Our first graded runner at Coventry on Wednesday Kinda Ready duly obliged and Reagrove Class won an A3 later to give our kennel a double on the night. So far the feedback has been positive and in a time when not only the industry but the whole economy is struggling it at least gives our owners and greyhounds some options if Harlow doesn't suit. In a meeting at Harlow on Thursday I discussed with General Manager Chris Page the future plans at the Stadium and again could only be pleased with their positive attitude though patience is the key word as any major changes will not happen straight away. In my opinion the track changes planned to make it a bigger gallop are essential to help it thrive, also any live streaming so our owners who can't get to the meetings would help. Sponsors are also being lined up to produce some competitions that can entice some of the top greyhounds from around the country to the track. One thing for certain is that the popular poker nights are to come back in a couple of weeks' time with the proper licences in place. The magnificent back room should produce quality tournaments and bring some welcome extra revenue to the stadium.

Last week our kennel was again extremely busy on the open race scene and despite a large haul of open wins we were a shade disappointed not to have won Wednesday night's Monkey Final with odds on Jonos Patience missing his break and on Friday Eye Onthe Veto just failed to collar John Millard's Presence Of Mind at Romford in the £750 TV Stayers Final going down by a head. Highlight of the week was undoubtedly the unbeaten runs of our Mountjoy Gold and Mountjoy Ruby at Hall Green in the Breeders Forum Produce Stakes and if these two youngsters can stay in one piece (four runs in ten days is very tough) they could have a
major say in the outcome of this prestigious £15,000 to the winner event which concludes on Friday.

A big thank you to all those who have entered our Five To Follow competition that has now started and the first leader board update will be in a couple of weeks' time, meanwhile you can view our staff picks on the Guest Column.

OPEN RACING

On Monday in the heats of the Coral TV Stayers Eye Onthe Veto led all the way taking heat two by 2 lengths in 35.50 with Coolanga Flyer back in 5th. On Tuesday Ballyfinn Swift got no run when 5th in a hot 460m Maiden at Wimbledon but better news at Hall Green with firstly Mountjoy Ruby scoring by over 5 lengths in heat 4 of the British Breeders Forum Produce Stakes at Hall Green in a good 28.50. In heat 10 Mountjoy Gold missed his break but showed good pace up to lead and then did well to hold on by 3/4 length in 29.01 (-30).

On Wednesday Bingo Panda was second in a bitches open over 480m at Coventry beaten 6 lengths in a fast 29.40 (+10) and in a Puppy 480m Kinda Free an April 07 daughter of Just The Best - Kinda Sleepy made an impressive debut chasing home the experienced Hallgate Boy going down 2 3/4 lengths in 29.60 (+10). At Harlow Accordion Magic took the first heat of the Monkey Maiden over 415m by 2 lengths in 25.92 (+20) with Rank N File back in 3rd. In the second division of the Marathon Genesis Sister made no mistakes when beating kennelmate Blues Wish 1 1/2 lengths in 49.79 (+40) and in division 2 of the Stayers over 592m a fit again Like Hot Cakes trounced the opposition by over 8 lengths in a fast 37.39 (+30). Another top bitch running back into form Genesis Alix won the warm top division of the Marathon over 769m in good style by 2 1/2 lengths in a flying 49.50 just 7 spots outside the track record set by our Snappy Girl two years a go. No luck in the Monkey Standard Final with Jonos Patience and Blackey Said So and in div 1 of the 592 Stayers Bell Tornado couldn't hold Newtown Susie beaten 3 lengths in 37.61 (+30).

On Friday at Romford we suffered expensive failures of all three of our runners Genesis Dream, Eye Onthe Veto (ran well) and Aero Blackjack but at Hall Green both Mountjoy Gold (28.75 -30) and Mountjoy Ruby (28.72 -30) continued on their merry way when winning their heats in round 2 of the Produce Stakes. There were mixed results at Coventry on Sunday in the opens with Corrig Vieri (ran well) and Droopys Zach beaten favourites and both Eye Onthe Pulse (2nd) and Jonos Patience (3rd) ran well before good wins for Mooloolaba 680m (43.71) and Roswell Startrek 480m (29.66)

HARLOW AND COVENTRY REVIEW

As well as the opens on at Harlow Wednesday both Aero Rapido and Ragga Diva scored in graded company. Aero Rapido was impressive when winning by 5 1/2 lgenths in 26.42 (+10) and Ragga Diva led all the way in an S2 to score by 1 1/4 lengths in 37.84 (+30). At Coventry Kinda Ready was our first graded runner at the track and he made a big impression when winning by over 3 lengths in a good 30.03 (+10) and Reagrove Class looked good when taking the A3 in 29.95 (+10). On Thursday at Harlow Stormy Dakota was 2nd eaten a head in 26.96 before Seven Gold Bars made a winning debut at the kennel scoring by over 2 lengths 26.46. Centaur Lucky scrambled home in an A5 in 26.73 and Princess Organa and Bee My Honey were 2nd and 3rd respectively in the S2. Saturday night started well when Wilson Pick It won well dropped back in trip in 26.48 (+10), Seanis Doire scored by 2 lengths in 26.40 and should improve over the next few weeks coming out of season. In the S2 Roswell Gemini ran away from his rivals to win by over 7 lengths in 37.83 and in the last Cassius Clay was 2nd beaten 2 lengths in 26.68.

 

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

OPEN RACING- GENESIS ALIX GRADED- KINDA READY

 

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK

Tuesday both Mountjoy Gold and Ruby compete in the semi's of the British Breeders Forum Produce Stakes at Hall Green and at Peterborough Goldcrest King (good trial last week) runs in the heats of the Fengate Collar over 420m. Opens are planned on Wednesday at both Coventry where Centaur Decree is entered and Harlow which features the Monkey Maiden Final with Accordion Magic looking to use his early pace to good advantage. Friday is the final of the Produce Stakes with supporting opens and we hope to be in the final of the Fengate Collar at Peterborough on Saturday where previous competition winners at the track Corrig Vieri and Genesis Alix will run in supporting opens. On Saturday the St Leger starts at Wimbledon but with no Butterbridge Ali (lame) and Directors Chair (rested) we will pin our hopes on Aero Blackjack, Tipp The Breeze and Like Hot Cakes. We will be also having runners at Coventry on Sunday.