I gather that some people don’t like trainers – or their humble assistants – having opinions about the Derby, the hare, the bends, or anything else. The way I look at it, if you are buying these dogs for tens of thousands, paying to rear them, or spending your life looking after them, your opinion is at least as important as any journalist’s.

So, yes. I was one of those people who questioned the hare driving at Nottingham in trials before the Derby. And I am the first to say that it has been superb in all the heats. Why that was, I don’t know, but I have no complaints.

I am entitled to ask whether the track would benefit from more banking, and question whether a wide runner can make it to the Derby final. Because that is what dog men do. Some people say we are never happy, though that might be true as well.

What I can also say, is that despite my early reservations, I have been surprised how few injuries I have seen. The running surface has been superb, and although I was never a regular at Nottingham, they are doing a fucking good job of running the Derby.

Since it started, there has been a real good atmosphere start to build in the stadium and in the paddock among the trainers.

You can feel the pressure on the Nottingham management to make it as perfect as possible. They are busy around the stadium for the meetings, and watch every race intently. This clearly means a lot to them . . and I fucking love that too.

 

We have six of our eight still involved going into the second round. The two that went out were the two trap sixes. King Lennon slightly ripped a dew claw but nothing serious.

Overall, I couldn’t be happier with our six. They are loving the warmer weather and lighter nights. They are all coming on in condition and I would expect them all to improve, proving they get the chance in racing.

King Dylan goes in the first heat and although others went quicker, I thought he was our most impressive runner last week. He lost plenty at the second bend and then ran a great race to pick up Magical Bale.

I have switched him from middle to rails so although he is out of four, it isn’t a big deal for him. He is certainly trapping better. I would love to see him behind Jimmy’s dog (Droopys Verve) off the second bend and see what he could do. I am not saying he could beat one of the fastest dogs in training, but I would like to see how he would go.

I don’t know what you can say about Beyonce. The distance she took out of Patrick’s (Janssens) dog (Seaglass Phantom), from the second bend is incredible. He is a proper greyhound. Even Patrick said himself that was an unbelievable run. If you watch the video closely, she actually stumbled coming out of the traps.

My brain tells me that she will continue to improve, she still isn’t fully fit. There is no way that she shouldn’t be stronger in the second half of the race. That is where I would expect the improvement. Mentally too, she is in great shape and loving her racing.  The problem is, how can you honestly expect a bitch that has done 29.27 at Nottingham to go any faster?

King Sheeran (T6) ran a great race behind Lemon Shane in what was his first race since breaking a hock.

Yes, Sheeran has had a few trials but there is nothing to compare with race fitness and that was still only the eight race of his life.

Sheeran, Lennon and Beyonce are my three who are shortest of fitness. Although I have reservations about wide seeds, he looks as though he should get a decent run on the outside. If he does, I would love to see him somewhere near Boylesports Xtra off the second bend and see what happens from there.

King Diamond looks to be up against it in a very good heat. He doesn’t seem to quite stay out the trip and if you offered me a third place now I would take it.

The task isn’t any easier for King Idol up against Big Kevin’s Derby champion. He is only just two years old and will need his trapping boots on to get into the race. If he was to come out like he did for the 29.76 run at Central Park, he would be more than capable of qualifying.

How could you not have been impressed with Turbo in the first round?

I though he showed great guts to cut inside Paul Young’s bitch at the third bend. We know Sporting Dave’s quality from Hove and although Turbo isn’t draw dependent, I am glad to be on the inside of Seamus’ dog who looks rails to middle.

They interviewed The Boss after the race and I love seeing the pride he takes in the pups that we are producing. Without him and Simon, none of this would be happening.