Suggestions that the top class Wolfe may have suffered a career ending injury have been dispelled by Graham Holland, despite a sub standard time recorded in a trial at Shelbourne Park today.
The Easter Cup winner clocked 20.36 for the 350 yard course, more than two seconds outside the track record. However Graham Holland believes the time was due to an electronic error, rather than a physical issue.
He said: “He ran strongly into the pick-up and was on the hare which is controlled automatically. He looked fine in running, and barring a slight cut on the hare box, is showing no sign of any problem, even after a long journey home. In my mind, this was an error in the ray timing, not an injury problem. He will be checked over again in the morning, but I am not too concerned.”
Ballydoyle Valor was the fastest of the kennel’s 14 triallers with an 18.86 five length win over Lenson Austin. Irish Derby winner Lenson Bocko clocked 18.86. Newinn Session went around in 18.95, with brother Newinn Taylor clocking 19.18 and Rathcoole Fox producing a 19.11 run.
Holland said: “If you had said to me before trials that Lenson Bocko would do 18.86, I might be a bit concerned. But looking at the times overall, I can’t be unhappy with any of the dogs. We have already seen that Valor comes back very fresh after a lay-off. I think he did 18.41 last time.
“Overall, I think the track was a little bit dry but they continued to water it during the session. As far as I am aware, all the dogs came off sound.”
