Week Ending 24th March

Monday 17th
Just the one runner for the kennel today.
Ding Hero ran a very good race and was only just beaten on the line in his heat of a 575m competition. The going was quite poor and certainly favoured the outside dogs so I was just pleased to qualify for Friday's final. Unfortunately we've drawn trap 1 again which is a poor box to break from at Romford but we'll go close given a run.
Tuesday 18th
A busy trial session with 8 dogs going today.
Rainham Chris moved well to record a 28.93 and would have needed this blowout.
Professor Deejay posted a decent 16.70 as he returned from a set of niggling injuries.
Stanton Apollo recorded a fastest of the day 16.24 as he beat Motor Home by 5 lengths. Apollo has had a few little problems and a decent break would have done him the world of good. All being well he'll have a good year.
Zamboni Zazzle (16.89), Redlion Enfield (17.38), Taranis Diva (16.71) and Stanton John (17.17) all went well enough in their solo's.
On to Wimbledon for the return of the Sky cameras where we had 2 runners.
Forest Mollie was out of luck in her bitches event as she was crowded on the bend.
Jolly Bullseye lined up in a good quality 480m open and stole the show with a sensational burst of early pace that put him in pole position going in to the corner and he really stretched the field out down the back to come home 4 1/4 lengths to the good in 28.65.
This was a superb run by Jolly and he's now joint 9th favourite for the English Derby. It was a great buzz to finally land our first Sky winner and hopefully it won't be too long before we get another. Jolly will now have a very short break before being prepared for the Swindon Arc.
Wednesday 19th
Another fantastic night at Swindon with 4 winners from our 12 runners.
Wagama got the ball rolling as she won for the first time. She broke well and recorded a useful 2.40 sectional on the way to a 2 1/4 length victory in a personal best 29.43. She's still very inexperienced and will continue to improve.
Mullingar Mer made it 4 wins from 5 since returning to graded action as she led up kennel mate Inishmore Impact before going on to score by 1 length in 28.98. The drop back to graded racing has certainly done the trick with her and she now has her confidence back after that horrible fall at Coventry.
Witcombe Lady got a much deserved win in her A4 as she pinged the lids to lead all the way. She won by 1 1/2 lengths in 29.42.
Sligo Mick completed the night's work as he led off the 2nd bend to win his A2 by 1 length in 29.03.
Thursday 20th
Gemstone Jack continued his excellent Hove form tonight as he made it 3 wins from his last 3 visits to the seaside. Jack paced up well and turned in to the back straight in a handy pitch and soon hit the font going in to the third bend. He went on to score by 1 1/2 lengths in 29.94.
Tibetan Skies and Gurrane Rocket were both out of luck in their opens.
Friday 21st
Ding Hero was again the kennel star as he won the final of the Romford 575m competition. Ding broke well and ran a brave 1st bend to turn 2nd. He quickly took up the running coming out of the 2nd bend and went on to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 35.54. He's been in great form this year and has won 4 of his 8 races since returning to training and has now won 15 opens for the kennel.
No luck at Swindon but Alarming Arti, Southern Angel and Taranis Rex all ran well in defeat.
Saturday 22nd
Firstly to Monmore where we had our 'Egg' team in trial action before racing.
Alarming Jacks posted a very good 28.61 as she was quickly into stride in her solo spin. Jacks was glued to the rail all the way round and it's a massive bonus to have drawn red in the race next week.
Black Beach also ran the track very well as he posted 28.93.
Gemstone Annie posted 29.15 while Droopys Harper recorded a good 38.63 over the 630m trip. We're all really looking forward to finals day and it would be great to come away with a winner.
On to Swindon where we had one winner. Kelseys Prince led off the last bend to win his A1 in 28.79.

In Other News...
The investment we've made into a new quad bike and an eight foot set of chain harrows is really paying dividends as the gallop is in perfect condition. It's really made light work of the maintenance and I couldn't be happier with it. It really is fit for a derby dog.
Work begins next week on a new set of 3 paddocks for the dogs and they should be ready to use in the next couple of weeks.

Week Ending 17th March

Monday 11th
A poor start to the week as our 3 runners were totally out of luck at Monmore.
Tibetan Skies and Ding Hero continually got in each others way as they both got knocked out of the Spring Festival stayers. Im not convinced the track or trip really suited Tibetan and he's likely to head back to Hove next week. Ding will head to Romford for a 575m comp.
Forest Mollie made up an awful lot of ground up after being badly crowded at the first bend but was left with too much to do and also went out. She'll head to Wimbledon next for a Sky bitches race.
Thursday 14th
Gemstone Jack continued his excellent form as he won again at Hove tonight. Jack broke well and made it round the bend without too much trouble and always looked in with a great chance entering the back straight. He was made to work hard by Sharies Miller but got up on the line to win in 29.92.
Slippery Patch had every chance in his open but ran well enough again to finish 3rd.
Southern Angel again impressed as she finished 2nd in the 515 open. She desperately needs trap 6 and was crowded all the way to the bend but stuck to her guns well and came home strongly to finish 2nd. It's very early days with Angel and I think she'll have a really good year when she has some more condition and experience on her side. She'll return to the Hove again next week.
Friday 15th
A quite brilliant Bags meeting for us as we managed 6 winners from our 12 runners including 4 winners in the Bags Eggstravaganza.
Alarming Jacks got the day off to a great start as she was quickly into stride to lead all the way in her bitches heat. She powered home on the rail to beat kennel mate, Ring The Alarm, by nearly 6 lengths in 28.67. Jack's has now won 4 of her last 5 races and is a lovely bitch to have in the kennel. Monmore should suit this girl well as she's a lovely turn of early and is one of the best railers I've ever had.
Gemstone Annie ran a great race to beat kennel mate, Swarez, by 3/4 of a length in 29.16 to take the other heat of the bitches race. Annie ran a lovely first bend and always looked dangerous entering the back straight and once she took the lead up it was going to take a massive run to beat her. Swarez ran a terrific race in defeat and did well to close the gap at the line and is going in the right direction.
Black Beach's task in the Dogs division was made an awful lot easier with the withdrawal of Erics Gav but he took his chance really well as he led around the first bend to go on to win by 3 lengths in 28.88. He's a pacey dog when everything goes his way and it'll be interesting to see how he handles Monmore.
Droopys Harper completed the Eggstravaganza four-timer as he led off the 2nd bend to win the first stayers division in great style. Harper stayed the trip well in this class and went on to win very nicely by over 5 lengths in 41.53. The 630m Monmore trip should be ideal for this lad.
Chilli Hot Sauce was out of luck in the sprint division. Despite a good start she never really looked to be travelling on the soft ground and was soundly beaten by the impressive Forest Bracken. It was a bit baffling why she wasn't given a race for 2 weeks before this competition and we did intend to give her a spin on Tuesday but they lost the trial session due to frost.
Gemstone Billy probably broke too well in his stayer's heat and was badly crowded on the bend. He's run well to stay on for 2nd but he just had too much to make up.
On the graded front, Mullingar Mer completed a hat-trick of A2 wins as she showed some lovely pace to lead at the first bend. She stretched right away before tiring a bit coming home. She beat kennel mate, Keeperhill Hawk, by 3 lengths in 28.91.
Razor Titantic ran the perfect race as he pinged the lids and led all the way to win his A2 by 3 lengths in 29.20.
We didn't manage a winner at the evening meeting but we had a couple of good performances.
Taranis Rex ran his heart out on bad ground but was just beaten on the line by a very short head in the A1. He would have badly needed this run and it's good to get a race under his belt as he begins his build up to the Arc.
Wagama ran a much improved race from her debut last week and led until just before the line. This would have done her the world of good and I'm sure she won't be long in winning.
Saturday 16th
2 winners this evening from our 5 runners.
Glenbane Air got a much deserved win in his A2 as he was quickly in to stride to beat kennel mate, Winetavern Tadgh by 3 lengths in 29.08. Barney has only been given 2 races in around 5 weeks and should improve for the run. Tadgh also ran well on poor ground and is another dog that's really been struggling for runs of late, he'd waited nearly 3 1/2 weeks for a race which really isn't good enough.
Youngster, Stanton Ovation, ran his best race to date as he led on the run up before stretching clear down the back straight. He's getting stronger all the time now and came home 1 3/4 lengths to the good in a personal best 29.48.
Jolly Be Good completed her qualifying trials as she beat kennel mate Scaffs Misty by 14 1/2 lengths in 29.07. Misty would have badly needed this run and her 30.23 effort was quite pleasing.
Sunday 17th
No luck this evening at Coventry from our 6 runners with our main hopes, Crinkill Jewell and Kilmalady Biffo, both suffering plenty of trouble.

Week Ending 10th March

Tuesday 5th
A fairly good trial session for the kennel with most of the dogs going well enough although the times didn't stack up to the previous week at all which makes the going assessment from last week questionable.
Taranis Rex led kennel mate Hey Diego all the way to win by just over 2 lengths in 28.78.
Jolly Be Good (29.30), Lady Maud (29.83) and Lord Sugar (29.04) all went nicely.
Scaffs Misty (17.17), and Kilmalady Biffo (16.35) both went OK in their trials while new recruit, Taranis Diva impressed with her 16.69 with her first workout for a few months.
Wednesday 6th
Just the one winner this evening as Keeperhill Hawk kept up his good recent form as he flew the lids and led all the way to win in 29.06.
Thursday 7th
A great night down at Hove as we managed 2 winners from our 2 runners.
Slippery Patch continued his excellent form with another win in the 515 standard. Patch held his pitch well at the corner but was forced to check off the 2nd bend but really stuck to his task and led coming home to beat Bridge Bandit by just over a length in 30.02.
Droopys Danneel made it 5 wins from 7 races since joining the kennel as she ran another game race in the bitches 515 open. Danni stumbled slightly from the boxes and took a nasty whack on the bend but rode it well and always looked the likely winner as she turned 3rd going in to the back straight. She led at the 3rd turn to win well by 2 1/2 lengths in 29.90.
Southern Angel trialled very well before racing to record 30.22. Angel broke well and tired slightly coming home but it's early days with her yet and she has a bright future.
Friday 8th
2 winners from today's meetings at Swindon. Alarming Arti got his first win for the kennel as he ran a great first bend and led going in to the 3rd bend to win in style by over 5 lengths in a personal best 28.90.
Inishmore Impact just made the corner in front and ran right away with his A2 to win by over 6 lengths in 28.88.
Saturday 9th
Swords Messi ran a very brave race to win his open race at Coventry this morning. He showed lovely early and threw himself round the bend to stretch clear down the back and held on at the line.
Kilmalady Biffo ran a blinder on his return as he went down by the narrowest of margins in the sprint.
Saleen Tompajoe badly injured a shoulder in his hurdle race and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
A couple of winners from this evening's meeting at Swindon.
Alarming Jacks continued her brilliant run of form as she turned a good A1 into a procession as she won by over 4 lengths in a very fast 28.34. Southern Angel ran a hugely promising race on debut for the kennel to finish 2nd.
Hey Diego gave the kennel another 1-2 in the A1 as he beat Kelseys Prince by 3 lengths in 28.60. Diego has now won 2 of his 3 races since returning from a winter rest and should continue to improve. Kelseys Prince has not been given enough runs lately at Swindon and it's likely he'll have to go back on the open race scene.
Jolly Bullseye again showed his liking for Wimbledon as he moved well to record 28.55 in a pre race trial.

Week Ending 3rd March

Tuesday 26th
A fantastic trial session for us today with all of our dogs going very nicely.
Taranis Rex flew round in his first 4 bend trial of the year and went just 3 spots outside the track record as he recorded 28.23. Rex will be kept ticking over at Swindon with the Ladbrokes Arc firmly on the agenda. The run of Southern Angel who was only beaten by 1 1/2 lengths by Rex was quite sensational as she's only just completing her qualifying trials and I can't remember us having a bitch record 28.45 in qualifying before. She's a brilliant addition to the kennel and it'll be very exciting to follow her progression.
Wagama joined the strength as she won her trial by 1 1/2 lengths in 29.75.
Jolly Be Good (16.27), Lord Sugar (16.41) and Lady Maud (16.50) all improved nicely from their sprints last week and will step up to 4 bends next week.
Kilmalady Biffo returned from injury in sparkling form as he posted a 16.15 in a solo workout. It's likely he'll head to Poole for a competition.
Motor Home returned from injury with a very pleasing 16.62.
Wednesday 27th
A couple of winners to begin the week with. Mullingar Mer made it 2 wins from 3 since returning to graded company as she led at the halfway point to win her A2 in 29.16.
Keeperhill Hawk got a much deserved win in his A3 as he also led at the halfway point to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 28.96. Hawk has been running consistently well without winning and it's great to see him get his head in front.
Thursday 1st March
Another great night at Hove for us this evening as we managed 2 winners and a couple of 2nds.
Tibetan Skies made light work of his 515m maiden open as he led at the 2nd bend to win by over 6 lengths in a fastest of the night 29.68. It was a modest race to be fair but he's won it really well and it was a good performance considering he's not been in the kennel too long. He'll head to Monmore for a sprint trial next week before going for a 630m competition there the following week.
Gemstone Jack ran a superb race as he won a tough division of the 515m standard in good style. Jack has taken to Hove well and was a shade unlucky there last week but ran his heart out tonight to win at 14/1.
Droopys Danneel ran a very good race as she finished 2nd. Danni missed the break and got crowded on the run up and took a nasty whack on the bend but worked her way through to finish well.
Slippery Patch had every chance in his standard open but ran another very good race to finish 2nd to the very decent Airlie Impact.
Friday 2nd
We had a terrific afternoon at Swindon winning 4 of the 5 races we were represented in.
Swarez finally got her trapping boots on as she flew the lids and won her A2 easily in a very fast 28.54. She was bought from Ireland after competing in a very good quality unraced final at Kilkenny so it was nice to see her Irish form transfer to here. She's now qualified to run in the bags competition and will be one of our two runners in the bitches event.
Alarming Jacks will fill the other space in the bitches race as she qualified for the comp today as she broke well from trap 1 and ran a terrific first bend to quickly assert in her A1. She went on to win in good style by over 4 lengths in 28.85.
Gemstone Billy was foot perfect in his S2 as he broke well and managed to hold his position in to the bend to turn 2nd to Call Poacher. A comfortable win always looked on the cards and he strode clear to win by over 5 lengths in 41.72. Billy along with Droopys Harper will represent us in the staying divisions of the bags comp.
Fishersmans Leah ran a brilliant 3rd bend to force her way through on the rails and went on to win her A2 by 3 1/4 lengths in 29.48.
Ding Hero capped a great day as he won his Romford 575m open race by over 8 lengths. He broke well and took the lead up off the 2nd bend and just ran right away from a good field. He'll head to Monmore next for their 630m competition.
Saturday 3rd
A couple of winners from tonight's meeting at Swindon.
Chilli Hot Sauce broke in typically good fashion and led all the way to win her D1 contest nicely. She'll be our runner in the sprint heat of the bags comp.
Youngster, Stanton Ovation, got his first race win. He fell out the boxes but showed a lovely turn of early pace and ran a brave first bend to take the lead up. He stretched right away down the back before tiring coming home and just held on. He'll of learnt plenty from that and should continue to improve.
Jolly Bullseye was given his first look at Wimbledon tonight as we aim him towards the sky meeting that's coming up in a couple of weeks. Jolly broke well and ran the track brilliantly to record a flying 28.33. From what I can remember this is only around 3 lengths off the track record so we were obviously delighted with this effort. After the Wimbledon Sky race he'll be kept just for the Swindon Arc and then the Derby.
Sunday 4th
We left it late for a winner at Coventry but Crinkill Jewel came up trumps in the last race of the night as she turned handy in her 6 bend open and always looked the likely winner. Crink's hit the front on the 5th bend and ran away to score by over 4 lengths in 41.53.
Saleen Tompajoe ran a cracking race over the hurdles as he finished a good 2nd. He missed the break and was crowded all the way to the bend but stuck on gamely and will definitely be entered for the hurdles comp they have coming up at the end of the month.