Reflection on Hove, Preview Of The Poole Leg

Like a flash, the second leg of the BAGS Track Championship has come round, taking place at Poole on Saturday afternoon (live on SIS).

Looking back to the first leg at Hove, it isn't unfair to say that we were very poor in that leg. Nothing seemed to really go well for us. Poole, to give them credit, had a really good innings, landing some key places, with Hove obviously dominating on home soil. To be as far behind as we are makes us the underdogs going into this leg. Still, there are 20 races to go in this competition yet, so fingers crossed we can put on a good show at Poole on Saturday.

Poole is a completely different ball game to Hove, and both us at Hove have tried to prep for it well with plenty of trials. We are both going from strong gallops to a tight track, which always makes things difficult. In terms of reading a card, it also makes it difficult for the viewer, as realistically you don't know how 6 dogs, 4 from different tracks, are truly going to track in race conditions. I think, if anything, we have the slight advantage over Hove here, in that Poole operate the same traps as us, meaning our ping breakers shouldn't have any issues here. Apart from that though, the home advantage is well and truly with Poole, who I'm expecting will win this leg with ease.

In terms of our team, it's fair to say that we're missing that key performer. In recent years, we've had one key star of the team (Ding Hero, Mercurial Lady). We have some good greyhounds, no question, however we're missing that key ingredient. Hove have theirs in the form of Millwards Joker, who looks the big runner on the card.

15:08 - The BAGS Track Championship Sprint
My Pick: Dustin Eagle (Poole)

After pretty much putting a line through him last time, Eagle made it look easy at Hove, landing the sprint there in a good 16.33. His trials at Poole are awesome, and will make him a very worthy favourite here. The track knowledge will also pay dividends.

In terms of our chances, this is certainly one of our weaker showings. Both Brookend Aye and Hastetothewind have put in some decent trial lines, with Aye in particular (having watched her) showing some good early pace to get to the bend, though getting a bit lost between the first and second. As is the case with sprinting though, a good break and a clean run can allow anyone to win it. 

15:28 - The BAGS Track Championship Dogs
My Pick: Izzy Handsome

I'm predicting a good day for Poole, and the winners wont stop here, with Izzy Handsome looking ideally drawn here. Sam Osborne's greyhound has regular 26. runs on his card, and running in regular A1's at the track. I think he's particular well housed here. The 1 dog, Ferdia Oscar, put in a good trial last time here, but seems to get into bother more often than not in his races, and isn't the most consistent at the boxes. Rocket Gun, the other Poole greyhound on his outside, put in an awesome run last time out, but looking at his card it looked a bit of a 'flash in the pan'.

I do think we have a good chance of scoring some decent points here, most certainly from Forest Hi Boy. Kevin Hutton's dog ran a good trial at Poole on Tuesday, showing some decent early pace, and even looking a touch lost round the bends. If he shows the same sort of early that he showed in the IT at Hove, he could put a margin between the field going into the third. The draw isn't too bad either. Conahy Dasher doesn't fair all that well from the draw, though. Trap 5, with an early pace sort in 6 isn't ideal, however having a couple of looks at the track will help his cause.

15:44 - The BAGS Track Championship Puppies
My Pick: Forest White Boy

As was the case (and proved not to be) with Hove, I think we are really strong here in the puppies. My pick, Forest White Boy, ran a really good race at Hove in behind Questhouse Rocky, showing some good early pace in the race. He's trialled round here too. Although not the flashiest of times, he's got to find a couple of lengths on that time, which looks like it could win the race with a 27.10 ish run. Neil Jones' pup will have to break and get ahead of the 4 in my mind to win this.

To Tone Charlie is the other Swindon runner here, and he's been running some cracking races recently in A2 company, winning and coming 2nd on all his races on the racecard. I do question the lack of a trial, though. Nevertheless, he's a dog that is capable of doing it either way, and so long as he adapts to the track, he'll run a good race here.

One to watch in this one is Droopys Acapulco. Seamus Cahill's pup looks a really nice sort, and has bundles of early pace to go with it. He'll run a big race.

There is an obvious favourite here mind, in trap 2, Lols Bethany. Paul Woodhouse's lass has some form in A2 grade at Poole, posting times in the 27.10 ish race. However, she's only putting in these runs when on the bunny and left to it. I question whether, if she fluffs the start and finds trouble, that she can come through off the back.

16:04 - The BAGS Track Championship Stayers
My Pick: Cashen Matteo

This is a really interesting race, with several good 4 bend campaigners stepping up for Poole's rather short 6 bend trip. I've sided with the local knowledge of Cashen Matteo. Alma Keppie's dog ran a good race at Hove, winning his IT heat the hard way. He does look like he needs the further trip, however it's a case of getting the full 6 bends. If he can show his A1 early pace, with the staying prowess of the IT run, he could land a big win here on debut over the trip.

Another interesting runner is Portavoe Girl. Kevin Hutton's runner put in a really impressive trial on Tuesday, clocking 39.69. This sort of trip looks ideal for her. Although she's bred to stay, really she doesn't stay a stiff 6 bends (such as Hove's 695). Here, she's in her element, and could have an ideal draw on the outside.

Ken Tester's runner here, Droopys Franklin, could also be a big runner. Clocking 26.91 over the 4 bend trip last time, Franklin looks out-and-out set for a short 6 bend career, with the 515m at Hove being a touch too short. There's a lack of pace on his direct outside, meaning a clear run looks to be on the cards. 

16:22 - The BAGS Track Championship Bitches
My Pick: Monleek Diamond

I actually said down at Hove that this lass, Monleek Diamond, looks absolutely made for Poole, and she's got a cracking draw here. Norah Mac's bitch ran a decent enough race at Hove, and has some cracking early pace in her races. A good trial of 26.98 looks good enough to win this one. She will have to clear the 3 to make this plain sailing, but I'm confident she will. This looks a big race for Team Hove.

As for our hopefuls, again this is a race where we need a few points. We aren't particularly strong here, however. Cimla Visa ran a decent enough trial here, and should find a couple of lengths on the time. However, she's not really a sharp breaker, which really will be needed in this one. Rockmount Delta, although the trial was very good, needs to clear alot of pace on her inside to be competitive. Fingers crossed for some big runs here.

16:42 - The BAGS Track Championship Standard
My Pick: Zara Two

Another potential winner for Hove here, with Zara Two. Norah Mac will be hoping for a good afternoon at Poole! Two has the ideal trap draw inside the sleeper in 2, and should assert on the rail. Looking at her trials, comments of RlsMid always look ominous on away greyhounds, as it gives the impression (well, to me anyway) that they're moving off at the bends. Hopefully this isn't the case here.

As for our two hopefuls, it doesn't exactly make for great reading but I think we could struggle in this one. I do, however, have high hopes for Rockview Hi. Terry Atkins' runner looks a really nice sort, and shows some good early in his racing at Swindon. I do wonder how he'll adapt to a tight track (and again, the lack of a trial is a worry)

16:58 - The BAGS Track Championship Dogs
My Pick: Millwards Joker (NAP)

To be fair, you have to be blind to not see the credentials of Millwards Joker. Seamus Cahill's charge ran an awesome race in the IT race at Hove, and ran an equally impressive trial on Tuesday night. He's another, with his early pace and good trapping, that looks an ideal match for Poole's surface. It's interesting to note that he's coming back to a track he was once graded at. It just shows how much this lad has come on.

I can see Thats My Hero putting in a big run for us in this one, to hopefully bring a bit of sparkle back to proceedings! Ben McBride's charge ran a good race at Hove, just not quite seeing the trip out. His trials round Poole aren't anything particularly special, but he has some serious early pace this dog. If he can get out and challenge the Joker to the bend, he might just out-jostle him. He'll be a big price, but I reckon a big player.

Offshore Cruise is another interesting runner for us. Pete Swadden's dog had been running really well in A1's, however has hit a bit of an off patch. He'll need to be at his trapping best here. On his winning A1 form, you would argue that this would be his ideal track, but he'll have to show some of that form to be competitive here.

17:18 - The BAGS Track Championship Stayers
My Pick: Thandis Thai Ni (NB)

Is this our potential Joker in the pack? Although I think Minglers Port will go off a good favourite here, Thai Ni could be a big player through the middle. Nick Ralph's lass hasn't got form over the trip, however is as game as anything to grab the win. If she can put in a good trapping performance here, I can't really see anything in the race that will catch her on the bunny. She could be a fair price, too (so long as any bookies don't read this!)

As said though, Minglers Port looks a rather worthy favourite here. Paul Woodhouse's lass has some excellent times on her card, including a 39.03 run in a trial, along with a win in a kennel sweepstake.

17:37 - The BAGS Track Championship Bitches
My Pick: Missys Touch

An interesting race this one, with a case being made for just about every lady in the race! I've sided with the local knowledge in Missys Touch. John Campbell's girl has some good A1 times against her card, and looks to have that early pace needed to get round in front at Poole. With a wide on the outside, and Lady Jayne (not known for trapping), she should be in a handy position going into the first.

As I said, all the runners here have a shout, including our two. Kingsmill Go looks an ideal candidate for Poole (when she does hit the lids right). She trialled really well, considering she missed the break rather badly. She ran well, enough to put her in the notebook against any opposition in this competition.

Lady Jayne is another big runner for us. Matt Dartnall's homebred put in a really good first look trial on Monday. She's one that's always handy if she can get near the leaders early. A repeat of the trial form would be really useful here.

17:53 - The BAGS Track Championship Standard
My Pick: Drink To That

This is possibly a masterstroke pulled by Hove here, with Drink To That, a campaigner over 2 bends, stepped up to this short 4 bends. It looks ideal for him, drawn trap 1 with a hit-or-miss sort in 2. The trial time is very good for a first look, and he's certainly the best drawn dog in the race.

As for our runners, again there isn't much chance of big points here. The better of our chances comes with Mr October. Running for Ben McBride, October had been running well in A3 and A2, showing some really good trapping. He's had a couple of decent trials at Poole, however he'd have to improve on them to land this one.

It doesn't exactly make great reading for Team Swindon, however I do think (with one or two big runs), we could put in a good performance to hopefully make up for the car crash at Hove! Ideally, we want to be coming out of this leg beating Hove, with Poole taking the spoils. Looking at their team, they have some big guns, but not alot of depth, whereas we have a good mix through the card. It will certainly be an interesting day, the best of luck to all owner's, trainers and greyhounds involved. I'll be down at Poole, so feel free to come and say hello!

Happy Punting!

Wattsy,
 

BAGS Track Championship - Hove Leg Preview

So, the championship is finally here, well for our group anyway. Wednesday afternoon see’s the first leg of the Track Championship take place for our group down at Brighton and Hove Greyhound Stadium. We face off against Poole and Hove, with none of the 3 teams really standing out against each other. In other groups, you can argue there is a ‘standout’ team, such as Newcastle in the northern side. However here, I believe we are pretty equal with Hove in terms of squad depth, with maybe Poole just lagging behind on the quality side.

There are 10 heats of the championship Wednesday afternoon (live on SIS), with the heats starting at Race 5 (15:28). We haven’t fared too badly on the trap draws, and to be honest we should be looking to come out of this leg with a decent point’s total. I do think that Hove will win, but we should aim for as many points as possible, so we can land a blow at Swindon on the 6^th December.

Here, I will be giving my thoughts on each race, as well as our chances for points;

15:28 – The BAGS Track Championship Sprint

My Pick: Drink To That (Hove)

Sprints, as I’ve spoken about before, are never going to be our strong point, however we don’t look to have a particularly bad hand here. Drink To That, trained by Seamus Cahill, looks to have been campaigned with this competition in mind, given his good form in D1 company at Hove. Form beating Kizi is pretty decent, and consistently good times also help his cause.

I think our best hope here lies on the outside in Conahy Dasher. Ben McBride’s dog has been running well in A2 company, showing good early pace, which seems to have translated well to sprinting. The 16.58 first look round there is OK, it’s not setting the world alight, however he should be able to improve on that. Given the narrow bends at Hove, the inside Middle runners might be looking to cut in, which could give him a nice run around the outside. Here’s hoping, anyway.

Recycled Theo is an interesting pick that didn’t even enter my mind before this competition in all honesty. I do remember the race in which he was disqualified, which I was shocked at in all honesty. Since then, it looks as though he’s training for a hurdle campaign, possibly the Springbok next year?

15:48 – The BAGS Track Championship Puppies

My Pick: Forest White Boy (Swindon)

The puppy division is one that I really thought we would struggle in, yet it turns out we have, arguably, the strongest hand here. Forest White Boy, trained by Neil Jones (who, by the way, has like a 400-odd mile round journey to get to Brighton, hat’s off to him) looks to have a plum draw on the outside of the group. To me, the only real obstacle will be getting ahead of the 4 dog, Questhouse Rocky, who looks a really nice sort for Derek Knight. I think White Boy, over this further trip, will be in his element, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him win this comfortably.

Ballyhill Oscar certainly isn’t without a shout in here either. Matthew Dartnall’s black has had a couple of decent spins round the track, and in turn won his A2 last week in good fashion as well. The issue with him is that he is completely devoid of early pace, meaning he’s always coming through walls of dogs. He has the pace to get there and compete, but it’s hard to fully back him when you know he has to do it the hard way. With the early outside him, he could find his way to the front late on and nab some decent points for us.

16:08 – The BAGS Track Championship Dogs

My Pick: Cashen Matteo (Poole)

3 different team winners in the first 3 races? That’s what you call fair tipping! I’ve gone for Cashen Matteo here, trained by Alma Keppie down at Poole. He’s run at Hove several times before. You’ll see on his card that he has the 1 OR win back in July, where he won (what was in all honesty, a very poor maiden) in style, however got put in his place a bit on the return visit by Droopys Odell. I think Matteo is a very decent dog, in this sort of company that he has on Wednesday. He’s got our Swift Eugene on his outside, who is as slow away as he is, with all the early pace in the race on the rails. I see it that he gets a solo on the outside and lands a blow off the 3^rd bend here.

I don’t think we’re without a chance here, but I think our best hope lies with Forest Hi Boy for Kevin Hutton. Hi Boy has been running fairly decently at Swindon, without landing that big win yet. He’s got some good times on his card, and has the benefit of a couple of looks round Hove. I can see him possibly getting squeezed a bit at the bend. In my view he needs to drop into 3^rd or so (look after himself), then start his running down the back. He’s got a decent sort in Boltatwelldigger on his outside, so he’ll be wanting to try and lead him. Zara Two, who, in my view, looks to be the worthy favourite in this one, has the early pace to lead round too, so he doesn’t want to let him get a run early.

16:27 – The BAGS Track Championship Stayers

My Pick: Ballyhill Amber (NAP, Swindon)

I’m really confident going into this heat, after the performance that Amber put in a couple of weeks ago over the trip. She looked like a completely different bitch, trouncing a class field to win in 41.76. It was her early pace, and all-round staying prowess that really impressed me. Fingers crossed she can reproduce that sort of run at Hove. Her most recent performances there aren’t exactly great, and she was relatively fancied in some of them too, but to me she’s come back from her lay-off a different animal.

This isn’t exactly an easy race to decipher, as there are a few greyhounds without recent form over this demanding a trip. The 695, though the times are quicker than our 685, takes some getting, but is a trip you can win off the front or off the back.

One greyhound that fits this is Bua Paprika. The 41.68 trial time is superb, however he has yet to do that sort of clock in a race there. Also, it’s easy to do fast times in solo’s.

16:47 – The BAGS Track Championship Standard

My Pick: River Ace

This, in all honesty, isn’t a particularly good race for us. Distant Everland, trained by Maurice Walsh, has a very peculiar trial line round there from last week. A time of 31.00 is obviously poor, but a ‘CkRnIn’ comment is a bit weird. Fingers crossed it was just a case of not knowing where he was, and getting used to his new surroundings. I did think that he would make a cracking Hove 515m dog. 

That’s My Hero is another that’s a bit of a mystery. To be honest, I thought he would really struggle to see out the tough 515m trip, and it looks as though that will be the case. I feel that, if they were running the 475m there as well as 515m, then he would’ve been a shoe in for that trip, but 515m is too far really. Potentially this is a pretty low scoring race for us (in what is, arguably, a poor race), so any points here are a bonus.

As for the winner, I say look no further than the Poole dog in 2, River Ace. Trainer Phil Chatfield seems to be getting the best out of this dog, with good sub 27.00 runs recently in top grade round there. Though I do believe that the quality of grade at Poole has somewhat diminished, those sort of performances are going to put him in good stead here.

One thing that has come to light in covering this card is the lack of trials that the Poole dogs have had. Going from a particularly tight, short track to Hove is a bit of a step up, and realistically you’d want a look round there before you race there. It might work in their favour, it might not, but at least our team can go there knowing that most of them have had a good look round the track!

17:07 – The BAGS Track Championship Dogs

My Pick: Millwards Joker (NB, Hove)

Again, this is a pretty hard race for us, as the 2 dog in here, my Next Best, looks to have been campaigned with this competition in mind. Seamus’s dog has really good 29.80 runs recently in top grade at Hove, a grade that really stands up against the best, This race is also seemingly devoid of early pace, meaning he should go up on his home and win this relatively easily.

In terms of our chances, I do think that Bezzas Boy has a cracking draw on the wide outside. Matt Dartnall’s dog has been really hitting the mark recently, shooting up the grades and posting a good 28.97 run last time. He’s looking better each time he runs, and the trap draw here suits. I hope he can improve on the rather flat sectional from his trial round Hove, as if he can track the leader round he might be able to pick up some points.

The rest of the make up of the race is really based on gathering as many points as possible. There are a few real ‘RanOn’ types in there, hoping to snatch a place late on. Maui Hawk, for example (who, as a follower of Hove, seems to have been around forever!) is a real late-charging greyhound, so he’ll be one to watch at the finish.

In the same breathe, it has to be argued that Millabbey Terry is there for the same reason. He looked to me a complete Hove dog back in his A1 runs, running on strongly over the 480m trip here. With a better trap draw, you could’ve made a bit of a case for him. The issue is that 3 box, though at least the 2 should be out of the way early enough. I reckon he could grab a few all-important points though.

17:22 – The BAGS Track Championship Bitches

My Pick: Monleek Diamond (Hove)

This, in my mind, is the toughest race on the card. It’s a 4/1the field job this, with a case being made for just about all the girls involved in this. I’ve sided with the top, Monleek Diamond, solely on the draw and the hope that, if she gets round, she has a great chance of winning.

The makeup of the race actually really suits our two runners, but it’s difficult to say whether one or the other will win it. It’s a race where the other two teams have out-and-out early pace, whereas we have two greyhounds who are going to be coming off the back.

Kingsmill Go ran an absolute stormer in an OR last week at Hove. It doesn’t look much on the card, but the way she went about her business was very impressive, and I reckon she could come on a bundle. If she can find a few lengths (which, on her last run, wouldn’t be too difficult), she could come through to win this easily, so long as there isn’t a wall of other greyhounds to go through.

Sharp Exit, although her recent card doesn’t read particularly well, always seems to be there or thereabouts in these competitions. She’ll be running on like a steam train at the finish, just fingers crossed that she can pick up some decent points!

17:38 – The BAGS Track Championship Stayers

My Pick: Tennessee Morning (Hove)

Another race where, barring the favourite, really the points are anybody’s. Morning ran a superb race a few weeks back, winning an OR over the 695m trip, bowling along up front to win in a good time of 41.60. That sort of performance would see him land this one too.

On the same note, we have two greyhounds in here that potentially have great chances. Portavoe Girl has experience on the OR circuit, however she never really put in too great a performance. She has a win round there, albeit in a pretty poor race. I do think that she has come on from then, after a spell of lameness and building up her fitness in the A2 grades at Swindon. I think she can come on from that trial round there and go well on the outside. 

Rockmount Delta is a very interesting runner through the middle for Paul Foster. Still a relatively unknown quantity, Delta trialled very well a few weeks back, clocking 42.00 for our 685m trip. Although she didn’t really get to stretch her legs in the S1 after her trial, you do feel that she has potential over the trip. She hasn’t had a look either, meaning you don’t really know what to expect from her going in. Will she run better fresh?

17:56 – The BAGS Track Championship Standard

My Pick: Ericks Gav

*Please Note: Since the original card came out, this race had to be re-drawn due to an incorrect seeding on Kingsmill Anois. The correct line up for this race is as follows:

1) Droopys Franklin

2) Kingsmill Anois

3) Ericks Gav

4) Droopys Bass

5) Athlacca Olympic (M)

6) Killacolla Lion (M)

This is a blinding race, with real quality going into the traps for this one. I’m siding with Gav, as I think he’s the star of this year’s team. Ben McBride’s charge has had a bit of a stop-start year, with plenty of time off the track and not a lot on it. He posted a superb 28.13 earlier in the year in the Monmore Puppy Derby. However, since then it’s fair to say he hasn’t really done a lot. Since being off for a couple of months, Gav has come back to win a top A1 in a decent time, as well as showing what he’s truly capable of in a cracking 29.99 first look at Hove. Looking at the comments, he looks to have lost a couple of lengths just due to his inexperience at the track. He should come on a bundle for the trial.

I wouldn’t be writing our other hopeful, Kingsmill Anois out either. Anois is another who has really hit form recently, showing some good early pace in his racing to end up in A1. His trial at Hove wasn’t exactly ground-breaking, but it is a look nonetheless. He can come on from that trial.

18.11 – The BAGS Track Championship Bitches

My Pick: Hoof It Katie

Hoof It Katie is another one for Team Seamus (how it’s looking anyway!) that has been laid out for this one. A progressive sort in graded company, she’s another that likes to be on the bunny early. When she’s paw perfect going into the bend, she can put in some decent performances, including a recent 29.99 in an OR. It’s a case of lead round, and hope that a certain Swindon raider isn’t waiting to pounce!

Lady Jayne was making me well and truly scream at my television last week. I fancied her quite strong in her race, and didn’t end up betting her. Instead, I ended up watching a decent race, where she lost several lengths around the bends due to bits of trouble, and she still ends up winning! She’s a lass who’s always going to be there or there abouts, and is a real asset to the team. I think it’s a case of more of the same here, so long as she can track down the favourite (and my tip).

I’ll be honest, I don’t really rate Cimla Visa’s chances to be very high here. She didn’t put in a particularly fast trial time, though it is a track she’s run before. She has race form round there, coming 2^nd in an OR, though it was a very standard time. Fingers crossed she can get us some decent points.

Happy Punting, and the best of luck to everyone involved! I’ll be down at Hove, come along and say hello if you’re there!

Wattsy,