Week ending 3rd May 2009

Monday 27th

A great start to the week, with our 6 runners producing 2 winners, a second and two thirds.
Cheeseboard continued her excellent form with an all the way success in her A3 contest. She won in 29.52 and has won 3 races this month.
Forest Best also continued his excellent form to lead all the way in his A1 race to record 29.01. This fella has still not finished outside the first three all year.
Easy Eight is worthy of a mention, having run a blinder to finish 3rd in her A2. She normally likes to dictate from the start but having missed her break she could only ever manage to get into third place. She didn't get beat far and her time of 28.97 was testimate to how well she ran.
Tuesday 28th
A busy trial day with 14 of our dogs going through their paces.
Stanton Denis, who returned to the kennel after a spell at Oxford, posted a decent 29.40 trial. Denis never runs a bad race and I'm sure he'll be winning for us soon.
Stanton Polly returned from her shoulder injury with a pleasing 29.42 trial. She is a sister to our top heat winner, Clonark Brett.
One to note from today is Ballinahina Dini. Dini joined our kennel about 6 weeks ago from Oxford and had his first look at Swindon today. He recorded 16.78 for the 285m and looks like being a useful sort.
In all, 9 dogs qualified for racing today, including some of our new Irish intakes. Lepus, Whateverittakes, Clomantagh Blue and Hell Razor should be making their racing debuts soon.
Wednesday 29th
A fantastic night with 2 winners from our 6 runners.
The highlight was Ballinorig Maeve's 509m Open Race win. Having only her third race in this country, she hit the front just out of the second bend and went on to win comfortably by just over 3 lenghts. Her winning time was a very decent 30.14. I've said in previous posts that we think an awful lot of this girl and she is a very exciting prospect. We've no doubt that her future lies over 6 bends and she could be a bit special.
Tonight's other winner was Blue Turmoil. He won his S1 contest very gamely in 42.35. This was Seb's second win in five days and has done the kennel proud.
Friday 1st
Today's runners produced two winners. Stanton Leroy soon took control of his race and won the A2 in 29.93.
Shelbourne Swift made it 2 wins from 3 starts since returning from season. She flashed from the traps and was never in danger of being caught. She won her A2 in 29.31.
Saturday 2nd
A good night for the kennel, with 2 winners from our 7 runners.
Queue Pea Are, having only his 3rd career start, led virtually all the way to win his A6 in 29.91. This lad suffered a terrible fall in his last race, so it was especially pleasing to see him get a clear run and win well.
Calling Light flashed from the boxes to lead all the way in her A2. She recorded a decent 29.22 and rarely runs a bad race.
Nightgirls Annie is worthy of a mention from tonight. This young pup has not enjoyed the best of luck in her short career so far. She was knocked over in her very first race and has suffered a niggling injury recently. However, she returned from her latest lay-off to record a personal best 30.02 when finishing second in her A7. She deserves to win a race.
Stanton Bluebell ran with real credit to finish 3rd in the 480m puppy Open. She flashed from the traps and did all the hard work, only to be caught on the line. I'm sure with the better summer going approaching, she will be winning plenty of races for us. Her out-and-gone style always gives her a shout in races.

*April Dog of the Month*

Cheeseboard runs away with the Dog of the Month award for April. She had 4 races, winning 3 and finishing 2nd in the other. She is the model of consistency and posted a best of 29.45

Week ending 26th April 2009

Monday 20th
A quiet start to the week with just 3 runners. Cheeseboard managed our best result when finishing 2nd in her A3 contest. She again ran with credit and has not finished outside the first two in any of her four races so far.
Wednesday 22th
We took 7 runners for this evenings meeting and every dog ran their hearts out for us. 6 of the dogs finished in the first 3. Stanton Bluebell ran a blinder when finishing 3rd in her A2. A slicker exit would surely have made the difference as she had to battle to get the lead at the first bend and just tired coming home and got caught on the line.
The nights winner came in the last race when veteran, Shelbourne Swift won her A3 contest in a decent 29.30. She has given us a lot of fun over the last couple of years and she still retains plenty of ability.
Friday 24th
Although our 10 runners only produced a single winner, the dogs again performed well. Bet Ya Clodagh, having only her third start for us, won her A4 in very good style. She ran a terrific first bend and quickly asserted down the back straight and never looked in danger of being beaten. She won in a slick 29.26.
Saturday 25th
Tonight's 6 runners produced 1 winner and 3 seconds. Blue Turmoil ran his best race for the kennel when coming from behind to win his S1 contest in good fashion. His time of 42.24 was some 30 spots quicker than the Open Race on the night. Well Lilly ran on very strongly to finish 2nd in the same race and given a clear run will be winning this grade very soon.
Tullovin Blossom returned to form when only beaten a head in her A7 contest. Not Yet was beaten just a neck in her A3 race and given a clear run around the first bend would surely have won.

Week ending 19th April 2009

Monday 13th
A mixed start to the week produced 1 winner and a second from 4 runners.
Cheeseboard, having only her third race at Swindon overcame a two grade hike to win A3 in 29.48. In the same race, Stanton Torres ran with real credit to be a good 2nd. Since his A6 win a few runs back, his confidence has been flooding back and he now looks like a different animal. After 20 runs without a win he has now won 3 from 7 races. It's just shows what a bit of patience can do!
On the down side, Realt Gael suffered a shoulder injury in her race and will face a month on the sidelines.
Tuesday 14th
A fairly busy trial session with 9 dogs going today. 7 of our new intakes were having their 2nd trial and are coming along nicely.
Ah Sure Cool returned from injury today and went very well clocking 29.82 in his solo trial. A winner of 2 of his 9 races for us, this game performer rarely runs a bad race.
Stanton Spaniel also returned to action today after her seasonal break.
Wednesday 15th
A busy day at the kennels saw around 20 dogs going through their paces up the gallop.
Stanton Teddy continues to please in his comeback from injury and all being well will be ready to trial in 2-3 weeks.
We took 4 runners to Swindon for the evening meeting and returned with 2 winners and a 2nd.
Professional won her A8 contest in 30.28 while Stanton Bluebell made it 2 wins from 2 after her return from seasonal break. She flashed from the traps and made all in her A2 in 29.22. There is still more to come from this pup and she should be competing in top heat soon enough.
Friday 17th
A fairly quiet day produced a single winner. Heading South, who ran a cracker last time out got a much deserved slice of luck this week and took full advantage, This strong running type won his A2 in 29.60.
There were a couple of very pleasing performances on the day. Stanton Jerry, who we think will make a top heat pup when put into full training, ran a very decent race to finish a close 3rd in his A2. Jerry has a good turn of early and some serious back straight pace and I would expect him to be staying on better in the next month or so.
Not Yet produced her fastest ever race time to finish 2nd in her A3 contest. Having only her second race back from seasonal break, she is now coming forward all the time and will be winning very soon. The form of this race became even more pleasing when it was later discovered that the winner of the race was none other than Villamartin Nogo - who was due to run later that night in the A1 contest! A series of errors occurred in the paddock which led to the wrong dog running in our race.
Queue Pea Are, having only his second career start was knocked over at the first bend. Thankfully though he soon got to his feet and completed the circuit. It was a nasty fall but he appears none the worse for it and will be given a short break before trialling back in.
Saturday 18th
A night to forget as the meeting was abandoned after the first race due to hare failure. Many of our owners had made long journeys to see their dogs run and it's such a shame when something like this happens.
However, Oddson Foxy did manage to get a run in the first race. She ran 2nd in her A8 contest and was only beaten a head. This was only her 2nd ever race and she ran with real credit. She gives everything she has during her races and I'm sure it wont be long before she opens her account.

Week ending 12th April 2009

Monday 6th
Today's BAGS meeting proved to be very successful. From just 5 runners we produced 3 winners.
Class Eagle continued her excellent recent form by scoring in A4. She quickly hit the front and won in 29.64.
Stanton Torres also continued his good form by leading all the way in A4 to record 29.50. As mentioned in an earlier post, this dog suffered a loss of confidence after being badly crowded in his early races. However, after a few clear runs and the chance to get his head in front, he is now progressing up the grades nicely and there should be more to come from this lad.
Stanton Ellie completed a hat trick of wins when comfortably winning A3 in 29.58.
Tuesday 7th
A busy trial session with 10 of our dogs going through their paces. A few of the new dogs went nicely and it will be interesting to see how they progress in the coming weeks.
Today saw the return from injury of July 07 pup Strictly Baileys. This novice won 2 of his first 4 races before going lame last time out. Thankfully it was nothing serious and after 6 weeks of treatment he was given the all clear. He won his trial today in 29.77 and it wont be long before Simba is back to winning ways.
Wednesday 8th
This evenings 5 runners produced 1 winner and a couple of 2nd's.
Stanton Bluebell, who was mentioned last week as a promising pup, won her first race back after seasonal break in very good style. She quickly hit the front and won her A3 in 29.25. There is plenty more to come from this young lady and it will pay to follow her in the coming weeks. Also in this race saw the return of Shelbourne Swift. After a near 4 month lay off due to season she was a very good 2nd to Bluebell. Although a veteran now, she still has plenty left to give and will be winning races before long.
Friday 10th
Yet another very good day at the office with every dog running with real credit. Today's 5 runners produced 2 winners, 2 seconds and a third.
Field Son quickly asserted in his A2 contest and was never in danger of being beaten. This lad is hard to beat when getting things right at the boxes and hopefully with experience he will become more consistent. He recorded 29.40.
Bers Rose never runs a bad race and won her A2 well in 29.42. She has a lovely turn of early pace and rails the bends beautifully which always gives her a chance.
Saturday 11th
Although our 6 runners this evening did not produce any winners, there were a couple of very good performances.
Forest Best led all the way, only to be caught on the line and beaten a head in the A1. Since returning from injury early this year he has not been out of the first 2 in any of his 7 runs.
Not Yet returned from seasonal break with a very encouraging run in the A3. This girl has had all sorts of problems in her short racing career but hopefully it's all behind her now and she can begin to fulfill her potential.

Week ending 5th April 2009

Monday 30th

A busy week began with a 4am start to collect 8 new arrivals from the transporter. Among them are 1 or 2 very nice young dogs that certainly come with the 'could be anything' tag and it will be very interesting to watch them progress over the coming months. There are also a couple of proven sorts with good Irish form that should be competing in the top grades soon enough.
At the track we took 5 runners to Swindon for the BAGS meeting and returned with a very healthy 2 winners. Stanton Torres won the A5 in a personal best 29.55. Torres looked a useful grader when beginning his career but suffered a lack of confidence after some bad crowding in his early races but is now hopefully back on track. Class Eagle continued her very good recent form by winning the A4 in 29.72.

Tuesday 31st

A busy but pleasing trial session for the kennel which saw the return from season of Shelbourne Swift, Not Yet and the promising pup Stanton Bluebell. Bluebell is only a June 07 pup but had already won A2 in 29.10 before breaking in season and should make into a nice sort when fully matured. Ballinorig Maeve continued her excellent comeback from season with a fastest of the session 29.02. This girl really does look special.

Wednesday 1st

A good night at the track was again spoilt by the serious injury suffered to Stanton Tom. This June 07 pup who was held in high regard by us actually won his A3 contest in good fashion, posting a personal best of 29.24. However when I got him out of his kennel after racing he was on 3 legs. Examinations have shown that he a suffered a crack in a bone above the hock and a return to racing is only rated at 50/50.

A rejuvenated Stanton Ellie won again in the A4 when recording a decent 29.42. She will be trialling over six bends in the near future.

Thursday 2nd

Today we had our physio Robert Meek to the kennels. A total of 35 hounds were checked over, some with good news and others not quite so good!

Queen Merykara who went lame last week will be off the track for 3 months with her shoulder injury. Lady Jaro who was carried from the track on Saturday night is thought to have cracked her shoulder blade. Hopefully it's not as bad as it sounds and a return to racing is likely in roughly 4 months.

Better news though for Stanton Teddy. Teddy who broke his hock in his very first race for us some 7 months ago is progressing well. He's been very busy up the gallop recently and so far the hock has had no reaction. This fellow looked destined for Open Class when qualifying in 28.90 at Swindon. He was 3 lengths clear of some useful A1 dogs before going lame. He still managed to finish second in this race! Although we don't expect him to return to the same level as before we would be delighted with a safe return to racing for him.

Friday 3rd

An unlucky day for the kennel did not produce any winners but still saw some good performances. Oddson Foxy making her racing debut ran with real credit when finishing 3rd. Bolting from the boxes she showed fantastic early pace before losing her way around the first two bends. This young lady will not be long in opening her account.

Centenarys Jill also ran well when producing her fastest time for a while although this was not quite good enough and got picked up on the line.

The nights best performance came from Stanton Jerry. This June 07 pup was very unlucky in running in his A2 contest and would have won with a run. He was badly hampered around the first bend before unleashing his terrific pace down the back straight to get his head in front, but he had done all his running to get there and was just pegged back on the line. This pup will make top heat in time as there is plenty more left in the tank.

Saturday 4th

5 runners on the night produced 1 winner. Cheeseboard who ran with real credit on her debut last week flashed from the traps and led all the way to win her A5 in 29.45.

Tonight also saw the debut of October 07 baby Queue Pea Are. Although finishing last in his A6 race he showed enough ability to suggest that with more experience he will be more than capable of winning races.

Without doubt though the performance of the night came from Ballinorig Maeve. Having her first competitive start after being in season, she was beaten just a head in the A1 which was also the fastest race of the night. Given a run at the third bend I'm confident this girl would have won her race in good style. She still recorded 28.91 and was in front just after the line. Although it is early days for her she is without doubt the best prospect I've ever trained.