Brutus is Back!

Lance Burford called me at Edgbaston this evening as Warwickshire were clinching yet another Twenty 20 win against Somerset beaming after Iceman Brutus's trial at Coventry. After a poor trial last week he recorded an amazing 29.51 at Coventry in normal going! The dog loves to race and hates to be away from the track. He has been pagued with niggles since last October, fingers crossed he stays sound and gets Lance and Pam some more trophies in the months ahead.

Iconic Landmark

An iconic London landmark is to close this August after 75 years.

Walthamstow stadium in east London, famous for its greyhound racing track, will be sold to property developers.

Directors say falling profits and attendances have forced them to sell up. Racing will continue until August this year. Famed for its pink and green neon-lit frontage, the stadium has been one of the capital's most recognised landmarks.

The track hosts probably the best programme of Open Racing in the country. The track is a real east end track which is probably its downfall as well. Perhaps with a more commerical operating owner the track may have survived. When I have been there you can't help to be struck by the people there have been there for years and the real atmosphere. Where will these people go ? The track has been their lives.

The closure will effect the whole industry and a lot of money comes through pups going to race there. If this track can be sold off so easy, which one is next ?

In a last throw of the dice a Government petition has been launced, so please click on the below link and sign up.It will take just one minute.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Walthamstowdogs/

Round up

The Prince could only finish 5th today in his S2. He pinged from the traps but the dogs on his inside checked his run and forced him in to all sorts of trouble. He looked like he was going to finish third only to get the door slammed on him on bend five. Trap 3 S3 next week...lump on!!

Chris Allsopps Maltese Jim did us a favour when winning by four and a half lengths at a tasty 3/1. Give Itup Geezer highlighed on the blog two weeks ago won his second race on the bounce and has now won in three different grades.

Line of Fire sadly only finished last in the St Ledger in Limerick.

In probably the last big competition at Walthamstow, Fear Zafonic maintained his superb progress by landing the £5,000 Graphite Puppy Derby final. Charlie Lister's dog is a October 2006 son of Premier Fantasy out of Farloe Oyster. She must be one of the top dams now and has produced the highest quality pups in every litter to three different stud dogs.

Charlie Lister said after the race that Fear Zafonic is still learning the game and it is frightening to think how good he is. Hopefully I might be able to see him run should he tak ehis chance in the Gymcrack at Hall Green.

Quick Reapperance

The Prince(Lisa's Invader) makes a quick reapperance tomorrow at Monmore after finishing third 1 1/4 lengths behind Teeceejay in an S3 on Friday. He has been upped in grade, reopposes the winner and has his coffin box, trap 4! The 2 and the 3 dogs have really good early pace and have not doubt been put in to stop our clear around the first two bends. The race is at 5.22pm and can be seen in your local bookmakers.

Rose of Tralee

Nice to see Melodys Pat get compensation for getting knocked out of the Irish Derby when produced a stunning record breaking performance in winning the 25,000 Euro Lee Strand Paddy O’Sullivan Spring Twilight Race of Champions at Tralee.

The racing looked top class at the Oakview venue. I was interested to note Droopys Arsene running on strong to finish second. This brindle World Class dog could be worth a small each way interest in the Irish Derby if entered. Whilst he probably doesn’t have the class of some of the big guns he has some solid Shelbourne form and reminds me of Trey United who reached the same Final.

Blue Amarillo full brother Line of Fire takes his chance in yet another Final this weekend. This weekend it’s the Kerrys Irish St ledger at Limerick. Sadly he has got drawn in trap 3 so he probably won’t be able to show his best. What a dream dog to own. If Belle’s pups are any where near this quality they could well cost a fortune. With two litters on the ground to Boherduff Light and Droopys Maldini they are exciting times ahead.

News from Drumscraw & Syndicate Night Out

This morning I received an update from Paul at Drumscraw.

Cheque recieved with thanks. Jameson will be coming inside at the end of the summer, at around 11 months. A lot will depend on when he fills out, and when his growth plates close. Before I start schooling any dog they are taken for a full check over. It's money well spent. Have made a start on the gallop and they will be put up it every other day from 11 months, whether they are kenneled up or not. Your lad seems pretty level headed, although can be a little yappy at times, so I don't see any problems with him.

I normally take them for a look at the schooling track once they have settled into the kennels. If they show interest I take them home straight away. I have found that letting them watch to much can send them crazy and lead to bad habits being formed. The two GWT dogs are going today for a look and I wil probably hand slip them this weekend. The three bitches all went round no problems last sunday, one in particular went pretty well.

The Blue Amaillo pups to Maldini are doing great, like little fat kittens. Eyes are open and they are moving about well now.

Following the replies, the syndicate night out will be Saturday 27th September. Can I ask you all to email me to confirm your attendance and how many seats you require. I won't require payment until August. Hopfully I will be able to get us our normal £6 off each seat. The evening with consist of a three course meal, front row seats, Silver Fox form analysis, good racing, Mark Strutt after dinner entertainment and a chance to catch to catch up with all the gossip. Everyone welcome.

What ever happened to

It was great to hear the other day from Steve Murphy that Ballymac Kewell is still well and is living out with Liam Dowling in Kerry. I followed Kewell very closely throughout his career mainly as I had a dog trained by the same trainer, Carly Philpott. Steve(by dogs head) is one of the sports genuine nice blokes and always has time for chat and a catchup even though he is trying to win the top races whist I'm happy with an S2!

Kewells CV couldn't be stronger Irish Puppy Derby Finalist 2003, won Pop Gun International Thurles 2004, English Derby Finalist 2004, 3rd Dundalk International 2004, 2nd Ladbrokes Select Stakes 2004, Unbeaten Finalist 2005 Scottish Derby (withdrawn off colour),Waltamstow Veteran Derby Winner 2005. The pedigree on its own is strong enough being out of Droopys Woods and one of the best dames ever in Blonde Returns.

Kewell is reported to have an 11 month litter on the ground to Farloe Valencia and has also served a couple of Liams bitches.

Its amazing what happens to these superstars of the track. Why would breeders not use Kewell ?

Go on Arnie!

Lance Burford's Iceman Arnie romped round Coventry on Sunday in an amazing 29.73. This was only his third ever race. Being a big strappy dog Lance has had to take his time with this striking dog. Fingers crossed he will continue to improve. You certainly wouldn't turn down a dog out of the dam's (Icemaid Nikki) next litter. The litter also contains Icemaid Lilley(winner of four opens), Iceman Arfa (Open race winner) and Iceman Ozzie who has just started to race at Monmore.To be fair to my pal Ray he picked Arnie out from about 12 dogs as the pick. If could well be proved to be spot on. Lance has Mothball running on Sky tonight.

Yeah Man Offspring

Two of Yeah Man's promising pups made their debuts last week in Ireland. Droopys Miller won the first round of the Oran Majestic Open Unraced Stake in impressive fashion despite not getting a clear run. The competition could be one of the hottest Unraced stakes in Ireland so it will be interesting to see how he goes.In an added twist a half brother to Blue Amarillo called Moveit Jamie was a good second in the same stake. A full sister to Droopys Miller called Marbeck Princess then won well in Youghal in 29.41. Fingers crossed we have our own nice Yeah Man over in Northern Ireland.

Injury to Avenue

Sadly Avenue Guide has injured his sartorius (pencil or whip muscle). The muscle (no.4 in diagram) is used to flex the hip and draws leg forward. He will be out of action for about six weeks.

Afternoon Report

Lisa's Invader was a brave second this afternoon when finishing behind Meenala Suzy. Despite trapping well the four box cost the Prince any chance as Suzy trapped well, got the rails and burned away. Prince battled hard but could catch the leader.

Avenue finished a poor last. It appeared he banged himself when coming away from the traps so will need a through check tomorrow.

Promising Pups at Monmore

I love watching the young pups try and move up through the grades at our local track. Over the last couple of weeks I've picked out seven of which I will highlight that could well worth be following.

Give Itup Geezer (F Wright) - bk d Never Give Up-Shanakil Stephi Aug-2006 - Geezers dam was Shanakil Stephi, a serious fast bitch at Romford. Won well on debut before being baulked on next run. Could well stay well being off Never Give Up.

Dul Amach (K Prince) - Daves Mentor-Waltzing Along Sep-2006 - Showed some cracking pace behind the Geezer on debut. Looks sure to take off when the brakes are off and gets a rails pitch.

Borna Trick (C Allsopp) - bk d Crash-Borna Flyer Jul-2006 -From a cracking dam line, won on debut, been in with hot pots since. Should stay aswell, nice dog.

Swift Racket (K Prince) - bk b Crash-Ladys Best Lass Nov-2005 - A recruit from Ian Greaves, harshly treated my grader. Watch her go in time.

Ardera Brian (B Riddiford) -bk d Head Bound-Gaytime Angie Nov-2006 - Perhaps not to become track champion but looked very capable of winning some nice races.

Along Came Dave (K Prince) - bk d Daves Mentor-Waltzing Along Sep-2006 - Brother to Dul Amach. Follow the money.

Cushie Ronaldo (M Harris) - bk d Droopys Maldini-Cushie Maz Jul-2006 -Already moved up from A7 to A3, further improvement is most likely.

Older dogs that have taken the eye on the graded scene are Slobalong Dog, Mineloa Vital and Lisnakill Nicky. There looks to be a few currently grading aswell. Another one I will be hping runs well tomorrow is Iceman Ozzie, trained by Martin Burt owned by Lance & Pam Burford.

Lisa's Invader and Avenue Guide both takes there chances in back to back races on Friday.

Loyal Honcho Wins Derby

Loyal Honcho won the Blue Square 2008 for Seamus Graham last night. As a race it was a poor spectacle as Honcho burst clear, Tyrur Kieran broke ok and looked poised to unleash a challenge but he checked at the bend again(perhaps carrying a knock after two big campaigns) and then found Kryptonite rushing up on his inside as he tried to cut across. He bumped Kryptonite back, and this all left Loyal Honcho bouncing clear. The rest of the field were caught in the trouble ending the chances to see a fantastic race. Graham surely deserved his moment of glory after bitter disappointment of his Premier Fantasy breaking down in the semi-finals in 2004 and a trap failure in last years Semi Final. Congratulations to all connections.

Flynn and I went took out our own superstars this morning for a country walk. Both received their favourite Milky Way stars after their wins this week.