won well. At that stage, we were on a free hit going into the final. I knew he would run well again. He was just coming right. He is actually a dog who thrives on routine and likes things done the same way every time.

“On Saturday, he was so full of himself that I had to put him in the van at quarter past twelve even though we didn’t need to leave until late afternoon. Once he was in the van he was settled and quietened down.”

Saturday’s win was the biggest in his training career for Tony. Now retired with a kennel of just six runners, he spent most of his working days delivering urgent medical supplies across Europe. His runners were usually trained by others and he has a long standing friendship with those other former Chester boys, Pete and Pat Rosney. Pat actually trained Tony’s Charity Dragon to win the 2016 Trafalagar Cup.

It was also perhaps some consolation for close friend Mark Skeech who came so close to Laurels success himself two years ago with Trionas Travel.

So what now?

Tony said: “As soon as the race was over, Kevin Hutton was the first to shake my hand and said ‘see you at Oxford?’. I’ve never been there but, that looks the most likely option.”

**The good news on Wicky Hiker is that he came off no worse for wear following his first bend mishap. Trainer Phil Barlow said: “He’s a bit sore but otherwise fine with no long terms concerns. I think of much of him as any I have ever had and I think he could come back a stronger dog in time. I full expect him to make other Category One finals.”