A bumper trial session took place at Colwick Park, Nottingham this morning and lunchtime as a bumper 37 trials containing a total of 50 greyhounds took place WRITES MARK PIERREPONT.
The track was running notably slower than of late, with just 2 greyhounds managing to dip underneath the 30 second barrier.
The first of those was Ballydoyle Frank, clocking 29.98 off a 5.17 split on a track rated 10 slow, Frank has improved out of all recognition in the last few months.
Winning 5 out of his last 7 races, he’s a very strong running dog who has been noted moving particularly well to the pick up on a regular basis.
Likely to lack a little bit of middle against true derby class dogs when going deeper into the competition, he is one to keep in your notebooks when stepped up to six bend trips, where his staying ability could see him land a decent competition.
Seaglass Phantom was the only other dog to break the 30 second mark on the day when recording 29.82 off a fast 5.02 split, again on a track rated 10 slow.
Phantom scorched around Sheffield in 28.40 (+20) when winning the Racing Post Juvenile in early March. He’s had some troubled passages in races since, his tendency to ease at the bends when surrounded by other dogs is proving problematic and leads to him losing races that he really should be winning.
Recent trials around Hove however of 29.55 and 29.48, both achieved on normal going, highlight his pace and well being perfectly.
He is an absolute aeroplane of a greyhound who can live with and beat the best, if trainer Patrick Janssens can somehow get inside his head and get him running the bends with fluency when in with dogs, then he would have a live contender on his hands for outright honours.
Arthur Noodle was sent off the 4/5 favourite for the GMG Puppy Classic Final here at Nottingham at the back end of last August, she had a troubled run then and ran on to finish runner up.
Patrick Godrey’s bitch has been performing well recently though, reaching the semi final of the RPGTV Golden Crest at Poole she today recorded a more than acceptable 30.01 (normal) off the back of a 5.07 split on her reintroduction to Nottingham.
Kim Billingham’s Ballymac Miscula has shown a good level of form when winning opens around Nottingham, though her career highlight to date has to be when winning the Coral Brighton Belle down at Hove in early November 2018. Miscula run superbly well in that final and today she recorded 30.10 (-10) when beating Innocent Times by 2 lengths.
Matt Dartnall has shown superb patience in attempting to guide last years Star Sports Bookmakers Derby semi finalist Rising Brandy back to the track. He couldn’t be in better hands with the Dartnall team and if anybody can get him back to his brilliant best, it will be them. Brandy had a sprint trial today over the 305m course and recorded an excellent 17.87 (-10).
Martinstown Band is another dog whom it has taken a lot of patience and dedication to get back on track. Trainer Chris Akers has shown extreme patience with the dog but he has now won 5 out of his last 7 races since February.
He knows Nottingham like the back of his hand, is a very strong runner and has lately been showing a lot more early pace. He could give Chris and owner Kieran Hickey a great ride during this years Star Sports, ARC and LPS Greyhound Derby and today he recorded a superb 17.68 (+10) over the 305m trip.
Chris has already been in touch and is absolutely delighted with the run “it is all systems go” ahead of their Derby campaign.
