PUPPY CLASSIC PREVIEW – BY MARK PIERREPONT

The Nottingham Stadium Bookmakers Puppy Classic begins tonight and as usual it is a competition brimming with precocious talent.  Six first round heats see 36 of the leading puppies in the land competing for a place in next weeks semi finals and eventually hoping to emulate the 2018 success of the Nigel Saunders trained Blue Trooper.

Heat One at 7.36pm is a competitive looking race.  Brynoffa Ben lines up from trap 1 for Hove based trainer Matt Dartnall.  He’s one of two brothers running in the competition for Matt and trialled well here last week when running on strongly in the second half of his two dog trial against brother Tim.  Initially outpaced to the turn by his brother , albeit by no means slow to the line first time, he then moved off at the bend through a combination of track inexperience and his rival cutting across.  All of his best work was saved for late on though , eventually running out a 1 1/2 length winner of the trial in 30.17 (+30) and pulling further and further clear to the pick up.

Matt said: “Ben and his brother Tim are a nice pair of young brothers who have both won a couple of opens each at Hove.  I was very pleased with the trial, they’ve both missed the first bend so can only improve for the loo , there’s improvement in them both so we’re hoping they come forward and go well”.

Cazaghe Sonic has yet to taste victory in five career starts for trainer Ted Soppitt but this is a pup with ability who shouldn’t be too long in getting that first win under his belt.  Having trialled here at Colwick Park and then competed in two good class races at the venue, he will not be lacking in course experience and the switch to an inside trap 2 draw may prove beneficial.  One of his most eye catching performances to date came when finishing a 5 1/4 length second to none other than Trickys Dumbo over course and distance in a recent puppy open.  That was no bad effort and with improvement to come, he’s a pup to keep on the right side of.

Rackitup Charlie for Romford trainer Phil Simmonds lines up from trap 3.  He’s a pup with excellent early pace who has won at A2 and A1 level at his home track.  Charlie has run with credit on his travels in races at Sheffield , Hove and Swindon and finally got that elusive success on the road when winning first time up here at Nottingham last week.  Charlie had shown excellent early gears in his trial a week previously but was engaged in a determined battle throughout on that occasion with his litter brother Rackitup Turbo.

After failing to handle the third bend and losing the lead to his brother he eventually finished beaten 4 lengths in 30.72 (+20).  It was a different story in last weeks trial stakes however , again setting excellent early fractions he commanded a clear lead out front , running the track a lot better with the previous weeks trial under his belt he powered home for a never in danger victory in 30.33 (+30).

Assistant trainer Nathan Hunt, a man never afraid to travel anywhere with the right dogs , told me “Charlie showed lovely pace to the bend last week after initially colliding with the one dog out the traps.  He’s moved off again at the bend a little so the run should again bring him on.  He showed great pace down the back last week and though this 500m trip is stretching his stamina slightly, I’d be expecting him to be getting stronger with each week.  He’s ideally drawn in trap 3 so we can have no excuses and are hoping for another good run”.

Angie Kibble’s Emotional runs from trap 4 and run up an impressive sequence of 5 victories in 7 career starts between April and June at home track Swindon when moving from A5 to impressive all the way A2 winner.  After this Emotional was put away for the Produce Stakes at her home track and despite not winning a round , she was far from disgraced when reaching the semi final stage.

Emotional trialled well over course and distance when recording 30.40 (+20) and again ran well when finishing a good second in a trial stakes last week , recording 30.34 (+30).  The bitch had a troubled passage around the opening two bends and eased slightly at the third before running on strongly to go down by just 1 3/4 lengths behind Sonic Stormi.  It was an eye catching effort and with improvement on the cards she is a bitch firmly heading the right way.

Kevin Hutton’s Pulp Fiction lines up from trap 5.  This young pup is difficult to assess but he is undoubtedly a pacy individual.  Grading in at the highest level of A1 at home track Monmore , he finished a highly creditable second beaten 2 3/4 lengths when finishing strongly from the back of the pace on what is so far the sole race of his career.

Kevin Hutton is far from anybody’s fool , he knows exactly the type of dog that he can put around a track without a look and wouldn’t be entering him if he didn’t  think a fair bit of him.

He said “He is a nice pup  he’s backward but there’s no doubting he stays well, I’m not too keen on going to Nottingham without a trial but he’s not run at Monmore for a couple of weeks so we thought we’d take our chance.  He’s very well bred being out of Velvet All Jam, mother of Velvet Juliet amongst others.  He’ll need time and will no doubt come on for the run tomorrow but looks a nice pup going forward”.

Rowington Joker lines up from trap 6 for Perry Barr trainer Peter Dugmore.  Joker is a strong running type who recently reached the second round of the Produce Stakes at Swindon.  After winning in A6 on his career debut, Joker is yet to add to that sole success and would have to find some much needed improvement to compete at this level , though he does have some good experience of the venue having trialled here three times between April and June, recording a best time of 30.56 (+30) when beaten 4 3/4 lengths behind Looking Sharp on 10th June in a two dog trial.

Heat two at 7.52pm is likely to see Chris Akers’ young star Sonic Stormi, running from trap 1, sent off a strong favourite to make it 3 from 3 in open class company.

Stormi won well at Sheffield in mid July and followed that up with a game success in a trial stakes here over course and distance last week. Stormi was an impressive 4 length winner in A3 grade here at Nottingham on his career debut in June, he runs the track well and his local knowledge and strong staying ability will serve him well.

Chris said: “Stormi has come on leaps and bounds recently. He took a little while to settle in at the kennel but he’s really coming on now with each passing week.

“At this stage he’s looking like he could make into a nice six bend dog, he’s a railer but I do feel his best breaks will come from the 3 box, hopefully we can hold our pitch around the opening two bends and if he does he should go close”.

Lissatouk Max runs from trap 2 for Newcastle’s Jimmy Fenwick. Jimmy is a regular visitor to Nottingham and knows exactly the type of dog needed to make an impact at the venue. Max won on Irish debut at Limerick in 29.61, but improved massively at the third time of asking when destroying A3 opposition by 7 lengths in 28.70.

Despite encountering early trouble in his first four bend trial at Newcastle, he still managed to record 29.06 calculated, there’s no doubt with a run that would have been easily a sub 29 second run, his first trial at Nottingham was a more than acceptable 30.34 (+30) when finishing well beat by behind Diane Henry’s extremely promising Willowdale Shane, he is extremely unexposed however and is sure to be winning plenty of races over the coming months.

Gentleman Jimmy is yet to win here in the UK after being purchased off the back of two good A2 successes over 480m and latterly 521m around Irish track Thurles. Jimmy trialled well in a solo a couple of weeks ago when recording 30.38 (+30). Despite being beaten soundly last week by tonight’s trap 1 rival Sonic Stormi, he was extremely slow into stride on that occasion and hit trouble at every available opportunity. Belinda Green’s dog is a much better animal than he’s shown so far and will highlight that fact the first time he gains a clear run.

Tonight’s middle draw should suit a little better than last weeks rails pitch, he’s a nice pup going forward for Belinda and the team and looks as if short six bend trips around the likes of Crayford, Romford and Henlow could play to his strengths.

Slippy Colm runs from trap 4 for Henlow’s Michelle Brown. Colm has two wins to his name so far, winning well in A8 on career debut prior to routing A6 opposition at Henlow by 7 lengths. Colm is a strong runner who has run with credit in defeat in his five open race starts to date. He’s drawn a little wider than ideal here so will have to tread carefully around the opening two bends.

Rackitup Turbo goes from trap 5 for Romford’s Phil Simmonds. He was soundly beaten on his sole Nottingham start in a trial stakes last week, though he encountered trouble around the opening turns and could never get competitive thereafter. Turbo had previously run well in a trial, coming from behind to beat his litter brother Charlie in 30.40 (+20).

Assistant trainer Nathan Hunt said: “Turbo is the strongest of the three brothers from the litter bred by myself and Luke Staunton. His trapping has improved greatly recently so it was a bit disappointing to see him fluff the start in last weeks trial stakes.

“He was lucky to stay upright after early trouble so the run can be written off. He comes into tonight’s race fit and well, i’m hoping he can be in a position to challenge by halfway and if he is we’ll see how good he is”.

Jet Stream Socks goes from trap 6 for Henlow’s Carol Grasso. Socks is a very strong runner who has won 4 races at his home venue, most recently when coming from behind to win an A4 in an excellent 27.73 (+10).

He ran brilliantly just a couple of weeks ago on his first look at this Colwick Park circuit, finishing just 3/4 length behind Droopys Carat when recording a excellent 30.03 (+30).

Socks missed his break in last weeks trial stakes and after encountering first bend trouble could never get competitive behind the impressive Ice On Fire. He’s an improving pup who being a wide seed should get his trap 6 draw more often than not.

Heat 3 at 8.08pm and a really competitive race with a few top class pups in opposition. Waikiki Lad is the third of four Phil Simmonds trained greyhounds in this competition. Purchased after an extremely impressive career debut success of 28.46 (+20) around Waterford, Waikiki Lad looks a pup destined for the top.

His sole UK success to date came over course and distance when beating Roxholme Dolly by 3/4 length in 29.85 (+40) on Select Stakes night. That effort was off the back of a sensational 4.98 sectional and that kind of early pace will serve him well. Beaten since in a trial stakes behind Ice On Fire, he’s a pup to keep firmly in your notebooks.

Nathan Hunt said: “At over 34 kilo this lad has a lot of growing up to do yet. We really like him though, he’s got tremendous potential and excellent early pace. The long run to the turn at Nottingham suits him well. I like his draw in this race a lot and with a break I’d expect him to go very well”.

Bower Luke runs from trap 2 for trainer Pat Rosney and he looks a pup destined for the top. After trialling well in sprints around Nottingham, Luke headed to Perry Barr for his first four bend trial, recording an excellent time for a pup of 28.82 (-10).

He then made his career debut at the Birmingham circuit, sent off 5/4 favourite for a maiden open, he made light work of the opposition when overcoming early crowding to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 28.95 (-10). It was then back to Nottingham where this 37.5 kilo powerhouse overcame a poor draw out in trap 5 to run away with a good class puppy open by 5 lengths in 28.91 (+10).

First bend trouble put pay to his chances in a puppy race on Select Stakes night but he’s since highlighted his well being with a 2990 (+30) solo trial over course and distance. He looks well drawn in the blue jacket and looks a big player both for tonight’s heat and for the competition.

Rosney said: “I like this pup a lot, he’s got good ability, he’ll have to be foot perfect at the start in this heat though as he’s surrounded by good early pace”.

Perrys Choice running from trap 3 is the second of two Michelle Brown trained greyhounds in the competition. This brindle son of Kinloch Brae got the first win of his career when easily landing an A5 at Henlow by 4 lengths in 2802 (normal).

It’s been open racing all the way since and victories at Romford and Yarmouth mark him out as a well balanced individual.

Perry’s has good experience of this venue including an excellent 29.90 (+20) trial in mid June. He’s well housed in trap 3 and has the early pace to take advantage if he breaks well.

Droopys Tune runs from trap 4 for Newcastle’s Angela Harrison. Though he’s yet to taste victory in his four career starts to date, there is no doubting that this is a pup with huge talent. Times of 28.83 and 28.80, both recorded on normal going in his first two four bend trials at Newcastle mark him out as special. He’s not quite got it together in races so far but once he does, watch out as this is a pup going places.

Lee Fields see’s his Proud Deal running from trap 5. Another young pup who is yet to win in four career starts but another who has huge pace and it’s just a matter of time before everything falls into place. He looks drawn a little wider than ideal here and will have to brush up his trapping if he is to get into contention tonight, going forwards though he is a pup who is sure to be winning plenty.

Zaha runs from trap 6 for Angie Kibble. Two career wins from ten starts so far, coming in A5 and A3 respectively. He’s young enough to improve but will have to put behind him a moderate 30.75 (+30) trial and a well beaten trial stakes effort behind Rackitup Charlie when recording 30.73 (+30) here last week.

Heat four see’s the pups heading into traps at 8.23pm. Salacres Mafia lines up from trap 1 for Peter Harnden. A winner of 3 graded races at his home track Nottingham, winning at A4, A3 and most recently A2 class. He looks to be better when drawn a little bit nearer the middle so tonight’s rails pitch might not be ideal. This is a step up in class for this well bred youngster but he’s in good form and deserves to take his chance.

Peter said: “As you know we’ve liked this pup since he first came into the kennel, he’s a well built pup who looks the part. He can be a bit hit and miss at the traps but when he does come away and get on the bunny he’s looked impressive.

“I’m not quite so sure that he’s the same dog when in behind so it’s imperative that we get a good start. It looks a good competition but he’s a good local pup heading the right way so deserves to take his chance”.

Swift Port goes from trap 2 for local handler Lynn Cook. Port is a nice pup with good early pace, his ability was clear from the outset and a 30.26 (+40) trial saw him grading in at A2. He found it a little tough to start with, running 5 races without success before winning comfortable on his second attempt at A3 class. Port has since added victory in A2 to his CV before most recently running with credit in A1 behind Honour Goldikova. He’s progressing well and should still have any amount of improvement left in his locker.

Flaky Bandit lines up from trap 3, again for local trainer Lynn Cook and one of the most promising pups on Nottingham. His ability has been clear to see even from his initial trials. Bandit has emerged victorious in half of his ten career starts to date, two wins at A2 level were quickly matched with a pair of A1 successes, a maiden open was next up and a solo trial last week of 29.97 (+30) shows him to be in good form.

Part owner Paul Lawrence said “I’m really proud to be involved with a dog we bred ourselves and for him to have enough ability to warrant an entry in a competition as prestigious as the puppy classic. There’s no doubting he’ll have to continue to improve, but he can do so and with a little luck hopefully we can make the semi final”.

Vatican Jack lines up from trap 4 for Henlow’s Kim Robins. Jack has two wins to his name from eleven career starts to date, both coming in graded races at Belle Vue at A3 and A2 respectively. Jack was originally trained by Pat Rosney and always looked to me to be a greyhound who was heavily reliant on a rails draw to show his best form. With that in mind, tonight’s draw in trap 4 has to be of concern. If he can get himself into his preferred rails position without too much trouble then he isn’t without ability, that’s a big if from this make up though.

Swift Trillion races from trap 5 for Monmore trainer Mel Baker. This strong running son of Pat C Sabbath is a two time winner at his home track but those wins came at A6 and A4 class. He lacks early pace, certainly at this top puppy open level and he will need a marked upturn in form if he is to get himself into contention here.

Brynoffa Tim lines up from trap 6 and is the second of two litter brothers entered for this competition by their handler Matt Dartnall. Tim has excellent early pace, he’s already won a maiden and a puppy open at his home track Hove.

Matt trialled Tim against his litter brother Ben here at Nottingham last week over course and distance, Tim showed the superior early pace, leading until the run in before eventually succumbing to his litter brother by 11/2 lengths in 30.17 (+30) giving him a calculated time of 30.59. With Swift Trillion in trap 5 generally very slowly away and with Vatican Jack almost certain to move inwards, Tim could potentially have a very nice draw to work from.

Matt said “As with his brother Ben this lad has won a couple of opens already at Hove, he’s a very nice pup with plenty of early, he’ll improve for last weeks trial and i’d expect him to run well”.

Heat 5 is next up at 8.37pm and what a race this is. This race is fit to do the final itself justice, a who’s who of puppy stars lining up against each other in opposition.

Jimmy Fenwick’s Ice On Fire should need no introduction to any greyhound racing enthusiast. A pup right out of the top drawer, he possesses wicked early and middle pace and in his last few outings would appear to be getting stronger in the latter stages of his races.

A winner of his first 5 races, all at open class, Fire was then beaten in the RPGTV Puppy Trophy Final on Derby Final night at this venue behind Trickys Dumbo. Fire was to suffer his second career defeat behind the same rival when finishing in third place in the Select Stakes. He put those defeats behind him however with an excellent 29.57 (+40) success over course and distance when running out a 7 3/4 length winner of his trial stake here last week. There has been some debate, as there always is with talented greyhounds, as to whether he would be better served with a middle seed.

Personally I can only go off what I have witnessed with my own eyes with this greyhound and that is to say that when trialling from trap 2 in a solo here at Nottingham recently, he moved absolutely no wider than lane 2.5 on the run to the first turn. If he can break from red, he would take some leading to the turn even in a race of this magnitude.

In trap 2 is the Dean Childs trained Droopys Cannon. A hugely talented pup with tremendous early pace and the ability to win at a variety of tracks. Already a winner of 10 of his 14 career starts, including open races at Crayford, Romford, Central Park and Henlow. Cannon trialled well around this venue in June when initially recording 2875 (+20) over the 480m trip and followed that up with a 3006 (+30) over the 500m trip. He lacks a look around since then, however the track should be fresh enough in his memory to more than do himself justice if he can avoid the early pace of his rival in red.

Bockos Doomie lines up from trap 3 for Patrick Janssens, a pup with the ability to match his reputation. A pup who can do it from the front or if needed from behind.

Purchased out of Clonmel after an emphatic 12 1/2 length novice open success over 480m in 28.95 (-20). Doomie has won seven of his ten UK starts to date, including going unbeaten through all three rounds of the recent Henlow Puppy Derby (beat Droopys Cannon by 5 3/4 lengths into second in the final) and also won heat and final of the recent Sussex Festival Puppies Competition at Hove.

Coming into this race off the back of five straight victories his confidence couldn’t be any higher, a leading player both tonight and for the competition.

Patrick said: “This is a very exciting prospect, he’s unbeaten in puppy races so far and did very well in the Derby here to reach the third round. I definitely think that experience helped him develop and served him well as he then went on to Henlow to go unbeaten through their Puppy Derby.

“He the continued that form when winning heat and final of a nice puppy competition at Hove. At times his trapping can let him down, but he’s got such great track craft that he more often than not so far has found a way to win. “This competition looks terrific, a high number of top quality pups in the competition and in particular in tonight’s heat. He’s in great form, we’re looking forward to tonight”.

The second of Kevin Hutton’s representatives in this competition lines up from trap 4 in this heat, Headford Ranger is a strong running greyhound, a winner of two of his six career starts to date, he has valuable experience of this Nottingham circuit and is a better dog than the bare form of his 5 length defeat by Roxholme Dolly in last weeks trial stake suggests.

Kevin said “I really rate this dog, he looks a class act and though he’s likely to need a little time to mature, he’s already capable of some huge runs when he gets things right. That said, this is a terrific race, befitting any puppy final in the country and it’s a privilege to be involved”.

Westforth Hugo lines up in the orange jacket for Sunderland based trainer George Stark. A winner of two races so far in his career, those victories came at A1 level at home track Sunderland. He’s a decent staying sort who should in time be well suited by a step up in class.

Connections must have put their head in their hands however when being drawn in a race of this magnitude, quite simply there is staying on in A1 at Sunderland and then there is being asked to do so against the best pups in the land.

Russelena Bowwow lines up from trap 6 for Sheffield’s Martin Cutler. He looks a talented individual but on what is his career debut he would need to step up on his trial form by some considerable margin if he’s to get involved in this race. In all likelihood he should find this race coming a little too soon but there is no doubting that he has the ability to be making his mark and winning plenty of races at a good level in the coming months.

Heat 6 is the final heat of the first round and the runners head into traps at 8.51pm. Laurence Tuffin’s Colston Sky lines up from trap 1 on what is her career debut. Sky has shown a fair level of form in her qualifying trials but is likely to need both the run and the experience that this race will provide.

Headford Danny goes from trap 2 for Romford’s Phil Simmonds. Danny has yet to win in four career races so far, but three of those races came when contesting the Henlow Puppy Derby where he ran well behind some more experienced rivals to reach the final. He disappointed next time out when well fancied for a Romford maiden and trialled moderately here last week over course and distance.

Assistant trainer Nathan Hunt said: “He was really in at the deep end a little at Henlow (in the puppy derby) however he did himself justice and reached the final. In all honesty he was disappointing at Romford when looking to have a fair chance of getting off the mark next time out, that’s pups though, they will come forward at different rates.

“His trial last week here at Nottingham (30.52 +30) wasn’t spectacular but it was more than acceptable and as we’ve seen with a fair number of our runners at this track, they’ll usually always come on for at least a look and I expect it to be no different with this lad. He’s a full brother to Headford Ranger of Kevin Huttons, another nice pup”.

Running from trap 3 for champion trainer Mark Wallis is Antigua Rum. A hugely talented pup who has already contested the final of the prestigious Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Final at Limerick. Has won just the once here in the UK so far, a maiden 515m at Hove, but there is no doubting that this dog is a class animal and with space to run is capable of some huge runs. Has good experience of this circuit, most recently when finishing a 7 3/4 length second behind Ice On Fire in a trial stakes last week.

Salacres Magnier runs from trap 4 for Peter Harnden. A stunning looking individual who has won 5 of his 16 career starts to date. Trapping has been this pups downfall at times in his short career to date, but importantly made a career best start when routing A4 opposition last time out by 4 lengths in 30.37 (+50).

No doubting that this is a step up in class though and will again need to break extremely smartly if he is to hold chances of qualifying for next weeks semi finals.

Peter said: “I liked the breeding of this pup but I also fell in love with him the moment I saw his picture. He’s such a stunning looking greyhound who one day will make somebody an adorable pet. That’s in the future though, he’s progressing nicely in graded races at Nottingham, put up probably his best effort when winning last time out and though there are plenty of faster pups in the competition, he’s running well enough to warrant an entry. We’ll need a little luck but with pups you just never know, they can find improvement and disappoint you in equal measures at just about anytime. Let’s hope we’re in for a nice surprise from Barnaby (pet name) tonight”.

Roxholme Dolly lines up from trap 5 for Hayley Keightley. A really nice bitch with great pace over four bends but a bitch who looks destined to have a top career over further in the not too distant future. Dolly won 2 of her 5 starts in Ireland (both at Mullingar) before being purchased by the Keightley team.

She’s always looked a strong runner and that’s not changed since arriving in the UK. Dolly has had 5 races here in the UK, winning two, importantly both of which came here at Nottingham, highlighting her liking and suitability to the venue.

An extremely impressive winner of her trial stakes race for this competition last Monday when winning by 5 lengths in 29.56 (+40) from Headford Ranger. A live contender for both this race and the competition but a bitch who will without any doubt in my mind be seen to maximum effect when stepping up in distance

Assistant trainer Mark Keightley said: “Dolly is very inexperienced having only run a handful of races, she’s had to contend with a lot of poor looking draws so far and tonight’s race is no different. That said, she’s heading in the right direction and though whilst she’s running over four bends she will always need a little luck on her side, the experience of these races is serving her education very well.

“Dolly is learning how to pass dogs and this will serve her well for the future. I’d imagine we will step her up in trip sooner rather than later and IF she does see out the six bends at full pace, I must emphasise the IF, then she is showing us all of the hallmarks of being a bitch in a very similar mould to Roxholme Dream”.

Last but by no means least running from trap 6 in the final heat of the night is the Paula Timmins trained Headford Actor. He’s won 2 of his 8 career races so far, both coming at A3 level here at Nottingham.

Those runs were eclipsed however by a 3001 (+40) trial here last week, showing him fully recovered from the cough that has laid him off the track throughout the month of July. He’s to prove that he can reproduce that kind of run under race conditions (sectional in trial was a moderate 521), but he’s a pup heading the right way and is sure to improve further for a few more runs.