Recent arrival from Perry Barr, Pauline Spragg, has her first Hall Green graded runners this weekend as the York Road graded strength reaches a healthy 310.
Racing manager Rob Coulthard said: “We need 300 dogs for our 50 races a week. I know there is a theory that you ideally need around 20% above your minimum, having 350-360 dogs would bring a few of its own problems with greyhounds not getting runs.
“There was some talk about Paul Sallis splitting his kennel with Monmore, but I don’t think that is happening. With the arrival of Pauline and her ten dogs, we are up to 19 trainers anyway.
“Given the way things are, you would have to consider anyone else who applied, but unless we dipped back to around 285-290, there is no urgency.
“The biggest benefit of having a few extra dogs is that you can try to give trainers a night off. For example, getting here on a Friday night can be tricky for trainers like Derek Davy and Bob Smith who have a decent distance to travel.
“If you can spread a trainer’s 24 runners over three meetings instead of four, it obviously helps them.”
The Hall Green grader only has one runner who he is struggling to grade on ability, the Stuart Buckland trained Supreme Turbo (Broadacres Turbo-Expert Flash, Jul 12).
The Prestigue runner-up has won his last four over the Hall Green standard in 28.81, 28.53, 28.45 and 28.49.
Coulthard said: “He is absolutely flying at the moment and will have to have a week off because I have nothing to grade him against. Stuart wants to run him in opens, but I want to keep him for our *Track Championship team.”
*Think your plan is doomed Rob, we reckon Turbo has won two opens already this year – Ed
Angie Kibble has a couple of nice young bitches in Trapper Kerry and Trapper Kate. The Feb ’14 daughters of Razldazl Jayfkay and Arch Enemy both qualified in decent times. Although Kate was beaten in her A2 debut, Kerry won an A6 in 28.97.
The pair were from a litter of seven who were on offer at the recent Hall Green Sales. Kerry had won her sales trial in a calculated 29.60 but was unsold. Kate recorded a calculated 29.84 in her trial and changed hands for 1,250gns.
