Unfortunately the big race win that the kennel is due eluded us this week when the brave efforts of Mountjoy Ruby in the Breeders Forum British Produce Stakes at Hall Green on Friday resulted in a 4th place but take nothing away from this son of our 'Queen of the Stow' Star Of Dromin as this was a great competition for him as he has really come of age over the last couple of weeks and if he had been drawn inside Alston Masala in the final I think he would have definitely won. A great break from the traps and good early took him to the front going in to the bend but trap 3 Alston Masala paced up inside him and moving wide as they rounded the second bend took Ruby with him along with his chances of landing the £15,000 first prize. In the end Mountjoy Ruby was only beaten just over a length and on reflection it is such a fine line between success and failure in these big races that a good trap draw is essential to their chances. Congratulations though to Paul Sallis and his hard working partner Esther on Bomber Blue for landing this top prize and wow what a night they had with several winners on the night including the Midland Oaks title as well with Klockwork Kyla.

In another extremely busy week for the kennel we produced plenty of open winners and a few near misses but along with the points scored from Mountjoy Ruby in Friday's Final we again increased our lead at the top of the Trainers Championship and with just over two months left it is now a sprint to the winning line. We still have a few of our stars out of action, Butterbridge Ali (lame), Directors Chair (resting), Elusive Jazz (lame but due back next week), Tipp The Breeze (lame but nearly ready to trial), Rhias Beauty (lame) who are all capable of scoring good points for us but the success of the likes of Eye Onthe Pulse, Bell Tornado and Lockdale Duke in minor opens are very important to the kennel and it is nice to see a fit again Genesis Alix (impressive Saturday at Peterborough) and Scintillas Ruby (serious Oaks bitch) back on the winner's rostrum. Some great news as well with the exciting purchase of the top class pup Class Lad (Eye Onthe Class) by John Keefe which will be aimed at firstly the Romford Puppy Cup and make no mistake this talented youngster could be a huge star next year. Also look out for the first appearance of Goldcrest Lord (formerly Brett Black) who picked up an injury after his initial qualifying trials but is now ready to race and this son of Brett Lee has enormous potential.

OPEN RACING

The Semi-Finals of the British Produce Stakes on Tuesday at Hall Green with only two going through to Fridays final are always tough and when you miss out by a short head for a place in the decider it's gutting but that was the case for Mountjoy Gold who showed fine early to lead at the first bend only to slightly stumble at the third bend losing a bit of momentum which not only cost him the race but with the fast finishing Westmead Ace dipping his head on the line at the right time our fella was out. Better news for his brother Mountjoy Ruby as he made no mistake winning the third semi by 4 lengths in 28.47 -10. At Peterborough in the heats of the Fengate Collar Goldgrest King broke well but was squeezed for room going into the first bend and misjudged the turn hitting the rails and bouncing in to the middle of the track and race over. He is a talented greyhound and hopefully will get some luck go his way soon!

On Wednesday the opens at Harlow included the heats of the Monkey Stayers with two of our runners in the warm first heat Kinda Flashy and Bell Tornado and it was the latter who burst out the traps and won comfortably by over 6 lengths in 37.62 (+ 25). Genesis Sister had no answers to Transtowm Mul in the 769m Marathon when beaten 5 lengths in a fast 49.50 (+40),. The 415 Monkey Maiden for about the third week running saw us in the runners up position this time with Accordion Magic beaten 1 3/4 length in 26.08 (+10). At Coventry Lockdale Duke completed a great hat trick at the track leading all the way to score by 1 3/4 lengths in 29.55 (+30) and in the top division of the sprint Scintillas Ruby made a triumphant return from season when smashing out the traps en-route to a 1 3/4 length win in 16.97 (+15). In the top division of the 480m Standard Centaur Decree was chopped off at the first bend and couldn't get near the flying Droopys Olive when third to the 29.12 (+30) scorer.

No luck with our runners on Friday in the supporting opens at Hall Green and on Saturday in the heats of the St Leger at Wimbledon there was an early exit for our two runners Aero Blackjack and Like Hot Cakes but better luck at Peterborough in the supporting races for the Fengate Collar final. Risky Fabio ran well when 2nd in the Puppy 420m beaten 1 3/4 lengths in 25.80. Corrig Vieri and Genesis Alix have both won competitions at this venue and proved how well they run the track when winning their respective races, Corrig Vieri by 4 1/2 lengths in 38.14 in the Puppy 605m and Genesis Alix by 5 1/2 lengths in the 790m Marathon in 50.44.

A good night on Sunday at Coventry when our kennel took all four divisions of the 480m Standard with Eye Onthe Pulse (29.53), Directors Ruler (29.79), Ballyfinn Swift (29.73) and the impressive Roswell Startrek (29.51). Our other runners Lockdale Storm (2nd in the 625m Maiden), Mooloolaba and Missed A Train (2nd and 3rd respectively in the 625m div 1) also ran well.

HARLOW AND COVENTRY REVIEW

Kinda Handy on his debut at Coventry was best of our three graded runners at the track on Wednesday when a decent 3rd and on Thursday at Harlow wins for Lews Trickster (26.93), Taboby Legend ran well scoring by 2 1/2 lengths in 26.44 and Chilli Blue led all the way beating kennelmate Cassius Clay by 1/2 length in 26.53. On Friday Hollywell Pearl showed nice early (4.83 sec) when scoring by over 3 lengths in 26.60, Genesis Fuzzums and Notanothersecond were both 2nd before Seven Gold Bars beat kennelmate Seanis Doire by a short head in 26.26.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

OPEN RACING - SCINTILLAS RUBY GRADED - SEVEN GOLD BARS

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK

Eye Onthe Veto, Kinda Flashy and Millwards Summit run in the heats of the Coral TV Stayers over 575m at Romford on Monday. We have opens at Oxford (Tuesday), Coventry and Harlow (Wednesday) with Bell Tornado in the final of the Monkey Stayers and later in the week we will be at Romford on Friday and Coventry on Sunday.