This week like so many has had its highs and lows. Unfortunately some of the lows are particular bad which is the case of losing one of my particular favourite dogs in Ronnies Callum who sustained a terrible injury when knocked over on Thursday at Walthamstow after a massive effort to save him the next day proved hopeless. It seems over the last few newsletters that we have had some bad luck in regards to serious injuries with Callum being the 4th fatality in what sometimes seems as many weeks (Butterbridge Sid, Box Of Tricks, Centaur Driver). Add to this a career ending injury to Blackmagic Guy and you can see that training and owning racing greyhounds can be emotionally hard.
Having had a flu type virus since last weekend which meant being on the 'off' board for a few days I travelled to Wimbledon on Saturday for the Greyhound Derby 3rd round hoping to have my spirits lifted with bold showings from our two entries that made it through to the last 48. Eye Onthe Veto looked to hold a great chance and even when he missed his break he found himself well positioned going into the first bend but a sickening bump from trap 4 left our fellow almost turned 180% and on his backside! No coming back from that to end a campaign that had people thinking of him, from his previous rounds, as a likely finalist at least. First reports show that 'Veto' is OK.
Bill McLuskey and Alan Dee's Directors Chair is our last runner in the Derby so everyone keep your fingers crossed and if he doesn't qualify just come back safely.
We say goodbye to three of our grand servants over the last couple of years for the right reasons as they are all being retired. A Bit Tricky had a race named in his honour on Tuesday in which he finished 2nd he will now move to the comfort of the Akehurst family home! Nil Finance has been about for quite a while now and race-wise has been terrific for the Saracens Head syndicate winning through the grades and a odd few opens around as well. Lastly but not least Daisyfield Seani has been packed off to the breeding paddocks in Ireland and good luck to Matthew Etherington's super fast bitch.

LAST CHANCE to send entries in for our 5 TO FOLLOW competition this week, so anyone who wants a chance to win the fabulous first prize on offer should enter NOW.

Like last week a couple of changes to the dogs that are available to choose from are No 9 Bridepark Roman (moved to Romford), No 22 Daisyfield Seanie (retired), No 43 Kinda Sure (sold), No 66 Ronnies Callum (pts) , No 68 Ronnies Hare (moved to Harlow). If anyone has included any of these listed you will be notified so that you can change your selection.

OPEN RACING

Eye Onthe Flame showed a welcome return to form at Henlow on Thursday winning a 460m open in 27.84 (3.88 split!) holding ofF the fast finishing Millions Girl by the shortest margin. He went for the ride along with Eye Onthe Jewel who finished 4th in her semi-final of the Stondon St Leger. A very good card at Walthamstow on Thursday saw Raging Jack, a shock first round Derby casualty, bounce back to normal proceedings when winning Division 3 of the 475m Standard in a good 28.81. January Tiger's winning run came to an end after a missed break cost him dearly in a warm veterans' race eventually finishing 3rd to rival Clonbrin Show. Snappy Girl having her first Marathon since March ran a blinder to be 3rd behind the impressive Cash For Kate (52.51 calc very fast!) in the 835m. Centaur Decree's luck seems to have deserted him as he was badly trod on going in to the second bend and he could not recover in the top 475m Standard. Discreet Cat was knocked out at the second stage of the Derby and was awesome as he answered the call when stepped up in trip to win the 640m Novice by nearly 7 lgths in a useful 39.87. There was no luck for our three runners at Romford on Friday. Saturday night at Wimbledon was packed with the large crowd awaiting the Derby third round heats. Eye Onthe Veto was made strong favourite in heat 1 but it all went wrong after a missed break. The sight of him being pole axed by trap 4 at the first turn after which 'Veto' could not recover left his and his owner John Keefe's dream of glory in tatters! In heat 5 Directors Chair had his critics from the previous round saying he was on his way out and for sure the draw in between Savanna Highlands and Blonde Dino was not ideal but as the traps rose it was 'Dev' who led them out but beaten for real early he was shuffled back in the pack but after a bit of argy bargy at the second bend he ran down the back straight like a dog possessed and going in to 3rd place on the last two bends he kept on to safely be in the hat for Tuesday's Quarter Finals.

WALTHAMSTOW REVIEW

Cream Munkie (2nd) came closest of our few runners on Mondays BAGScard. Tuesday A Bit Tricky was second in his own retirement race and Marathon Girl (3rd) is knocking on the door after another solid effort. Coolanga Flyer seems destined lately to find all the trouble going but for a change he not only came out of the first bend unscathed but in a clear lead which he was not going to relinquish crossing the line to win by 1 1/2 lgths in a good 39.71 in the S1. Clive Lawrence's Chase The Dream still surprises and added an A3 to his CV when winning in 29.22. Treacle Rose was ko'd in her race but has come off OK. As well as opens Thursday there was a couple of graded races and the first was a decent puppy race. Ortuna had shown some good pace in her three previous races but hadn't got her head in front so it was a nice suprise to seeing her bowl along in front down the back straight after which she was never going to get caught, coming home to win in a good 29.12
Lockdale Duke is another pup who has raised a few eyebrows in recent weeks and again he moved well to take up the running down the back straight in the A4 but was collared on the line to lose by a neck in 29.27. Saturday at the Stow is always busy and we had some good performances from Lews Trickster(3rd), Centaur Cappo(2nd), Pinehurst Silk(2nd) and Armies Plan(3rd) who all ran well but the best was Rather Rapid who opened his account with an off the pace success in 29.21. Centaur Iris' win over the eight bend trip was a reward for some solid efforts lately and she did it nicely winning by 6 lgths in 53.71.

PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK

OPEN RACE:- RAGING JACK GRADED:- ORTUNA

WHATS ON THIS WEEK

Tuesday night is the Greyhound Derby Quarter-Finals at Wimbledon which is live on Sky Sports and Directors Chair is flying the flag alone now for the kennel and we are confident he can make the semis from an ideal draw in trap 1 in heat 1. We intend to have runners back at Harlow this Wednesday and also Butterbridge Ali with a couple of others will trial at Hove in preparation for this year's Sussex Cup sometime this week. Thursday is an all open card at Walthamstow which could see a return over six bends for Fear Robben. The Gymcrack so memorably won two years a go by Go Commando starts at Hall Green this Friday and we hope to see exciting prospect Roswell Diamond make his full debut in the heats along with Like Hot Cakes and Twilight Fantasy. Watch out for some promising new recruits to the grades this week like Largo Lassie , Rooster Violence and Old Guinness.