RAB MCNAIR ‘FINALS, OXFORD, AND ROSNEY’

Rab McNair is expecting another sparkling performances from Havana Lover in tonight’s ARC St.Leger Final at Perry Barr.

He said: “Big Kevin’s got a nice bitch in that Savana Ruinart. She made us run for our tea the other night. She made us stay every inch of it and we did stay – every inch of it. I think Lover’s coming great. I would have run her in the final the next day, that’s how quickly she recovered. She’s unbelieveable. That gives me the impression that maybe she will get a bit further and I’ll be looking at that further down the line.

“I think she has a great chance in the final. The four and six aren’t really blessed with great early pace so I am hoping she can get away from them around the first corner. If she tucks in behind Ruianart or even gets in front, then we’ll see.”

Then on Friday night, the kennel have three runners. Queen Pink goes in the Coral Puppy Cup Final, while there is a clash between kennelmates Warzone Tom and Havana Bale Out in a ‘Cat One calibre’ Cat Three 575 Final with the PGR Champion Stakes next on the agenda.

Rab said: “Queen Pink has trap one but I’m not sure she is a Romford type. I schooled her at Central Park and I thought she would eventually make up into a six bender. She is bred to stay so what she has done at Romford so far has amazed me. Our dogs are in great form at the moment and if Pink was to lead at the bend I don’t think they would be able to back run her.

“I haven’t even looked at the final because I didn’t expect her to get this far. We were just using the competition for experience.”

And the Stayers Trophy?

“I think Warzone Tom would have won as fast as Bale Out last Friday but Ninja Kerry was on his inside and taking him off the track the whole time. But he’s in great form.

“We were having a look at Bale Out to see if she was suitable for Romford. If not, she was going to go to Sheffield. But I thought she ran magnificently in her first 575 and it took nothing out of her. It will be a great race.”

The kennel’s latest hope Fromposttopillar raised some eyebrows at Oxford on Monday when clocking a sub track record trial run at Oxford on Monday.

The Nov ’20 son of Droopys Sydney and Rafa Babys Baby was bought after winning his only Irish race, a 28.28 at Tralee – an identical debut to that of Coolavanny Shado fouor months earlier. Pillar’s first UK solo was a 15.78 for the Towcester sprint, followed by a 28.28 mixed trial for 480m at Monmore. His first UK open was a 29.04 (-30) 480 open at Central Park followed by a defeat behind 29.33 Towcester open winner Romeo Top Gun.

His 450m trial at Oxford was clocked at 27.04 on normal going. The newly set track record is Coppice Josie’s 27.07 (+10).

Rab said: “I was a bit surprised with the going allowance, going from -20 to normal and then -10 without anything actually being done to the track. But he has another trial there on Saturday and then he’ll be going for the puppy race there (RPGTV Puppy Collar).

“I was quite impressed with the place. The kennels still need some work but you can see the plans. I was quite impressed too with the track. It was a stiff enough 450, though maybe it will get a bit quicker as then surface beds in.

“But we have to get behind him (Kevin Boothby). He is opening tracks when others have closed them. We have to give him as much support as we can.”

Rab also had some parting comments for another fellow ‘flapper’ Pat Rosney who retired from training this week.

He said: “Pat was right up there on the flaps. He was a rogue, just like the rest of us. You had to be to earn a living. But he was straight when he went licensed. Pat didn’t do a lot of talking but I could always enjoy a converation with him and Julie. I’ve known Julie and her mum, dad and sister since Julie was about ten years old. a great family steeped in greyhounds.

“They worked really hard when they were traveling virtually daily from Preston to Monmore over a long period of time. That must have been tough but they stuck at it and didn’t moan.

“I hope they have a very happy retirement and that they have made the right choice. But they always said they were going to do it, and they’ve stuck to it.

“But if Pat ever feels as though he is missing out, he has our numbers. He can always visit and sit in the passenger seat next to me. I can remind him of traveling up and down the motorways and eating service station food. He’ll be back on that cruise ship within five minutes.

“So best of luck to them and if they ever need anything – apart from money – phone Rabbie.”