Week Ending 19th February

Monday 13th
No luck today as we could only manage a couple of silver medals. Oddson Whiskey ran a blinder to be beaten a shd in her S2. Noels Touch also ran well in defeat.
Tuesday 14th
Another busy trial session with 11 going today.
The Swift Jade pups were again the stars of the show for us. Gemstone Jack ran as green as you can imagine in his first ever 4 bend mixed trial but still came from last to first to win in 29.77. A fantastic effort. Gemstone Annie led around the 2nd bend to beat her sister, Ring The Alarm by 6 lengths in a brilliant 29.64. They will all have their final trial next week. Gemstone Meg had her first look at Swindon and posted a highly promising 17.13 in her solo. Unfortunatley Meg has tweaked a muscle in her hind leg and faces a couple of weeks on the easy list.
Riverdale Spiros (29.33) and Forest Crash (29.47) both returned to action with good workouts.
Glenbane Air posted a good 16.44 in his pre Arc workout.
Wednesday 15th
With the weather being a lot kinder over the last few days we were finally able to get our gallop back in working order and we wasted no time in putting 26 hounds through their paces.
At Swindon we had a couple of winners. Tictac Butterfly led all the way in her A2 to win in 29.17 while Malbay Kesha just held on to win her A2 in 29.39.
Friday 17th
3 winners from today's meetings.
Professor Deejay ran a game race to win his A2 in 29.37.
Noels Touch got the bragging rights over his kennel partner Sparkem Out as he stayed on well to win his S2 in 42.31.
Kennel Legend Stanton Jerry completed the days work as he flew down the back and won going away in 29.33.
Saturday 18th
A good night for the kennel as we had a couple of winners at Swindon and a open racer winner at Monmore.
Active Lark bounced back to form as she led all the way to beat kennel mate Liscrea Premier by 3 1/4 lengths in 29.18.
Forest Crash also led all the way as he won his A3 in 29.47. It's nice to see Crash back to winning ways so soon after taking a nasty fall last time out. He's been a terrific dog for us and still retains plenty of ability.
Hiding Escort was a very impressive winner of his 630m open at Monmore. Henry broke fairly well from trap 6 and showed very good early pace to soon take up the lead around the first bend. He never looked in danger of being beaten and stretched right away at the line for a 5 3/4 length victory in 38.46. He gave the impression he would improve for the look round and will head back there again next week.
Hoots Mon ran his best race so far for the kennel to finish 3rd. He flopped out the boxes but flew to the bend before losing his way. He was desperate for the run and can only improve. He'll also go back next week.

In Other News...
Ding Hero and Glenbane Air have drawn tough heats in the Arc first round and will both need to be on their A-game to qualify.
The kennel welcomed a nice new arrival this week. Kelseys Prince is a beautiful looking greyhound and has settled in well. Prince has only had 8 races in Ireland but won his first ever staying open at Shelbourne in the fastest time of the year so far. We'll see how he goes but he's likely to head to Sheffield for a crack at the 3 steps to victory competition which has heats over 480m, semi finals over 500m and the final over 660m.
Fancy Collar has been given the all clear after his latest injury and will return to full training now. Pingu is a terrifc prospect but has suffered one setback after another in his short career. Fingers crossed he'll stay sound this time round.

Week Ending 12th February

Monday 6th
A pretty awful week for the kennel started with what would end up being our only winner of the week. Bookies Girls soon led in her A2 to win well in 29.17.
Tuesday 7th
Another busy trial day with 10 going to Swindon today.
Tommy The Wheel (29.22), Boozed Aroma (29.74) and Blackie Chan (29.82) all returned to the graded strength with solid runs today.
Swift Jade's pups impressed again with some really good sprint trials. Ring The Alarm got it all wrong at the boxes but still clocked 17.29 in her solo. Gemstone Jack who is still as green as grass impressed me hugely as he recorded a brilliant 16.86. There is tonnes of improvement left in this lad. Gemstone Annie had her first trial at Swindon but ran it like she'd been there all her life and recorded an excellent 17.09.
Wednesday 8th
Not much luck in tonight's Arc trial stakes. Mercurial Star will have benefited from this run but was outclassed by Sussex Cup winner Longwood Days. Glenbane Air ran well in defeat and was unlucky to be out muscled on the third bend before staying on well at the end. Ding Hero got it all wrong at the boxes and got crowded on the bend.
Thursday 9th
Hiding Escort ran well enough to finish 2nd in his 695m maiden at Hove. Henry showed terrific pace before tying up coming home. He's lacking a bit of fitness at the moment having not run over the trip for nearly a couple of months and will improve for the run. It's likely he'll be dropped down in trip slightly though for his next few runs.
Friday 10th
Unfortunately we lost the evening meeting due to a frozen track. It was a shame as Express Fantasy and Sligo Mick really needed the outing having not run for a couple of weeks but this is first meeting we've lost all winter so we can't complain.
The afternoon BAGS meeting was a non event for us really as starting prices of 7/1, 6/1, 6/1, 4/1 and 5/1 gave a good indication of the limited chances we had.
Saturday 11th
Again not too much to report from our 6 runners this evening. Stanton Jerry and Boynepark Joe both ran well enough in their A2.
Blackie Chan who has only won 2 of his 29 races and is without a win in 18, was returned to an A3 after a 2 month break and a 29.82 trial and was beaten nearly 10 lengths with a clear run. I think this lad will be better off at another track where he may get more of a chance and will be sold on soon.

In Other News.....
Lots of changes at the kennels this week with 6 new arrivals coming in and 8 leaving us. Springlawn Goofy, Springlawn Jacko, Calling Beauty, Newport Lass , Precious Hawk, Outoftheblack and Dance Izzy will all join the Oxford strength while Bramley Leah joins John Peterson.

Week Ending 5th February

Monday 30th

Noels Touch provided us with our only winner of the day. He led on the run in to win his A2 going away in 29.37. Noels has been in great form and is loving his racing.

Dance Izzy remains without a win since May and is surely due a change of luck soon.

Tuesday 31st

A good trial session for the kennel. Boynepark Joe returned to the racing strength with his 29.38 workout today. Tommy The Wheel had his first trial back after his rest and went well to beat Razldazl Dazl by 1 1/4 lengths in 16.49. Tommy certainly enjoyed being back to work!

Blackie Chan (16.83), Active Lark (16.80) and Boozed Aroma (16.84) all went well in their first trial back from lay offs.

Two of our Swift Jade pups had their first solo sprints and delighted us with their efforts. Ring The Alarm recorded 17.45 and Gemstone Jack posted 17.26 which are lovely trials for novice pups. Jack in particular gave the impression that there is massive improvement to come and it will be great to watch their progress over the coming weeks.

Wednesday 1st

A great night for the kennel as we managed to win a couple of the Arc trial stakes.

Debutant, Glenbane Air made the perfect start as he pinged the lids and led all the way to win nicely in 28.97. Barney really enjoyed this run and is open to plenty of improvement. He could be an interesting runner in the competition proper.

Ding Hero got his first open win as he was foot perfect tonight. Ding flew the lids and won going away in a good 28.74. This was his first run since being knocked over at Hove and he's entitled to improve for the run. He's now won 6 of his 10 races for us.

Mercurial Star pleased me just as much as our 2 winners with a superb effort to finish a close up 3rd in his open. Sammy paced up well and led round but tired coming home. He'll improve nicely for that run though and will soon be back to winning ways.

Thursday 2nd

No luck at Hove this evening as we only managed a couple of 3rds. Hoots Mon ran a good race though and would have gone close without first bend crowding.

Friday 3rd

Professor Deejay got off the mark at only the 2nd time of asking as he led pretty much all the way in his A2. Bert held on by a hd to win in a good 29.35 and there should be plenty more to come from this lad.

Penskey Rain came back to form with an easy win in his A2. Pensk rode a first bend bump really well before powering home from the 3rd bend to win by 5 1/4 lengths in 29.15. He really enjoyed getting his head in front and this would have done his confidence the world of good. Hopefully he'll run in the 685m open on Wednesday.

Scoby's Flash led all the way in her A3 to win by 3 3/4 lengths in 29.58. Unfortunatley for her troubles she got badly fought at the pick up and will need a couple of weeks off to recover from a bruised and swollen face.

Saturday 4th

No luck this evening as we could only manage 3 silver medals. Springlawn Goofy, Motor Home and Tictac Butterfly all ran well in defeat though.

Razldazl Dazl returned to the track after nearly 10 months of time and treatement on his broken hock. Unfortunately Lauro only made it about 100m before he was very badly crowded at the bend and put out of the race which really was the last thing he needed on his return. Typically it was our other dog that caused the trouble for him though! He could do with an easier task next week so fingers crossed for a safe run.

In other news...

Ding Hero, Glenbane Air, Mercurial Star, Forest Ted and Penskey Rain have all been entered to run at Swindon on Wednesday.

Hiding Escort who made an encouraging debut at Hove will step up in distance for a 695m race on Thursday.

The January Dog of the Month competition was too close to call so has been jointly awarded to Black Beach and Der Lone Razor who have both had great months.

The Bitch of the Month award goes to Reagrove Dream who won 3 races.