Week Ending 21st October

Monday 15th
Just the 5 runners at today's Swindon meeting. Keeperhill Hawk made it two wins on the trot as he pinged the lids and led all the way to win his A3 by 1 1/2 lengths in 29.12. Kennel mate, Lady Maud ran well to finish as runner up.
Tuesday 16th
A very good trial session with all 11 dogs pleasing us with their efforts.
Gemstone Annie beat Penskey Rain by 1 1/2 lengths in a fastest of the session 28.74. Annie has been in terrific form of late and ran well through the Produce and this blowout would of done her good. This was also a good effort from Pensk who has struggled for runs for the last couple of weeks with opens failing to fill at Swindon, he'll be given a few graded races to keep him ticking over.
Newcomers, Swords Brett (29.13), Swords Messi (29.05) and Jolly Bullseye (28.83) all went very well in their first four bend trials and should improve nicely. The Swords brothers both stayed the trip very well and could be useful over a 600m trip. Bullseye showed a nice turn of foot to go around 5 lengths clear in his trial before visible tiring coming home, I'd expect a nice chunk of improvement next week form this lad as that was his first four bend workout for a couple of months.
Portavoe Lass made her come back from her cracked hock today and delighted us with her 29.25 effort. Esme looked good and ran the bends well and thankfully returned safe and sound. It'll be a rush but we hope to have her back in time for the St Leger at Wimbledon.
Vevas Tiger (16.65) and Express Fantasy (16.73) both returned from seasonal rest and went well. Scaffs Misty (16.60) and Beatrice Maud (17.17) both went nicely in their qualifying trials and Ballyhill Power (16.25) was very impressive when having her first look at Swindon.
Wednesday 17th
A good night for the kennel with 3 winners from our 8 runners.
Sparkem Out (29.03) and Liscrea Premier (28.89) both made it safely through to the Owners Bonus Series A2 final as they both won their heats.
Chilli Spring got her first win since returning from seasonal rest as she led all the way in her A6 to score in 29.51.
Today we tried out our new 3 dog walking machine and were a bit surprised as to how quickly the dogs got the hang of it and how much they seemed to enjoy it! I've never been a great fan of walking machines, preferring to get the dogs out on a 'proper walk' but this should prove invaluable with the bad weather coming up and we've a few dogs in particular that will benefit from the extra work as they return from injury.
Thursday 18th
Off to Monmore this evening for the heats of the TV Trophy and a 630m comp. Crinkill Jewel ran well in the toughest heat of the TV Trophy but failed to qualify as she finished in 4th. It looked likely we would qualify down the back straight for the 2nd time but we had to take the long route round the last couple of bends which let a couple of strong types up our inside. We could of done with a week's rest really after winning the Kent St Leger on Saturday but she deserved to take her chance.
Ding Hero qualified for next week's 630m final live on Sky Sports as he finished a good 2nd to Airforce Roger. Ding broke well and looked like we might lead round the bend but just got our legs taken away from behind but always looked like qualifying afterwards. Unfortunately we've been given an awful draw in 5 for the final with a lot of pace inside that we'll need to clear if we're to have a chance.
Friday 19th
Three winners from today's Swindon meetings. Active Lark flew the lids and led all the way to win another A2 by 1 3/4 lengths in 28.81. Glendine Girl also pinged out and led all the way in her A4 to win by 1/2 a length in 29.41. Forest Mollie was hugely impressive as she won a good quality A1 in a fast 28.40. Mollie showed massive pace to take 4 or 5 lengths out of some decent dogs before tiring slightly coming home. This was only her 5th ever race and her 3rd UK start and she's a terrific prospect. The Oaks at Wimbledon is firmly on the agenda.
After an horrendous 5 hour journey to Romford in the evening we were left with only 1 runner. Pony Bride finished 2nd in her maiden marathon and ran well.
Saturday 20th
With Swindon cancelled due to speedway, we all headed to Oxford where we had 7 runners.
Slippery Patch finished runner-up in the Cesarewitch final. Patch pinged the lids and went around 4-5 lengths clear but tied up again coming home and was beaten half a length. He's run well though and gave us everything he had. He's likely to head back to Oxford next week but will be dropped down in trip to the 595m.
Five Alley Pub finally got a clear run and showed what he can do when things go right for him as he pinged out and led all the way to win by nearly 7 lengths in a fast 39.75. Wolfie will go off to Wimbledon for a trial, along with Portavoe Lass and Crinkill Jewel, ready for a crack at the St Leger.
Hiding Escort ran very well in his 595m open but went down by half a length after a sluggish start.
On to the heats of the Gold Cup where we had 4 entries. The evergreen Kilmalady Biffo flew out and led all the way to win his heat in a fast 26.69. Kennel mate, Barnish Booth, ran a very good race to finish 2nd to Biffo and safely make it through to next week's final. Both will be joined in the final by Glenbane Air who ran well to finish 2nd to the Oxfordshire Trophy winner, Warning Sign. Inishmore Impact was out of luck in his heat after being crowded at the 1st and 3rd bends but it's fantastic to have 3 runners in the final next week and we go there full of hope that we can get another competition winner.
Sunday 21st
A trip to Coventry tonight with 2 runners and 2 trial dogs.
Rainham Chris beat kennel mate Stanton Apollo by 4 1/4 lengths in 29.79. Both didn't get a run at Swindon during the week so we thought it was a good opportunity to give them some further experience and they went well enough.
Gemstone Jack was stepped up to 6 bends for the first time and ran well. Jack showed good pace to lead off the 2nd bend but was caught close home and went down by a neck. He'll improve for the run and won't be long in winning.
Gemstone Annie was harshly treated to be placed in the top division of the 485m against track champion, Holdem Spy. Annie finished 5th but ran quite well. She pinged the lids and looked like turning handy but just clipped the rails at the bend and lost ground.