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,
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