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. This week, Paul gives his view on the quality of PGR’s race coverage.
PELAW GRANGE 14th Jan 2024
Do it Danny is owned and trained by Mr Brian Carruthers. This June 21 dog has had some good results since starting his time at Pelaw. He has five wins from eleven starts while working his way around the 435m A5 and A6 grades. He seems to have a little bit of early pace which gives him a good chance to be in front at the first bend and when in the lead he takes some beating. Well done winning today’s 435m A6 contest!
Sandyhill Jess, Owned by Mr C Leech and trained by Matthew Watson. Jess is a July 21 bitch who has a 50% strike rate with 7 wins out of 14 starts. Today’s 435 A2 win is another impressive result. This dog also runs this track very well and rarely out of the first two. Early pace and quick away will always give her a good chance at Pelaw. You can’t ask for any more than that!
SUNDERLAND 15th Jan 2024
Bumblebee Terms, Owned by Mr D Mathieson and Trained by Ken Dobson. This October 20 bitch has found trouble finding the winning line over her career. She works hard on the 450m trip and today’s 10/1 A7 win is a good result. Every dog needs a win from time to time. Well done to the owner and trainer for the dedication shown with Bumblebee Terms.
KINSLEY 15th Jan 2024
Ferns Fireball, Owned and trained by Miss Ilijan Zivkovic. This August 19 dog had around forty races in Ireland before he came over to Kinsley He spends most of his time running in 462M A6 and A7 grades with only the odd win over quite a few races, A change to the 268m sprint has given him a 7/1 win at the second attempt. Let’s hope he can turn up the heat and win next time out.
NOTTINGHAM 15th Jan 2024
Sambar Kian, Owned by Samba Racing and trained by Colin Wilton. Kian is a November 21 dog who moves between the A1 and open Races around Nottingham with some good results. He won today’s OR3 500m, keeping in touch with the leading dog and finishing well on the run-in. A good result for the Samba Racing Team.
DONCASTER 15th Jan 2024
Inca Justice, Owned by M Barlow, P Barlow, DG Parker and RB Stacey. Trained by Phil Barlow. This April 21 bitch has just started to climb up the grades at Doncaster after a move across from Sheffield. Two wins from the first four runs must be a welcome start for the owners and trainer. I have watched Phil Barlow’s dogs at Sheffield for a few years and speaking as an owner, Phil and his dogs and owners will be missed. He always made time to talk to everyone at the track and it’s not quite the same without the Barlow kennel. Well done with Inca Justice and the numerous other winners you have had recently, every dog seems to have taken to Doncaster nicely.
SHEFFIELD 16th Jan 2024
Scarty Dettori, Owned by Mr P Bouchier and trained by Paul Webster. This is a December 21 dog that’s just getting the hang of the Sheffield track, running 280m D3s. The dog has had good results in the last couple of weeks and has been stepped up to a 500m A4 today. He was quick away and soon led, that’s all you need sometimes. The weather played a part in today’s meeting with some trainers unable to make it to the track because of heavy snow. Several 4 dog races on the card but that’s greyhound racing.
DONCASTER 16th Jan 2024
Blitz Of Snow, Owned and trained by Martin Haythorne. A November 21 dog. Blitz of Snow had a few 275m D3 runs at the beginning of his time at Doncaster. Moved up to 450m around four months ago and a good few results has seen the dog move from A6 to A4 and after a couple of wins including today’s 450M B4, he could be on the way up again!
NOTTINGHAM 17th Jan 2024
Risky Rocco Owned by Mr GJ Cowan and trained by Sarah Spillane. Rocco is a November 18 dog who has had a couple of wins in 500m handicap races over the last few weeks. It’s been quite a while since the dog found some form but the handicaps looked to have given the dog something of a boost. He was an 8/1 winner today, so should have made somebody happy if they have taken the RISK to back him.
NEWCASTLE 17th Jan 2024
Bramble Pope. This July 21 dog has had a few weeks without a win and slipped down a grade into 480m A3. Owned and trained by Steven Anderson today’s 480m A3 win should give the dog lift and I hope and PRAY that the hand of god can push him on for another win and back up the grades!
SUNDERLAND 17th Jan 2024
Teddy Thomas, Owned by Mr J Linley and Mr K Sharkey and Trained by Shirley Linley. This May 19 dog has come back after a 20 day layoff to take the win in a 450m A6 race today. Teddy Thomas has worked hard at Sunderland but hasn’t been able to find the winning line in recent attempts so can only improve from this win today. The racing at Sunderland was cut short today after only seven races due to the freezing temperatures around the country today.
DONCASTER 17th Jan 2024
Ballygur Ava, Owned by LJ Macmanus and trained by Kenneth Bowman. This July 20 bitch has had a good run over the last couple of weeks. She won again today in a 275m D3. A second place on the 6th January followed by two more wins including today’s 16/1 run could see a move up a grade and a pocket full of money if the punters cashed in!
KINSLEY 19th Jan 2024
Springfield Best, Owned and trained by Jamie Hurst. This October 21 bitch is a solid performer around Kinsley and in today’s 462m A4 race she took another first place. It’s been a good start to the year for the dog but she always gives a performance around Kinsley. With her early pace she’s very rarely out of the top 3 and today was no different as she rifled out of the traps. The 5/1 shot had to work hard to keep Caydans Destiny at bay but just held on winning by a short head.
SHEFFIELD 19th Jan 2024
Leighas Start, Owned and trained by Louise Taylorson. This June 21 bitch had this 280M D3 contest won within the first second of the race. Trapping very well and very quick away, it was an impressive return after a three week break. I was at this meeting and this was the standout performance of the night for me.
Premier Greyhound Racing counted down on social media for weeks. We all had big hopes for a new year and a new start to give us all a boost. Disappointed, frustrated and misleading are just a few words I can think of as I try to get my head around the race coverage by PGR.
I don’t want a betting shop feed on TV with no atmosphere. There are missing races, and half races. I’m sat looking at a blank laptop or phone in between the races, with no presenters. I could go on. Again it seems owners of dogs are not part of the future of greyhound racing. Nail and coffin comes to mind !!!
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.
