Open Races for Saturday 30th June

G'day again all, welcome to another edition of my ramblings. 

The open race book is a little full now, considering we've got opens near on every week, and what with the Produce Stakes coming up, its pretty hectic at the moment. The draw for the Produce Stakes should be out in the middle of next week. On last count there was around 68 entries, so there is no need for the elimination trials on Tuesday. This number is obviously down a bit from last year, however, as you will see when the draw is out, I think the overall quality is actually very good this year. 

Anyway, I'll natter more about the produce when it comes to it. Saturday sees 4 opens grace the sand, and here's my preview of the races: 

19:57 - The Blunsdon 480 Puppy 

My Pick: Peacemaker - NB

This is a pretty hot puppy race, with Ballymac Wander jumping off the page at you to start with, after winning the Puppy Oaks at Nottingham. However, I do have to query the seeding here. She has comments of Middle and MidW, yet is seeded rails? Seem's very perculiar to me, which leads me to my pick, Peacemaker. He's coming on very nicely for John Millard, having run round gallops such as Coventry and Sittingbourne. He also comes here with a trial (is a Produce pup). The line at Coventry is very telling, I was there that day, and he was seriously unlucky to get crowded out on the third bend. Since then, he's picked up a win at Sittingbourne, and did a very good 29.13 getting beat last time. Being the sole railer, he should get a clear to the bend, and with his early pace he should win this. 

Forest Ronaldo is a big player in this race aswell. Paul Foster's pup has run really well in the last two A1 wins against some very good dogs. He's not quite reached that OR winner status yet, however he's a baby and will surely be a frequent OR winner in no time. Depending on what sort of run he gets on the run up with Wander in 2, he could prove a lively contender vs. Peacemaker. 

As for the others in the race, to me Gorm Cailin and Hey Diego are outclassed in this field, and as such will be double digit prices. Gemstone Jack is on a bit of a down-spell at the moment, I'd like to see him get a good run in this, but something's telling me this is a step too far. 

My Trio: 1-3-2 

20:29 - The Blunsdon Standard 

My Pick: Westmead Adonis - NAP

This is the easiest race on the card really. Adonis, a derby finalist and trained by Nick Savva, trialled here last week and was a length off the clock for his first look. In my book, he's the market leader to win the Produce Stakes, and could go close to breaking the clock in this race. With Matties Mate in 2, as a middle runner, Adonis should pretty much get a clean passage to the bend. 

With such a short price jolly bound to oblige, you'd be better off looking for a forecast link in this race, and I'd be siding with Yeatsie Boy. Kevin Hutton's charge won very comfortably in the A1 last week, and has the pace to even lead this field. My only concern is that he is relatively inexperienced. 

My Trio: 1-6-5 

21:17 - The Blunsdon 509er 

My Pick: Westmead Aouita 

Again, not really original but the short price jolly should win this with relative ease. Nick Savva's charge won nicely last week over the same trip, in a time that I thought looked alot quicker when watching live. For the look round, I'm sure he'll go even better, and I should think he'll break the 30.00 barrier. 

 One big runner for me in this race will be Farloe Skywalker. Matt Dartnall's dog is a veteran now, however he has a stellar CV to his name, and is still a class act even at 4 years of age. One thing I've noticed about this race is that, even with the 4 wide seeds in, both 3 and 4 can stay fairly middle on this long run to the bend, meaning there shouldn't be that much trouble. Skywalker will need to break well and try and get round in front. 

 Kelseys Prince is also a potential party spoiler. Kevin Hutton's runner has a very good 29.85 for the 515 at Hove, a distance that translates very well to this 509m distance. He trailled well enough on Tuesday over 480, recording 28.85 calc. Expect him to be rattling home towards the end. 

My Trio - 2-5-6 

21:49 - The Blunsdon Stayers 

My Pick: Wise Totty 

Toughie of a race this one. I've sided with Totty mainly because I thought she ran really well in the marathon at Oxford the other week, and I think she's got that kick more early pace than her rivals in this race that could see her in front early and stay there. 

Blue Bee seems an obviousl contender to win this race, however she hasn't got a win to her name in quite some time. The Ladbrokes Golden Jacket winner has been running down at Hove for the past few runs, and although there are some good times there (41.51 etc), there isn't a winning line of form. However, if she does run at anything like her best, she will be tough to catch. 

Forest Bonjo is a very interesting runner for Paul Foster in trap 6. Just out of puppy status, I've never really had him down in the formbook as a 6 bend runner. However, he has shown alot more late pace recently than he used to, so he may well be maturing that way. He posted a remarkable 28.60 run over 480 in trials on Tuesday, which tells me he may have enough middle pace in this race to shoot clear. It's whether he stays that will be the issue. 

Droopys Neale comes to us from Mildenhall after winning a 700m open there. The time was, however, rather mediocre, and to be honest he looks a double digit price. Primo Star also is in the same breathe, and looks a shade outclassed. Penskey Rain, the St.Leger Finalist, is always going to be within a shout in these races, and should be paid close attention to. 

My Trio: 2-3-5

Open Race Preview + OBS Predictions - 20th June 2012

As you lovely people may (or may not) have noticed, but we have a shed load of opens advertised for throughout the summer period. The opens in the calendar go up until the 20th July, however I can assure you that the open's span right through August as well!

The OR's on Wednesday night are the last of the £150 jobs, as they were advertised before the change, and were due to support the Monkey 509er (which seems to go through a very weird state of sometimes filling, sometimes not). 

2 Opens are gracing the Blunsdon sand tomorrow, with a couple of hounds in there obviously vying a look round in time for the Produce Stakes. It seems a bit mad really that it's come around again so soon, it was the Arc not too long ago, now the Produce!

20:04: The Swindon Standard

My Pick: Champagne Perry

Good little race this one, and to be honest rather difficult to fathom out, as you have all sorts of track form to juggle about. However, I've stuck with Nick Ralph's Champagne Perry. This son of Perrys Tango has adjusted to the track really well after a short stint with Matt Dartnall, and has an impressive CV, with 5 recent wins under Ralph's lead. His early pace is phenomenal, as he seems to kick into the bend better than I've seen most dogs, and can attack the bend at the same pace he goes into it. Being drawn red in a 5 railer race as well is always a bonus. I feel if he can re-create the same sort of run he did in the heat of the Diamond Jubilee Sweepstake, he wins this. The track, which with a bit of sun on its back suits front runners (in my opinion), should be perfect for him aswell.

He will be tracked down in this race though, and he'll have to hold off a late charge from Nick Savva's Westmead Atlas. Savva's charge, who is heading into the Produce Stakes, has some good form around galloping tracks such as Sittingbourne, and seems to leave his running very late. In the future, 6 bends seems to be at his game, however for now he can compete at this level. His best time on the card is the 27.96 at Henlow, which in all honesty would be enough, if replicated to Swindon, to win this. However, the early pace on his inside might catch him out.

Other contenders that are in the race include Hopefully Gold, who is going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment. The Gold that was running around 2 months ago would've trounced this field, but she seems to be a tad off the ball. Dippy Doo, for trainer Terry Kibble, has some credentials, as he won round here in the Easter Bunny Final back in April. Coolruss Tom, I will be honest, I don't know enough about, however he's a progressive Henlow grader, who again is coming for the Produce Stakes. The tri-cast link in my book is Airforce Angel. Angel has some very nifty Irish form, however hasn't really produced anything of note under old trainer Ricky Holloway. New trainer on the block Lynn Short may be able to find a tune with the bitch.

My Pick: 1-2-6

20:36: The Swindon 509'er

My Pick: Fatboyz Pacquiao

I feel that the 509er is alot easier to fathom out than the 480, and certainly I think Pacquiao can step up and win this with relative ease. Lynn Short's new charge (moved from Ricky Holloway) has experience at galloping tracks, and reached this year's Coronation Cup final at Romford. He doesn't have many wins on the card, but he is a class above in this race, and should bag an easy win. I'm expecting him to go into the bend 2nd and take it up from the half way point.

For the forecast linker, it's very difficult to be honest. Forest Bonjo is a standout dog for Paul Foster, however isn't really cutting it too much in his races recently. He has only just turned two, but I always want to see a bit more from him. I remember very well his 2.33 split and romp up's in the A1, however these days he seems more suited to a stayers trip. He may run on to snatch the placing here.

Westmead Aouita will be there or there abouts in this race also. The Nick Savva daughter of Droopys Vieri has been winning for fun over the 550 trip at Henlow, aswell as some great performances at Sittingbourne, most recently a 6 length + 29.04 romp up in an open. She, like her brother Atlas, seems to have a good late charge, but to me Aouita has a kick more early than her bro, so expect her to be there or there abouts in this. 

The other contenders include Farloe Orion, who needs to get back to winning ways to contend with these. Bright Ells is new to the OR league, the issue for me is that it is a massive step up for her, and one that I wouldn't take lightly. Saying that, she is more than capable as she's a progressive bitch, and more experience in OR company and she'll pick up opens for fun. Bodell Evan is another grader from Henlow with strong-ish 550 form. However, he'll have to step it up a gear in this race.

My Pick: 6-3-5

19:16, 19:32. 19:48: The BGRF Owner's Bonus Series

My Pick: Fermoy Lets Go

The Owner's Bonus Series (OBS) starts of Wednesday, with 3 heats taking place leading up to the final (I can't think for the life of me what the date of the final is!). My pick for the competition is Fermoy Lets Go. Grant Gillett's bitch has bags of early pace, and is relatively young against the field in its entirety. She can kick to the front against most of the railers in the competition, and is my pick to come up trumps.

I must say that it is good to see the OBS catered for some of the veteran campaigners. The likes of Woodman Hawk and Knockard Hondo are the sorts of dogs, amongst the others, who in their racing every week, and have racked up several wins etc. It's good to see these dogs getting rewarded (and their owners + trainers!), with a chance of earning some really good money in the final (£500 to the winner).

Happy Punting!!

Chris Watts

Second in the Derby Final, Opens at Swindon

This blog was sure due an update, so here we go!


Derby Final night, and what a night it was! For those that missed it, it was a really good spectacle of top greyhound racing, with the classiest dogs in the country taking to the Wimbledon stage. I'm not the biggest fan of Wimbledon, however I cannot deny that they put in a really good show, and by all accounts the night ran much better than it has in previous years. Of course, Wimbledon has an unfortunately large grey cloud hanging over it at the moment. I just hope that, one way or another, it's future is set in stone, rather than being up in the air.


As for the final itself, our representative, Farloe Ironman, ran a stormer to finish second to Blonde Snapper. Matt Dartnall's charge got clobbered out of the boxes, tangling with Coolavanny Bert, however this seemed to help into the bend, as alot of trouble meant that Ironman nipped round the inside and missed it all. Snapper had the lead down the back, but Ironman was closing. Alas, he couldn't come close enough, and Snapper went on to record a 2 length or so victory. Ironman was subject to a massive gamble before the race, with him being backed from 9/2 to 6/4 favourite (apparently subject to a seperate 'bet on who will return favourite' gamble), and the gamble nearly paid off. I do think that the initial bump out of the traps took alot more out of the dog than initially thought (not an excuse, just a suggestion!).


In any event, well done Matt and the team for having the runner up in the Derby!


As for the future, and for Swindon at the moment, it has to be said that it's a bit of a funny patch. Nick Colton has decided to quit training over here and has tendered his resignation to both Swindon and Oxford. Nick has a lovely place over in Ireland, and obviously the call for retirement beckoned! I wish Nick and Barbara all the best in their future endeavours.


Of course, losing a trainer of this calibre means that we are short of greyhounds on the graded strength at present. It's a problem that always comes about this time of year, for every track. The weather has got better, meaning the track can sometimes be a bit hard, and the sun on the dogs' back's seems to bring on seasons and problems galore. It's a headache for everyone, however it's something that we have to wade through. Unfortunately, I can't help but think that the inevitable downward spiral in greyhound racing is starting to get a bit mad.


To alleviate the issue, several opens have been advertised. These opens will feature in the upcoming GBGB calendar. We're doing all sorts of distances and races for pups/maidens etc. The prize money for these opens are £200 win, £50 2nd and £30 others. Obviously, with the opening of Coventry and the increased prize money on offer at Sittingbourne etc, competition for OR entries is fierce, so we hope that the increased prize money will help.

Round up from last week's comps, Swindon's Derby Finalist . . .

Last weeks competitions certainly got tongues wagging, and also made Ray Jones' wallet bulge significantly after he won both the Monkey 509er with Crusty Crab, as well as the BAGS/SIS 500 with Barrack Dougie.

Crusty Crab, the track record holder over the 509 distance, put in a fantastic run, one of which the Swindon locals had been waiting for from him. He trapped out smartly to lead round, and from then the race was won. Sawpit Sensation ran a stormer of a race in behind, taking a wallop at the bend, and then tracking down the champ down the back. Hernandez, my pick, was once again disappointing, and I think that's the last time I pick him!

In the BAGS/SIS final, the big saying was 'gamble foiled!'. Barrack Dougie, who posted the slowest time of the finalists, and was the biggest price at an SP of 10/1 (20's on Betfair), and he duely delivered. He trapped out well and 'ALed', to scoop the £500 cheque (and also one lush trophy).

Of course the big news coming out of this years Williamhill.com Greyhound Derby is that Swindon has it's first finalist since 1990 (so I'm told, more details would be brill!). Matthew Dartnall managed a brilliant training feat in getting Farloe Ironman over the line in the second quickest time of the competition in 28.16. Ironman goes from trap one in the final, and is the 3/1 second favourite. All I can say is, it shows how strong the A2 is at Swindon!!

Best of luck to the Dartnall Camp.

Monkey 509'er Final, BAGS/SIS Final Coverage

G'day folks! Feel I'm due another blog, with two finals coming up at Swindon during this week!


The BAGS/SIS 500 final certainly has got people, including the Racing Post talking. It seems as though there was some huge gamble landed on Primo Hotty, who you could back at 14/1 to win the competition, who was subsequently punted into 5/1. Somebody must've flashed a score at Billy Hill and they got scared!! In fairness, I think it's quite cool when this happens, as it really adds something to the final. Hotty was then punted for the heat and won in quite some style, and goes in as favourite on Friday. But anything can happen in dog racing!


Wednesday see's the Monkey 509er final take place and again the same thing has happened, with the supporting opens not filling. This happens all too often at Swindon and it is a bit of a headache. I think the OR market is very competitive nowadays, with Hove, Henlow, Romford and now Coventry offering full open cards. It's important that, if we want to sustain a decent OR book for ourselves, that, I feel, the following needs to happen:


> Every distance to be advertised
> Maidens, Puppy and Veteran's to be considered
> Prize Money increase.
> Regular Opens (obviously when they fill!) Meaning make Wednesday 'Swindon's' OR Day, like Hove/Henlow have done for Thurs, Romford for Friday's etc


Obviously, these are wishful thinking, but the increase in prize money has certainly worked for Sittingbourne in recent times, and Coventry are, I believe, going to set the standard for OR prize money, as I feel they will have no problem filling their opens.


As for the time being? I know it's a headache, but if you have a dog that is capable of competing on the OR level, then travel! Some may disagree with me on this, but I think that if the dog is capable and you wish to reach said dog's full potential, then you have to vary up it's card. Running constantly at Swindon, I'm sorry, isn't reaching a potentially brilliant dog's potential.


Anyway, after that little bit, here's my preview for the final(s)!


20:52 - The May Monkey 509er Final (Wednesday 16th May)
My Pick: Hernandez


A very good final indeed, and certainly one to get the brain working. For me, anyone could win it. However, I'm going to remain faithful in a Swindonite, in the form of Hernandez. Chris Stringer's dog always seems to get the better of me whenever I'm tipping opens! He ran really well in the heat, and the 509 trip seems to suit really well, and his change of seeding from a wide runner to middle is the right choice. Sawpit Sensation and Crusty Crab had a good tussle in the opening heat last week, and you've got to think that these two could also be there or thereabouts. Farley Totti is going to be my forecast link here. He's got a cracking rails draw and could get a pretty clear ride of it. 


16:27 - The BAGS/SIS 500 Final (Friday 18th May, live on SIS)
My Pick: Molineux Darcy


I will be honest here, I think Primo Hotty has it all going for it in the final. He's got the draw, the best time of the heat winners, and is the bookies favourite. However, if you're one to look outside the box (like moi), then I think Molineux Darcy could be a player. Trained by Pete Swadden, Darcy has some decent times on her clock, including a 29.15 some time ago now. She's got the trap one draw in the final, and she stays on well. 

The Swindon Monkey 509er Preview

It's 509er time again! Here's my preview on the races, aswell as my NAP and NB from the graded card. Its a really good competition this time around, with plenty of outside dogs turning up to compete for the £500 grand prize!


The Swindon Monkey 509er - Heat 1


My Pick: Sawpit Sensation


Alot of this race really relies on which Crusty Crab is going to turn up. Crusty has the track record over this trip, posting 29.59 some time ago now, and has had his fair share of injury problems since then. He has trialled back very well, posting a 29.81 in his last trial, but a solo compared to a six dog race is a completely different ballgame. 


To me, Sawpit Sensation is the form dog going into this race. David Hunt's son of No Joke Sherry has been strutting his stuff around Nottingham most recently, clocking some decent times for their 500m trip. His most recent form at Swindon is where he came second in the last Monkey 509er final to Ding Hero. He shares the track record at Perry Barr, and went into the Ladbrokes Mobile Arc as one of the favourites, so he certainly has the form book to back it up. He does leave his running a bit late, so you'd want him lying in a handy position off the 3rd to be within a chance of collecting. He likes a long run up as well. I'd expect him to be a pretty decent price (I'll say 7/4) against the Crab, so he'd definitely be worth a punt.


As for the others in the race, Queen O The Mall is outclassed and isn't really up with this level. Riverside Jess comes off the back of some Poole form, winning in a good 26.78. A good time on her Irish card is the 28.73 at Shelbourne, so she's worth putting in the book for a forecast link. Winslow Wonder is a good A1/A2 dog at Oxford, nothing more really. Head Teacher is a grader from Harlow, but put in a decent 29.25 calc first look at Swindon Saturday and was striding well, I'm expecting some improvement.


The Pick: 2-6-4



The Swindon Monkey 509er - Heat 2


My Pick: Droopys College (OR NAP)


In heat 2, I'm siding with one of the two Jo Burridge runners, Droopys College. College is out of the sam Droopys Jackie, which has thrown such dogs as Deanridge Rage and Rayvin Again, so he's certainly got some good bloodlines. His form at Poole is very good, posting 26.71 for their 450m trip, but also posting a very quick 38.96 (I believe the track record is Wise Totty's 38.68) for their stayers trip. This proves to me this dog is the full package, he has early pace and stays, ideal for this 509 trip. I also make him my OR NAP.


The placepot to me lies with Hernandez. Again, its a case of which Hernandez is going to show up. He sparkled just before The Arc, posting a very quick 28.51, thrashing a very good field in a trial stake. However since then he hasn't really done an awful lot. His Williamhill.com Derby campaign was pretty poor, and he just doesn't seem to be firing. We know he's more than capable, its just when the ball is finally going to drop! 


As for the others in the race, Droopys Rosemary is one of the representatives for Dave Mullins running from trap one. She has a good time out last time at Romford, but their trip to this 509 is a massive step up. However, she has run 500m Sittingbourne, so there is obviously some feeling that she does stay well enough. The lack of a look is a concern.


Sawpit Sydney is in trap two, and to me hasn't really done all that well at Swindon in his last two visits. I don't think he's taken to the track really.


Omega Mick is Jo Burridge's second runner in this race, and has some very good form round here aswell as Hove and Poole. Looking at his card I presume that he's on the comeback from a spell of lameness. One thing to note is that the dog hasn't won a race in nearly 8 months! 


Droopys Gizmo is Dave Mullins' other runner, and has a pretty decent card to him. Regular A1 performer at Romford, but he's never been tried over this far a trip. He has good breeding, being a litter brother to Droopys Boo.


My Pick: 5-3-6 (OR NAP)



The Swindon Monkey 509er - Heat 3


My Pick: Ardmayle Player


This is a pretty tough little heat. I'm marginally gone for Player, just over Farloe Orion. I certainly think its a race between these two.


Player has been round the open race circuit a bit in the past couple of races, posting a good win at Henlow and running well at Hove. This 509 trip is right up his street, and the switch-a-roo of tracks might've done him some good. Sometimes the switch of a track does wonders for a dog, fingers crossed it does it here!


Farloe Orion, for trainer Mervyn Jeans, has written his fair share of bad luck stories in running, I think should have a few more wins to his name for the performances he's given. He's a very strong finisher, arguably even a very short 6 bend dog, and should be flying home towards the end. He's got a very good draw in trap one, with trap 2 that should really be a middle seed, he should get a clear run up to the bend.


For the third place, I'm siding with Dave Smith's Farley Totti. He's been a bit out of sorts recently, but he stays well enough and is a class animal on his day.


My Pick: 6-1-3


Graded NAP: Hoots Mon


My graded NAP runs in the last race of the night. Hoots Mon, trained by Kevin Hutton, to me has a plum draw in trap four, with Eruption on his inside wanting the paint in my opinion, and with Baby Bubba needing the stripes. His Irish card is top class, and should be running at a better level than what he currently is.


Graded NB: Ardmayle Anna


My graded NB runs in race three in the shape of Ardmayle Anna. Chris Stringers bitch is only a baby (Aug'10), but ran really well last time out in behind Stockwell Linda. Linda showed some cracking early pace and went about four clear down the back, but Anna tracked her really well and finished strongly. I don't feel there is as much early pace in the race as last time. The only real danger is Bolt The Gate taking her ground into the first bend, as I feel from three he moves off just a tad. If she can pitch in two lengths behind him off the second, I think it's game over.


Thank you for reading this ladies and gentleman, and fingers crossed if you are following these tips that they come off for you. 


Happy Punting!


Chris Watts

The Derby, Produce Stakes etc

How's everyone doing? Seems like an age since I've posted on here, so I thought it was due some of my literary spiel. This period of greyhound racing is always an exciting time, what with the Derby taking place and all. The Greyhound Derby is the pinnacle event in our sport, and lets be honest its the one competition that everyone strives to be a part of, or their goal is to be in. And, for £125,000 to the winner, I wouldn't blame you!


This year is certainly a case of quality over quantity, with this for me being one of the key highlight years. You've got so many cracking dogs around at the moment, and the hope is that all the best ones end up in the final (of course, that probably won't happen!). Whilst we are in this twilight period of greyhound racing, I don't know why they don't try to get the best of the best together for a race. 


Every sport has it, Tyson vs. Lewis, Hogan vs. Rock, Utd vs. City. People strive to see the best come together to compete, so why on earth no one has jumped on the wagon is beyond me. Imagine this race for a second:


1) Taylors Sky
2) Droopys Jet
3) Eden Star
4) Silverview Perky
5) Milldean Panther
6) Razldazl Jayfkay


Now those are only my picks as they are, at the moment, my favourite dogs and the fastest in my opinion. Who wouldn't want to see this race? To see who is the best of the best? I bet if a sponser picked this race up, the bookies would make a ruddy fortune on the betting, Sky would get some pretty decent viewing numbers, and everyone would get to see the classiest race ever go into a trap. A win win scenario surely? Now obviously the 6 competitors would probably different to mine, and actually I would probably take out Perky and Jet and make it a 4 dog race, but still it's just the sheer class that greyhound fans like myself crave to see on a track. 


And as for the track it would run at? Why Swindon of course . . . . 


Now, staying a bit closer to home, we have the Produce Stakes right round the corner. Again, it's got this time of year, and I start looking around at the OR scene and other tracks to see what British Breds are about. I'll be honest, I'm a tad concerned. I think the whole downfall of British Breeding is really to catch quite a strangle hold as, to be honest, there aren't that many decent british breds around nowadays. A few years back, you could look at the likes of Nick Savva and see a bucket load of Westmead's, and more recently Dave Firmager has produced some very classy dogs. But this year to me it doesn't look like being the most classy of competitions. Now I'm all for the Produce Stakes, and actually I think Swindon's dogs have a great chance in it this year, but you do have to look at the forecast in British Breeding and gulp just a little bit. There isn't a whole lot of class being produced here nowadays, which is very sad. 


In this sense, can you remember who won the Produce last year? And what they went on to achieve? Exactly my point.