It is five years since Mark Wallis sent out Bruisers Bullet and Bombers Bullet to finish fourth and fifth respectively in the final of the 2018 Star Sports English Derby Final, but in Hopes Paddington, he feels he has “our best chance ever of winning a Derby at Towcester.”
Last weekend’s Blue Riband winner went from an apparent tricky draw in four but could hardly have been more impressive in a high class field.
Amanda Jeal’s East Anglian Derby winner is third/fourth in the English Derby betting at 28-1
Mark said: “That was a very decent field and he could hardly have been more impressive. I’ve heard it said in some circles that I ‘specialise in stayers’. What rubbish. You can only do your best with what is available to you. In recent times we have had a lot of stayers but in the past there was a period when the kennel was dominated by middle distance runners.
“It is fact that we haven’t had many with strong chances in the Derby. I’m not saying Hopes Paddington will win it, but he is certainly our best chance for a very long time.”
Paddington’s victory, came less than 48 hours after Aayamza Magic had landed the Esssex Vase, Cat One wins 90 & 91 for Imperial Kennels and 77 & 78 for the trainer himself, the first 13 coming when he was assistant trainer to mother in law Linda Jones.
Magic is one of six entries for the kennel in Saturday’s Ladbrokes Golden Jacket first round draw, the fabulous Blueberry Bullet was ineligible after coming into season.
Mark said: “Time has been against us with Magic and Minnie Bullet in finding out whether they will see out the trip so we will just have to wait and see.”
Mark is also very sweet on a new intake to the kennel, Coonough Crow running for the newly formed MWD Partnership – keep an eye open for them, and also another of their recent purchases Newinn Ranger, recently eliminated from the big unraced stake at Clonmel.
Crow is yet to make her debut for the kennel but ran impressively in her Shelbourne Park six bend debut and looks as though she may want even further.
Needless to say there will also be a presence in the Bussey Memorial, a race won by the kennel every year from 2012-2019 though whether any of those septet could be considered in the same class as this year’s no. 1 string, Antigua Sugar, is questionable.
Meanwhile two of the former kennel stars are heading off in entirely different directions.
Readers will probably be aware of the serious injury to Golden Sprint winner Rail McCoy who broke a wrist when knocked over at Romford at the beginning of December.
Mark said: “It was a bad one. I have no doubt that ten years ago, the track vet would have said that there was no option other than to put him to sleep. He would certainly have lost a leg. After the operation, I had big doubts about whether we had done the right thing, but it is incredible.
“He has a plate in his leg, but his leg, which was blown up massively, has now improved to almost normal and is getting better all the time. He won’t race again but will someone a lovely pet. It needs to be said too – it was a £10,000 operation which Romford covered – they have done a fabulous job.”
Meanwhile kennelmate Antigua Lava ended her career on a winning note on Sunday’s supporting card. A Golden Jacket finalist last year, the highlight of her career was victory in the Curtis/Ballyregan Memorial at Hove.
A litter sister of Space Jet and a half sister of Savana Volcano, Lava is off to Ireland for breeding.
HOPES PADDINGTON, Blue Riband winner with L-R: Daniel and Emily Wallis; Amanda, Nic and Hope Jeal Photo: © Steve Nash
