Week Ending 24th June

Monday 18th
Not a good start to the week with Lady Lomasi breaking her hock at the 2nd bend. Its a nasty break and she will never race again but luckily she'll be able to lead a happy life on someones sofa when she's recovered. We've certainly had our fair share of injuries at Swindon lately.
Effernogue Load got our only winner of the day as he won his A3 contest in 29.19.
We welcomed 5 new recruits to the kennel as Lord Sugar, Shelbourne Bella, Vevas Tiger, Off The Radar and Keeperhill Hawk all joined us from the soon to be retired Nick Colton.
Tuesday 19th
A busy day at the kennels with 8 trial dogs at Swindon and a couple at Poole in the evening.
Recent arrival, Winetavern Tadgh, pleased us with his 29.37 effort. He beat Hey Diego and Glendine Girl who both went well in their return to action.
Der Lone Razor (29.29) and Active Lark (29.52) both returned to the graded strength.
Portavoe Lass was given a pipe opener and moved well to post a 16.80 solo sprint.
Fancy Collar was retired after his trial today after once again going lame on his return from injury. Pingu was a very talented greyhound but couldn't stand up to the rigours of racing. It's a massive shame for his owners who have been unbelievably patient and gave us every chance of getting him back to the track.
On to Poole where we trialled Riverdale Spiros (27.24) and Barnish Booth (26.99) in preparation for the upcoming Golden Crest. Both dogs pleased us and ran the track well.
Wednesday 20th
Yeatsie Boy was the star of the show this evening as he missed the trouble on the 1st bend in his top grade race to go on and win well in a personal best 28.84. Reggie is a lovely dog who could be very useful in time.
Friday 22nd
Just the two winners from today's Swindon meetings. Hot Chilli Sauce made it 5 wins from 8 starts as she led all the way to win her A2 in 29.35.
Her litter brother, Hey Diego, made his debut at the evening meeting and delighted us as he won his A4 in 29.42. This lad is lucky to be with us after being very poorly with a mystery virus. It took a lot of work and care by everybody involved (and a big vet bill!) to nurse this lad back to health so to see him win on his debut made us all very proud. He's a nice pup.
Saturday 23rd
A quiet night for the kennel with only 5 runners. Boozed Aroma led home kennel mate Der Lone Razor in their A2 to win in 29.24.
Sunday 24th
A cracking night for us as we had a couple of winners at Coventry.
Portavoe Lass ran a huge race to come from last to first to win her heat of the St Lucia Stayers Trophy. She'll be joined in the final by Five Alley Pub who ran well to finish 2nd in his very hot heat.
Crinkill Jewell lost her maiden tag with a game win in her 672 contest. Crink's worked very hard to track the leader and just got up on the line for a narrow but much deserved win.

In Other News.....
All roads lead to Poole on Tuesday night where we will have 4 runners. Kilmalady Biffo and the very useful Barnish Booth are drawn together in their heat of the Golden Crest which obviously isn't ideal but it will be an interesting race. Riverdale Spiros has not fared well in the drawn as this bang railer has ended up in trap 3. Hiding Escort also travels for a 640m open and is well drawn in 6.
Portavoe Lass and Five Alley Pub came out of their races in great shape and will head to Coventry in top form for the final next Sunday.
Kelseys Prince and Flag Officer return to action at Swindon's trial session on Tuesday after both having a few minor problems. The plan is to run Prince in the Monkey 509er at Swindon if it ever fills that is.

Week Ending 3rd June

Monday 28th May
Only bad news to report from today's BAGS meeting as the useful Coolykereen Lee ruptured his gracilis muscle on the 2nd bend. The damage is low down the muscle though so he stands a good chance of making a return to racing.
Tuesday 29th
7 dogs were sent to Swindon for trials today.
Recent arrival, Five Alley Pub, moved well on his first look at the track to record 29.21.
Gemstone Billy completed his qualifying trials as he won nicely in 29.75. His litter sister, Gemstone Annie, made her return from a short rest to win well in 29.25.
Fancy Collar delighted us with his fastest of the day 16.30 sprint as he returned from having a toe removed. It just shows the class of the dog to return with an effort like this having only raced once in the last 9 months. We are just keeping everything crossed that he stays sound.
Shestillakeeper went very well as she recorded 16.57 in her return from injury.
New intake, Barnish Booth, impressed with a 16.40 first look.
Wednesday 30th
2 winners this evening from our 8 runners.
Lady Lomasi won nicely by 4 1/2 lengths in 29.20 and Noels Touch got his first win since returning from a rest to win his A2 in 29.30.
Thursday 31st
Firstly to Hove where we had 3 in open race action.
Gemstone Jack ran a terrific race to finish 3rd in what was a good quality puppy event. He wasn't beaten too far and ran the track well.
Portavoe Lass qualified for the Semi-finals of the Coral Regency as she finished 3rd in her first round heat. Esme got tapped for pace as the 6 dog led the field a merry dance but she stuck on well and just made it through. The ground on the night was poor as they had just added a load of sand which had made the track quite boggy. She returned quite sore the next day but we should have ready for the semi's.
Hiding Escort got knocked out though as he failed to stay the trip against that class of field. The quick run from the Saturday night at Monmore probably didn't help either as he doesn't seem the type to over race.
We were out of luck at Oxford as Mercurial Lady finished runner up in her 450m maiden event and Glenbane Air finished 4th after trouble.
Friday 1st June
A great start to the new month as we managed 5 winners from our 12 runners.
Mutter To Razor made it 2 wins from her last 3 starts as she led on the run in to win her A6 in 29.88.
Lady Maud made it 3 wins from 3 as she again led all the way. She won her A4 by a shd in 29.71. Ruby is only a tiny little girl but has a big heart and loves to race.
Hoots Mon had been running well enough of late in the A2's but he finally showed today what we thought he was capable of. Hoots flew the lids and led all the way in a decent A2 contest to score in a career best 28.88. The change of seeding to a wide runner has certainly helped and he is starting to look better in himself all the time now. It will be interesting to see how he handles the step up to top heat.
I Certainly May pinged the lids and led all the way in her A3 to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 29.46.
November 10 baby, Ballyhill Opera, showed lots of promise as she led all the way to win her A3 in 29.45. It's tough for youngsters to start in the top end grades but she's learnt quickly and has a nice turn of early. She's soon to be renamed after being purchased by the House of Razor syndicate.
Gemstone Meg who was put in a horrible looking race full of rls-mid runners paid the price for a better start than normal as she was knocked over on the bend. Luckily she returned safe and sound except for a tiny bit of soreness in the shoulder. She'll be given a couple of weeks off before we get her ready for the Produce Stakes.
Special Mention of Droopys Harper who ran an eye-catching race in defeat. He's plenty to learn as he's still quite clumsy but if he does get the hang of things he'll make into a nice dog.
Saturday 2nd
We had 3 dogs having a spin in trials tonight before racing and they all went well.
Barnish Booth showed plenty of promise as he led all the way in his trial to win in 28.53. Mickey as he is known looks a useful sort who can start and stay.
Five Alley Pub beat Penskey Rain by 1 1/4 lengths in 28.91. It was a good trial as they are both strong running dogs but the new dog more than held his own against our Leger finalist to the pick up. There will probably be around 20-30 spots to go on to the trial times but they were still very pleasing.
On to the racing and we had 2 winners.
Puppy, Inismore Impact, led around the third turn and was all out to hold kennel mate Gemstone Annie by a short head in 29.29. Echo is a big young dog who will need a bit of time to mature but he looks a nice type. We were delighted with Annie's first run back from a lay-off and she shouldn't be too long in winning.
Crinkill Jewel got her first A1 win as she ran a terrific race to get up near the line in 29.11. She now moves onto the final next week as this was an A1 kennel sweepstake aimed at encouraging owners and trainers to leave their best dogs at the track for A1's rather than take them open racing. It's a great idea and certainly adds some spice to the racing but we were still left with a few A1 dogs without a run which is now causing the kennel a few problems.

In Other News.....
Forest Faye has settled in brilliantly with her new family and is making a fantastic pet. She'll have a great life after being retired from racing with a cracked hock.
Stanton Bluebell has left the kennel to join a retired greyhound kennel and is next in line for a home. Bluebell is a great character and is missed at the kennels. She make someone a lovely companion.
Razldazl Dazl has a home visit tomorrow afternoon as we look for a good retirement for him. Lauro is a stunning greyhound who's lovely natured. Hopefully they will fall in love with him.
Superstar Lily whelped a litter of 8 to Westmead Hawk. Megan had 4 dogs and 4 bitches and both mum and pups are doing well.
Lots to look forward to next week with the semi finals of the Regency at Hove and the start of the Pall Mall at Oxford.
Kilmalady Biffo got the kennel dog of the month award as he won 2 of his 4 open races at Oxford while Chilli Hot Sauce got the bitches award as she managed to win 4 of her 5 races during May as she climbed the grades at Swindon.