The William Hill Greyhound Derby, Produce Stakes Discussion

I know it's not strictly a Swindon-based entry, however I feel it'd be daft not to cover arguably the biggest night in greyhound racing. Saturday see's the final of the Derby take place at Wimbledon, with Swindon's Kevin Hutton running with Screen Critic in that final. A big good luck to Kev for the race, but also a mighty great well done for getting to such a big final.

19:08 - William Hill Bet on the Move 273m Sprint
My Pick: Ballymac Jones

I actually thought that the sprint division was on a bit of a downward spiral recently, however here you have, arguably, the top 6 sprinters in the country at the moment (barring Your A Champ, Lil Risky). Ballymac Jones is my pick here for Pat Rosney. This dog is the model of consistancy, winning in decent times at Nottingham, and being there or there abouts in the majority of his races. He's a dog that can ping (vital in a sprint), but even if he misses it slightly he has the EP to get to the bend handy with his rivals.

19:23 - William Hill Download the App 480m Standard - Division A
My Pick: Loughteen Blanco

Loughteen Blanco for me in this one. I know that Lemon Pluto has a bit of quality, but he's too hit or miss at the boxes to be backing him. Blanco seems to always be able to pace to the bend well. He also has a terrific Wimbledon record.

19:38 - William Hill Download the App Stayers Stakes
My Pick: Farloe Tango (NAP)

Cracking race once again (hard not to expect that on derby final night!), however, to me Tango is different league to everything in this race. Yes, I'm bigging him up that much. I remember that run at Yarmouth when he first went over the trip, and he just cruised past everything in his wake, even checking rather violently at the 5th (if my memory serves me right). Put it this way, if you're thinking about betting him here, why not just have your stake on him winning the St. Leger? I think he could, potentially, be THE star of the stayers division.

19:57 - William Hill iPhone, iPad and iPad Mini Derby Invitation
My Pick: Holdem Spy

My pick goes with the 'butcher's apron' in Holdem Spy. I would argue that this greyhound is one of the fastest in training, it's just that sometimes I think his mind wonders a touch! Even with a dog like Teejays Bluehawk in the race (who I've never been too high on as a top class OR performer if I'm honest), I think the Spy should go well here. There's such a lack of any form of pace in this race also, I can't see anything really leading him out of the 3rd.

20:12 - William Hill Dorando Marathon
My Pick: Musical Gaga (NB)

Wow, now this is a race! Cracking marathon this one, and my vote goes for Musical Gaga. Like many others, I've been waiting for this bitch to go over a marathon. She obliged in style over 750m at Romford, however this will be the true test for her. To me, the trip wont be an issue, and she has the early to lead and hold on strong. In all seriousness though, I can see 4 potential winners in this race, it's that tough a race!

20:28 - William Hill Champion Hurdle Final
My Pick: Droopys Lorenzo

I do admit to having a bit of 5/2 about Lorenzo before the heats last week to win this competition, and overall I'm pretty happy. Somehow he clocked the fastest heat win, even though the comment 'Hit5H' is an understatement. He practically ran straight into it, and didn't even look like jumping it! To me, Lorenzo is the quickest dog in the race, it's just whether his jumping holds up to the masters of the jumping in my mind, 5 and 6.

20.43 - William Hill Derby Plate Final
My Pick: Castlelyons Cofi

To me, Cofi is completely different league to the others in this race (no offence to the others!). Charlie's dog ran an awesome race last time out, and looks to have a perfect make up here to do much of the same. Hopefully the past couple of runs are this dog coming to form, as to me he has the potential to be a good competition dog, however his form is very hit and miss at the moment.

21:08 - William Hill Greyhound Derby Final 2013
My Pick: Screen Critic

This race, honestly, I would just sit back and enjoy the spectacle. I've tipped Screen Critic because, let's be honest, it would be great to see him win. In fairness, on the draw he has an outstanding chance. Enjoy the final, of what has been a truely great Derby.

21:35 - William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed 480m Puppy Stakes
My Pick: Droopys Odell

Again, it's just a case of scope in class in this race, as Droopys Odell looks a class above the rest in this race. Seamus Cahill's bitch has been crying out for the red, and should make full use of it here with a middle runner in 2. One thing to mention, and I know that for scheduling reasons it's the case, but it does feel really perculiar 1) the derby being so early, and 2) there being 5 races after the derby. Very odd.

21.50 - William Hill Download the App 480m Standard - Division B
My Pick: Alterra

I actually thought this was a very give-or-take race. It's the sort of race where, if I were at the track, I probably wouldn't actually have a bet in it. Alas, I've sided with Ernie Gaskin's runner Alterra here. I watched him at Romford last week clocking 24.05, and he looked mightly impressive, showing some great early toe.

22:05 - William Hill In The App Store 480m British Bred

One slight thing before I start, and I'll be talking more about the Produce Stakes in a couple of paragraphs. I do just wonder why there are 3 '11 whelp British Breds in this race, yet they aren't entered for the Produce Stakes? Seems a wierd decision.

Anywho, my vote here goes for one of my favourites, Bonamassa Rocks. He's a cracking dog, and when he's on the buddy he's a hard dog to break down. He'll have a hard time getting an early advantage over 1 and 3 though, which could give Kev's Gemstone Jack a peach of a run through the middle!

22:20 - William Hill Exclusive Mobile Bonuses 480m Ladies
My Pick: Fionntra Molly

Good little race this, with my pick being the 'form' bitch in the race, Fionntra Molly. She's been winning for fun at Coventry recently. You should always be following a bitch in form, alas the bet here has to be her. This is as tough a bitches race as you'll find, however, so her task may not be all that easy. Expect a good EP battle between 1 and 2.

22:35 - William Hill In The App Store Seniors
My Pick: Jazz Apollo

In terms of recent form, I do believe that Jazz Apollo has the best card in this race. He's still clocking 29.70's at Hove, which for a 4 1/2 year old is just awesome. I do love the seniors/veteran races, there should definitely be more of them in the calendar. Keep an eye on Crusty Crab in trap 6 for Ray Jones!

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 As you all know, it's the Produce Stakes time again. However, this year has certainly taken a tumble in the numbers. We're used to getting around 75 entries or so, which, when you factor in the dogs that are often withdrawn for whatever reason, the number usually goes down to 70.

This year we've got a total of 56 (upon the first count), which is obviously rather disappointing. Obviously, a number of factors are involved, the main of which is that the litters just aren't being bred any more. Surely, this number of entries should be an indication to everyone that we need to look at how we treat our home breeders and see about how we can change this pattern around. 

Again, one thing that did surprise me were a few of the absent dogs that I knew where British Breds. I touched on it in my OR preview, the likes of the Offshore Sox litter, the Final Gold litter all missing. I do wonder why this is the case, and what can be done to perhaps get them to enter next time around. One thing that I think must be done is that the date needs to change. July makes it too early for the younger whelps to get proper racing and experience in, giving advantage to the older whelps. Now that our Produce is the only one remaining, I feel a September date would be more suited to alleviate those age worries. Maybe this is something the Breeders Forum should look at? 
 

The Derby, Stayers Races, The Produce Stakes

First things first, and a big well done has to go to Kevin Hutton and the team for getting Screen Critic through to the William Hill Greyhound Derby Final. It takes a hell of a training feat to get a dog to the ‘big dance’, so congratulations. This week in greyhound racing must be one of the best for the connections of the finalists, knowing that the big race is coming up. What with the Derby Dinner etc., it makes for a terrific event. A lot of questions are asked about the Derby (more the actual home of the event, rather than the event itself), however it cannot be disputed that the competition captivates the greyhound fraternity. If (like moi) you were on him Ante post (first 6), then you can sit back and relax to watch the final! I must say, looking at the trap draw as I would any open race, you have to say he has the plum draw of the race (along with Sidaz Jack). I hope to do a full Derby night preview on this blog sometime in the week.

Back to things at home, and it’s been good to see a slight resurgence in the stayers division at Swindon. It seems nowadays that we’re having more and more stayers races, which makes for a much more interesting card. Variety is the spice of life, as they say, so it’s good to see this variation. The problem with maintaining two separate grades is that obviously the greyhounds have to be trialled over the trip before commencing racing. However, with the recent rule change going from 8 to 12 weeks being the time that you can be declared ‘out of time’ over a trip, this will certainly help keeping the races going.  Would more variety be accepted? Of course it would. Personally, I’d love to see graded racing over all the trips; however I understand how that can be difficult to keep up.

Of course, just round the corner now is the Produce Stakes, the biggest British Bred race in the calendar. I always look forward to the Produce, as it allows the smaller breeder to compete with the big boys to compete for a big prize. It’s a competition that always springs a few surprises, however it also brings together the best British breds in the country. In terms of our best local chance, I believe the best hope we have is with Fabulous Fusion, batting for the Nick Ralph kennel. She’ll have some competition, however, from several top class dogs including Johnny’s Boy. One big question I’ve asked is whether we might see Mr. Lister and Golden Wonder make an appearance?

R.I.P ID Books, Hello 21st Century

This week marks a sad week in greyhound racing (well, for those that are really that OTT about them), as the long time trusty servant to racing office's, the ID book, is taken out of the rules of racing. In it's place, the microchip technology that has worked so well for the past couple of years becomes the new rule, though markings of the dogs are still available. It might sound a bit like something of nothing, but this step (for greyhound racing as a whole), is pretty significant, as it see's a sport that, a lot of the times seems to struggle with embracing technology, making full use of a very powerful and up to date tool.

The use of the microchipping system, however, makes me wonder whether the sport is actually doing enough to modernise and embrace technology. The marking up procedure, and thus the posting of paperwork etc, is still in tact, meaning that there is still the long turn-around from markup to trial. Knowing a little bit aout how databases work, and with the development of digital photography, I do wonder why a new marking up procedure couldn't be looked into. The idea of markings of a dog should still be in use, however the capture of a photo would surely suffice, and in fact improve on a drawing and sketching? 

As some of you may know, I am on an IT degree, and have a pretty good mind when it comes to computers and that sort of thing. I honestly cannot fathom why, this day in age, a dog cannot be registered and ready to run, literally on the day. The mark up could take place in the form of a photo identification procedure, with the dogs details checked against the Irish/Stud book ID. From here, it's a case of data entry and registration confirmation and voila, the dog should be ready to race. Problems with paperwork could be dealt with there and then, thus saving owners and trainers time, effort and money. This system is relatively basic to set up, and wouldnt cost a great deal, saving money in the long run.

The issue, however, isn't just with this sort of procedure. The embracing technology issue is industry-wide. There are so many ways of reaching new audiences now, it's unreal. All it takes is a but of savvy and working out, and your away. This blog, for example, is completely free to run. Yes, it takes a bit of time to post up every now and again, however you are giving the audience (in this case you, the reader) anoer insight and something different to look at. I applaud trainers who take the initative to try these new things out. Twitter, for example, is a great (and yes, free!) tool to reach a new audience and publicise your product. Trainers are just starting to embrace this, and I've heard but nothing but good things, such as getting in new owners. The number one thing trainers (and companies in general) say to me is how they're struggling to find new people. Embracing these technologies is certainly a start, and I see no reason why we can't use these tools. We as a track have new people attending due to it, so it just shows it works!

The issue with embracing technology is that it does take time and effort to set up, and you do need it working properly and looking good. The other thing is that you need to WANT to use it. Modernisation is there to make things easier, alas go out there and use it!