An owner of graded dogs himself, Paul Wilson has a particular passion for the graded scene in the North of England. Over the coming months, Paul will be trawling through the cards and giving a shout out to the people that keep our sport going in Doncaster, Kinsley, Newcastle, Pelaw Grange, Sheffield, Nottingham and Sunderland.
So, here we go with this week’s dogs!
SUNDERLAND 8th January
MALIBU HONDO (Trap 6) Owned by Mr TCE Thompson and trained by Robert Thompson. The July 21 dog Malibu Hondo has been in very good form over the last few weeks running over the 261m sprint. A D4 261m win on New Year’s eve and a D3 261m upgrade win today has given the dog a well deserved double. The wide traps seem to be performing well at Sunderland today. Malibu Hondo could be on for a third win in a row next time out. Well done and good luck next week.
MRS CHARM (Trap 6) Owned by Mr BJ Mooney and MJ White and trained by Paul Miller. Trap 6 is just giving winners today and the September 21 bitch, Mrs Charm, has taken the honours in this 450m handicap. Running from scratch, it’s her second win this year. She has definitely enjoyed the switch to the handicaps in September last year with another well deserved double. I do love it when dogs are looking for a third win. The anticipation next time out is a great feeling. Good luck.
The two wide traps at Sunderland today gave 6 winners and 5 seconds. Just something to keep an eye on as I study Sunderland a little bit more?
Just another shout out to PRIME ICONIC (trap 2) who I looked at last week. He has had another win today at Sunderland in a 450m A6. It’s just like the old waiting for a bus gag. Stand at the bus stop for ages and three turn up at once. Check him out for a hat trick next time out. Hopefully in a handicap ££££.
KINSLEY 8th January
SECOND TIER (Trap 4) April 22 dog owned and trained by Mr Trevor Coote. He opened his account at the second time of asking in a 462m A6 outing today. He seems to have got quite a bit of early pace and was in the lead at the first bend where he stayed all the way to the line. It looked like a very good run to me and I am sure the trainer will be very pleased with the start to this dog’s career. I am going to watch this pup as I liked everything about it today. Great start and if I owned it I would be well chuffed.
CILL DUBH CHEETA (Trap 6) Nov 21 dog Owned and trained by Mr Trevor Coote. Another dog from the Coote kennel that can win at 462m and 268m around Kinsley and today polished off a hat trick of wins. A D3 and D2 268m in December then after a 19 day break he comes back in a 462m A6 and takes the win for three on the bounce at today’s meeting. A good day all around for the kennel.
NOTTINGHAM 8th January
The favourites have run well today but I like to look for the dogs that have pulled something out of the bag and I’m a sucker for one I didn’t think had a chance.
MYAHS MAGIC (Trap 5) Owned by Dog and Oatcakes and trained by Barry Denby. She won the first race of the night, a 500m A2. To be honest I didn’t think she would come in the first three. This is why I love greyhound racing – when a dog can kick you in the dumbbells and you just have to take it. The results say “early pace and soon led” but to be in front and leading all the
way to the line was a very good way to do it. You have to go back to October for her last A2 win but she had a couple of good runs finishing 2nd and 3rd a couple of weeks ago. Well done to everyone involved. I enjoyed her win and I hope the owners did too.
LONGACRES SNOUT (Trap 6) Owned by Mr A P Hingley and Trained by Simon Deakin This July 20 dog has had a great month with a good A4 500M win in December and an equally impressive A3 500M win today. He had his best sectional time today of 4.98 which put him into contention to win today’s race. A good solid dog who puts in the work on Nottingham.
The two wide traps at this meeting have also had most of the results today.
SHEFFIELD 9th January
CANAVOUR CON (Trap 6) Owned by Golden Valley Caravan Park and trained by Darren Fretwell. This September 21 dog has had to put the work in on Sheffield and has given a lot to win this A4 500M. He only had a couple of wins on his card before today so this will be a win the owners will be pleased with. This type of graded dog is the mainstay of greyhound racing and should be celebrated more. Well done to the owners and trainer.
DRUMDOIT JOY (Trap 6) Owned and trained by Miss Joy Andrews. I’m keeping on the same path with this dog as the January 21 bitch has also worked its socks off on Sheffield. This 3 year old has given everything in its career mainly in A4 and A5 500m races. Todays A4 500m win must give the Owner/trainer J Andrews a good feeling for herself and the dog. Hopefully a little extra in the food bowl tonight for the dog and trainer.
NEWCASTLE 9th January
COOLEMOUNT FLO (Trap 2) Owned and trained by Stephen Caile This win in a 480m Handicap is the first win for this February 21 bitch in 11 months. She has been slowly slipping down the grades at Newcastle. She has been in the first 3 on numerous occasions with seconds and thirds all the way through her card. All dogs need a win and I am 100% sure they know that winning feeling. I’m over the moon for the dog and trainer. I hope she can do it again next time out.
ALNWICK LIVE (Trap 3) Owned by Miss A Harrison and Mr PC Maragh and trained by Miss Angela Harrison. This October 21 dog has been out of form over the last few months while running the A3 480m trip. A downgrade into an A4 480m a couple of weeks ago looks like a good move. It took a couple of runs to find his feet in A4 but came out as favourite today and took the win. Another dog that has missed that winning feeling for quite a while. Good luck, I’m sure you are all relieved he’s won today.
DONCASTER 9th January
BLASTOFF UNA T5 Owned by Mr RJ Overton and trained by Debbie Calvert. This June 20 Bitch has found some form with an 8/1 win today in a B6 480m out of trap 5. A win at the end of November and two good runs with another win over the Christmas period has given this dog a bit of a boost. Trapping well today put her in contention from the first bend after ABIGAILS DAISY just got in front. She kept in contention all the way to the last bend and pushed on to take the win. I enjoyed watching this race as both the front two dogs gave it their all. You can’t ask for any more !!
KEADY AUSSIE T6 Owned by Mr D Lappin and trained by Paul Prior. This August 20 bitch has just come back up a grade and she won this B1 450m contest well. She looked in control around the final bends even though it looked like she took a bump from the challenging dog in 5 DROOPYS SHOWOFF who lost its footing and slipped well back. Winning at 9/1 KEADY AUSSIE should have filled a few wallets and maybe bought a few cans of the old amber nectar to celebrate.
NOTTINGHAM 10th January
PIGEONS NEST (Trap 6) Owned by Wilson racing syndicate and trained by Philip Wilson (no Connection to me). She has moved with ease from A7 500m to 500m handicaps and takes a fair share of the wins. She won today’s A7 500 at 5/1 The trainer plays to this dog’s strength and looks to know the dog inside out. This June 20 bitch is flying and I hope she keeps coming home to roost. Well done.
NEWCASTLE 10th January
BLITZ BILLIE (Trap 4) Owned by Mr N R Mcgregor and trained by James Fenwick. This March 22 bitch had a little bit of a stumble in November and after a trial back has given some strong 480 A8 runs leading to today’s 480m A8 victory. She was quick away and once in front it was all over. This SWEET win should have us all BALLROOM dancing. (If you can’t work that one out ask your grandad it’s a 1970s thing).
DONCASTER 10th January
BALLINAKILL TIPP (Trap 6) Owned and trained by Ricky Overton. This November 20 dog has run 265m and 450m at Doncaster but could never hit a good winning run. He has been running 450m B3 and B4 over recent weeks so this B4 450M win could just TIPP the balance in his favour. He always seems to find a little bit of trouble but today’s run shows he can do it when things go his way.
SHEFFIELD 10th January
PATTYS KALAMAZOO (trap 1) Owned by Pac Racing and trained by Lisa Stephenson. Well done to the racing office with this race as all the dogs came over the finish line within a length or so. It makes the race exciting to watch for everyone involved. Pattys Kalamazoo is a November 19 bitch who won last time out in a 280m D3. She has been off for a month after that race but has come back today winning this D2 280M sprint. She had plenty of early pace and was soon in front at the first bend. The chasing pack kept on her tail all the way to the finish line. Any one of them could have taken it on the run home. A 9/1 winner is always a bonus.
I do have a soft spot for Lisa and her staff at Sandwood kennels as I have had dogs with them for a while. We have had some good times and tough times over the last few years as sometimes things don’t always go to plan but you just have to work through those challenging days. I have picked up so much knowledge from the staff and owners at Sandwood who give me their
years of knowledge for free. I don’t think I would be writing this without them. That’s enough of this sad old git feeling sorry for himself because his dog didn’t win today!
I would like to name every dog and trainer every week but it’s just impossible.
If you own a racing Greyhound, perhaps try to give a write up of your dog’s race on social media. Put up a photo or video and three or four lines of text. It will only take you a few minutes. Don’t forget to give your trainer, kennel hands and track staff a thank you as well. The more greyhounds posted on social media will give greyhound racing a better profile online. Answer any questions and if possible don’t lose your temper. Agree to disagree!! (Trust me that’s very hard sometimes). If you own a dog enjoy it I know I do.
PELAW GRANGE hasn’t been forgotten, and will feature again next week.
I can only give my thoughts from an owner’s point of view but to all the trainers, kennel hands and track staff who are overworked and underpaid THANK YOU. Good luck with all your dogs this week and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Paul Wilson.
