It has been a busy week and we had a really enjoyable night’s racing back among some old friends at Monmore on Thursday.
I was absolutely thrilled with Fearsome Phantom’s run in the Stayers Classic semi finals. He caught a very good dog in Ballymac Ramsey and won on merit. I was surprised that he isn’t favourite for the final particularly given the trap one draw. The only assumption I can make is that the bookies think the track will run a bit quicker on finals night and that Ramsey will get too far ahead. I think we have pretty good value for our 33s and 50s ante post. I certainly wouldn’t swap Phantom for any stayer at the moment because he looks as though he will get a lot further than 630 metres and could be a serious Leger dog.
We also have Charity Dragon in the Kai Laidlaw Beautiful Boy Trafalgar Cup. I was pleased with his heat run (T4).
He has drawn six in the final and is taking on some much more experienced pups, Thursday was only his second race. I am a bit concerned that he has been sitting down in the traps and it is affecting his breaking. We will try to work on that this week and see if we can break the habit. I think he has about three lengths to find on heat form – the going was a bit confusing – but he is certainly open to improvement.
It is a shame not to have had a Gold Cup runner this year but I have enjoyed spectating and we have another great final.
I don’t suppose Jimmy (Wright) would have been too thrilled with Droopys Buick getting the four box in the final but I still think he is the one to beat with slow breakers on either side of him (T3 Oscar Whisky, T5 Making Paper). The key is whether Jaytee Spartacus (T2) can break clear of Thirteen Bags (T1) and grab the rail on the run to the bend. My concern would be that Thirteen Bags will move right coming out of the traps. If Buick gets any kind of run to the bend I don’t think they will catch him. He loves Monmore and is overdue a big win this year. A dog from the very top drawer in my opinion. I was also impressed with Making Paper in the heats and would love to see him over six bends.
Before then we have Droopys Folly making her comeback in the Lowther Stakes at Towcester. I really rate Folly and her trial – 29.27 (-10) for the 500 metres was all I could have asked for, but this is racing, not trials and we know she will have to come from behind. Her sectionals are absolutely rubbish. Whether they will ever get any better I have no idea, but she would be some greyhound if she started trapping.
At some stage in the future we know she will go over the longer distance but I like to get all my money battle hardened before I put them up in trip. Its the same with pups, they will get several sprints before I risk them over four bends. There is less risk involved the fitter they get. I would be delighted if Folly can keep qualifying and by the end of the competition we would know exactly where we stand.
I have not been a regular to Towcester but I like what I have seen. The facilities are the best in the country. I went there for the first time with reservations about how far away the dogs are, but it wasn’t an issue. I nearly always watch my dogs on the screens anyway, you get a better view.
I do have some renovations about the circuit which seems to favour railing front runners. But if they could do some tweaking with that, it would be THE best stadium in the country in my opinion. It would be big enough to have a ‘Shelbourne Park’ with 525, 550 and 600 starts (or metric equivalents). But that is the only criticism. It is spotlessly clean, well run and the facilities for the dogs are as good as those for the patrons.
Finally, another whinge about kenneling times. I went somewhere recently where kenneling was a quarter to five and some of the dogs were going to be in the kennels for five hours before they raced.
It isn’t necessary. In fact its wrong. I want to hear less talk about welfare from promoters and more action.
