Yesterday's summer party at Imperial Kennels went very well and everyone who attended enjoyed themselves, thankfully we were lucky with the weather even though it was a touch windy. A special thank you to Mick, Linda, Sarah and Sid who helped organise the day and we also raised a nice few quid for the Gary Baggs benefit night.

Walthamstow's final meeting is coming ever nearer and our kennel's future has been upper most in my mind. With Harlow making ambitious new plans to redevelop their stadium and track I have spoken to both Chris Page (Harlow's new General Manager) and Dave Barclay (Harlow Stadium's owner and promoter) and agreed to run our greyhounds there from September. Our main targets in the kennel will stay the same - to provide a good service to our owners and if possible on the open race scene win as many competitions as we can and to try and win the Trainers Championship each year. Myself, Sarah and all our staff are as committed as ever to achieve these goals.

OPEN RACING

A disastrous start to the week on Monday as Eye Onthe Veto, ante-post favourite for the competition, went crashing out of the Crayford Vase. A missed break cost him dear and as he paced up to the bend he met big trouble and was bundled over and went crashing into the wall. Thankfully despite a broken tail he seems fine and will now concentrate on retaining his Champion Stakes title at Romford in September.

Wednesday didn't get much better as our Derby semi-finalist Commander Chief a 1/2 chance was eliminated from the heats of the Coral TV Standard over 515m at Hove but good news for Rockburst Mason as he qualified for next Tuesday's final when he was second in the same heat
beaten 3 1/2 lengths in 30.04 (-20).

At Walthamstow on Thursday a frustrating series of seconds was typical of the week so far with Elusive Tuesday,Missed A Train, Eye Onthe Flame, Discreet Cat, Seanis Doire, Treacle Rose and the aptly named Notanothersecond all filling the runner up spots with only Tipp The Breeze scoring a fine win on her return to six bends in a good 39.88.

Eye Onthe Force was the highlight of our few runners at Romford on Friday with another stunning 4 1/4 length victory over 575m to complete a memorable six timer over the track and trip.

A long trip for myself to Sunderland on Saturday night as we sent runners in preparation for the forthcoming festival and it was good to see Directors Chair take advantage of an ideal opportunity when taking a trial stake over 640m in convincing fashion by 2 3/4 lengths in 40.46
with the going rated 110 slow on a rain soaked track. In another 640m trial stake Aero Blackjack found plenty of trouble when last although not beaten far behind Westmead Tina in 40.84 (-120) and in a warm 450m Classic trial stake Seanis Lad got no sort of run when 4th to Milldean Buster but should be better for the look around the tight track.

WALTHAMSTOW REVIEW

On Monday's Bags card Centaur Fuzzums was our sole winner by a head in 29.58 and on Tuesday both Centaur Rosina (2nd) and Rank N File (3rd) ran well in an A8 and King Jackson was only beaten 1/2 length in an A7 before the improving Wilson Pick It made it two on the bounce when leading on the run in to score by 1 1/4 in 29.67. Lode Star back from three months on the side lines with injury proved he was OK when he ran riot in A5 grade beating the useful Mountjoy Pearl by 3 lengths in a stunning 28.75! Specil Roxi came so close in her retirement race when just failing to catch Rahora by 1/2 length in 29.22 before Blue Wish now back to six bends scored by 1 1/2 lengths in 40.72.

On Saturday's graded card it was a case of normal service resumed for the kennel as we bagged another six winners including the last five races! Earlier in the evening Mountjoy Diamond at last got a clear run and quite simply was awesome as she flew home to win by 4 1/2 lengths in a fast 29.00. Eye Onthe Spirit was second in the S1 before Centaur Gemstone (29.24) made it a kennel 1-2 by beating Ants Gunner by 3/4 length and then Lockdale Lady (29.04) completed a hat trick of wins. Castlemary Podge (28.87) enjoyed a confidence boosting win and in the A1 the prolific Lockdale Duke (29.02) beat kennel mate Chilli Cobra by
3/4 length. In the last race Coolanga Flyer trapped and made all to win the S1 by 7 1/2 lengths in a good 39.71 to round off a good end to the week's racing.

 

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

OPEN RACING- TIPP THE BREEZE GRADED- LODE STAR

 

WHATS ON THIS WEEK

Monday starts at Romford with the heats of the Coral TV Stayers over 575m with Eye Onthe Force trying to make it seven on the spin though our other entry Lode Star will have something to say about the outcome as they are drawn in the same heat. On Tuesday Rockburst Mason lines up in the final of the Coral TV Standard and from a perfect trap 1 slot he could have a big say in the outcome. We will look to have runners in the opens at Harlow (Wednesday), Walthamstow (Thursday) and Romford (Friday) before trekking off on Saturday to Sunderland for the heats of the festival Classic and Stayers heats with Directors Chair and Seanis Lad heading our challenge.