Torchbearer leads the team to night of glory

Five fantastic winners for kennel last night at Monmore.  The young bitch Torchbearer recorded her maiden win when running away with the A7 by 3 1/2 lengths in 29.05. The ultra consistant Farloe Turbo overcame crowding on the first bend to take the A4 in 29.13. The odds of 6/1 surprised us all ! 

This followed with a victory when Farloe Hawk stayed on very strongly to win the A5 by a comfortable 3 lengths in 28.97. Solid Merlot put his early pace to good use when recording an A4 win in a very pleasing 28.79. Goa Storm put in the performance of the night when the son of Express Ego took a very competitive A1. Storm blasted out under traps and built up an a lead what was never closed until the closing stages. Storm took the race in 28.38. 

Missy's early pace does the trick again

Miss Capulet once again put her early pace to good use when recording her third victory from her last six starts. The A8 victory in 29.57 shows how something has really clicked for this bitch. If she keeps trapping like this I can see her adding to her total of wins quickly. 

Bawna Major finally got a break from the grader and duly took advantage of the drop to A5 by taking the contest in 28.74 by 3 1/4 lengths. Lets hope the dog doesn't have to wait six months for his next win.

Old and new......all welcome

All shares in Windgap Hawk have now been sold. New owner Steve Pomroy will join loyal owners Will Adamson, Peter Symonds and one owner who wishes not to be named.  All the very of luck lads !!

I would like to welcome back Little Jig's owner Marie Mclean who has purchased 50% in open racer Goa Girl. Nice to have you back on board.

Saturday Treble at the Green

Three great performances from the team at Monmore on Saturday. The early paced Goa Getta lead all the way in the 416 metre open taking the race by 1 1/2 lengths in 24.95.  I did post last week that this dog was ready to win and for sale. Please call if you are looking for some instant action.

Sharp Bullet looks to be coming back to his best as he followed up last weeks A1 win by taking the Division 2 Standard by a hard fought head in 28.60. Our final winner was by the pictured Westmead Athena who strolled to a stunning five length win in 28.98. By the looks of her starting price her connections and the local punters landed a good few bets.

Well done to all the team.

Monmore march to BAGS Championship Final

 Droopys Julie

 Sidelight

Our Monmore roared into the final of the 2012 BAGS Track Championship, breaking the 200-point barrier as they saw off the Birmingham challenge of Hall Green and Perry Barr in the final round of matches in Group C. 

The defending champions were always fancied to seal the deal with home advantage at the Wolverhampton venue, scene of last year’s triumph, and they rarely looked in any danger as they amassed 77 points on the day. Racing manager Jim Woods saw his team win the first three legs courtesy of the Paul Slater-trained Kickupyourheels (15.68) in the Sprint as Rocket Auto made it a Monmore one-two; Sidelight (28.49) finally enjoyed some luck in the event as she won the Puppy contest, before recording another winner care of Droopys Julie (28.75) plundered the Bitches race. Perry Barr salvaged some pride with 10-1 chance Magical Ozzie (38.57) edging local Betinboots in the Stayers for winning trainer Bill Russell, before Joe Scanlon’s Highfire Jazz (28.73) made it a quickfire double for the visitors as he edged Hall Green raider Supreme Johnson in the Dogs 480.

Normal service was resumed in the closing standard as Fozzie Onedog (28.26) struck for Pam Burford and, for good measure, it was a Monmore one-two here with Kinlock Style second.

So it means the Ladbrokes-owned track is the first name in the final, with Monmore aiming to repeat its victory in the BAGS Track Championship 12 months ago.

Six tracks, those heading each of the groups, will feature in the shoot-out at Perry Barr on December 23.

Scores: Monmore 77, Perry Barr 46, Hall Green 45.

Final Score: Monmore 201, Hall Green 163, Perry Barr 140.

On the supporting card Hidden Trend took the kennel bragging rights when she beat Shades  of Daysa in the A3 in 28.79. 

Brave Peggy denied in Leger Final

Peggys Style had to settle for 4th place in last nights St Leger at Wimbledon. A slow start always put her on the back foot but she ran on very gamely. Peggys really started to rattle off the last bend and was staying on strongly but when the contenders in front of her slammed the door shut just when she was going to force her way through a tight gap. Whilst she was beaten it was a fantastic achievement for this 28kg bitch to reach the Classic Final. In time her pups are very much going to be in demand.

Many thanks to William Hill for their sponsorship and to Sky for their great coverage.

In the supporting races Joscar was 3rd in the Puppy race, Rusheen Major 3rd in the Standard whilst Goa Girl had to battle trouble in running as she finished 4th in 41.82. 

Go Peggy Go !

I can report Peggys Style is great form with herself ahead of tomorrow televised William Hill sponsored St Leger at Wimbledon. I'm sure owners John Nokes, Frank Martin and Eddie Lamb are already counting down the minutes in the big race. Lets hope she can ping away from traps as I'm sure if she can get on the bunny again she could be difficult to catch.

On the supporting card Joscar takes his chance in the Puppy race, Rusheen Major in the Standard and Goa Girl in Stayers.

I have a half share in Goa Girl available for £3,000. If you have ever wanted a runner on Sky this is your chance.  Please call if interested. 

Make sure you cheer on our runners on Sky Sports !

Farloe Bargain Clearance

I've got two nice dogs available to be sold at a clearance price. This are way below their market value. It's a simple case of first come first served.

Farloe Turbo (Hondo Black x Farloe Lass), March 2011. Honest grader currently A4 at Monmore, a winner twice already. Would give any new owner some instant fun and have a pup ready to win. £1,000.

Farloe Hawk (Royal Impact x Hather Gypsy), November 2010. Another dog ready to win. Runs from a wide berth so will always get weekly runs at Monmore. Good be a good spinner for any new owner. £800. 

Major and Joscar take charge at Coventry

A pleasing open race double last night at Coventry. Joscar seems to really appreciate the stiff gallop at our local track and he took the Puppy Trophy with an all the way success in 29.44 by 1/2 length. Rusheen Major made it back to back open race wins when he took the I'm Slippy Standard in a very pleasing 29.29. This was the Major's 6th career win. 

Super Saturday at Monmore

The winners at Monmore haven't been flying in at their normal pace in recent weeks so it was great to have 5 winners on one night.

Proud Pigalle got the ball rolling with a 6 1/2 length romp if the A3 in 28.25. This was the pups first win and I'm very confident this lad will have a great career ahead of him. Mays Stopagoback stayed on best in the S3 in win by 1 3/4 lengths by 38.63. The pictured Bandicoot Fionn took advantage of a drop to A3 to take a very competitive race in 28.90. Shiners Princess was another one to appreciate the step down a grade as she was never headed in a two length romp in 28.53. Finally the ever improving Lynns Blackie added another win to his CV when taking closing A3 in 28.64. 

Leger Final date for Peggys

Saturday  night saw Wimbedon stage semi-finals of the williamhill.com St Leger and, following one or two upset results in the previous round, the form book held up pretty well to set up a tremendous £15,000 showdown not to be missed live on Sky Sports next Thursday.

The first eliminator went to our own Peggys Style (4-1) who won a fantastic three-way battle with Ballyard Buddy and Blonde Fletch. Peggys Style led out but was headed by Blonde Fletch off the second bend. Ballyard Buddy,who was always stalking, challenged and briefly led on the run in just as Peggys was rallying to snatch the verdict by a short-head and a head in 42.10sec.

Mark Wallis's TV Trophy winner Blonde Reagan (5-2) made all of the running to take the second semi in a quicker 41.90sec. Musical Gaga stayed on well to take second spot some 4 1/2L behind the winner with Droopys Xavier claiming the final place in the decider.
First and second bend trouble had seen Romeo Patrol take a nasty fall (sustained a fractured hock) while Ding Hero and Romeo Explosion were virtually put out of the race.

Draw for Thursday's Final: 1 Musical Gaga, 2 Blonde Fletch, 3 Droopys Xavier, 4 Ballyard Buddy (m), 5 Blonde Reagan (w), 6 Peggys Style (w)

Monmore round up

Catsrock Impact recorded her maiden win last night when taking the opening race. Quickly away from traps she showed some good all round pace and stayed on very well to take the A6 contest in 29.08. 

Head Iton Mags was our only winner this afternoon when she took the S6 when sticking to her task very well to win by a head in 39.98. 

Sky and Open Racers for Sale

We always have owners looking for some instant action and I'm pleased to be able to offer four genuine race dogs with proven form and fitness. No sensible offer will be refused.

Goa Girl - top class stayer and a winner on Sky this year. Has won at Wimbledon, Yarmouth, Coventry, Monmore, Sittingborne, Perry Barr, Hove and Shelbourne. Plenty of more races to be won with her.

Goa Getta - An open race winner at Oxford. After a lay off with an injury she flew round Oxford today in 15.60.

Goa Storm - This lightly raced dog is twice an open race winner at Nottingham. Second in an A1 on Saturday.

Goa Leprechaun - Super S1 stayer, very consistant, would be a great purchase for any new owner.

Please call me as these dogs will be sold on a first come first served basis.

Peggys turns on Leger style

Peggys Style stormed in the William Hill St Leger Semi Finals with a stunning performance at Wimbledon. Making the most from her wide position, she was quickly into stride and was never headed. Hot favourite Ballyard Buddy rallied off the last bend but could not get within 2 1/2 lengths of our Peggy. The victory was in 42.18. 

Draw for Saturday's semi-finals:
First semi: 1 Express Trend, 2 Blonde Fletch, 3 Ballyard Buddy (m), 4 Ballintine Molly (w), 5 Brinkleys Sky (w), 6 Peggys Style (w).

Second semi: 1 Droopys Xavier, 2 Ding Hero, 3 Musical Gaga, 4 Blonde Reagan (w), 5 Romeo Explosion (w), 6 Romeo Patrol (w).

First over the line

Borna Line recorded her 4th career win at Momore on Monday with an all the way success. Dropped to A10 the July 2010 bitch was quickly away and never headed. She took the contest in 29.34 by 3 1/4 lengths. Great win.

Coventry Double

I've had a few days away with the family in Scotland so updates have not been as regular as normal. It great to hear we had two winners at Coventry last night.

Atouchofvenus proved to be a different class in the Division A bitches race as she romped to a 2 1/2 length win in 29.56. Rusheen Major followed this up in the very next race when taking the Division 3 standard by 2 3/4 lengths in 29.40. 

Great work from all the team !

Droopys Julie delivers in BAGS Championship as Monmore steal an early lead

Monmore, last year's BAGS Track Championship winners, took an early lead in their Group C fixture against Hall Green and Perry Barr, but the Birmingham tracks more than held their own on a day when each venue scored two wins apiece.

Kim BillinghamChampions Monmore got off to the perfect start when Rocket Auto (16.36) struck for team captain Kim Billingham and owners the Seahorse Four syndicate as he led home locally-trained Drummurrer Park.

Our kennel then weighed in with the impressive Droopys Julie (28.63), also for Monmore, who swept through past halfway to land the Bitches 480 for owner Mr J Nokes. (Pictures of Droopys Julie)

Perry Barr hit back in the Standard when Shaneboy Nelson (28.24) made virtually all for Joe Scanlon as he shot clear of running-on Monmore raider Daithis Roscoe, while Hall Green then had Supreme Johnson (28.47) to thank in the Dogs 480 as he showed great early pace to strike for trainer Stuart Buckland and owner, Stuart's father Maurice.

Perry Barr were back in the winner's enclosure as the Louise Eccles-trained Non Pasaran (40.42) held on in a thrilling Stayers contest from Monmore's Mordred Saul, winning for owner Mr B Reynolds.

Sidelight was all the rage for the concluding Puppy race but stumbled on exiting the track, was crowded off the second bend, and ultimately did well in the circumstances to finish third for Monmore.

The winner here was Hall Green's Ballymac Albert (29.04) for Gerry Ballentine and owners Mssrs C Binks, G Clark and P Titcomb, who overhauled long-time leader Heathmill Honcho, representing the locals.

Hall Green host the next leg in Group C on November 14, with Monmore welcoming the Birmingham tracks on November 23.

Final scores: Monmore 67, Perry Barr 54,  Hall Green 47

This report was taken from a cracking micro site thats well worth looking up.

Coventry Statement

I am pleased to announce that I will be grading a number of dogs on at Coventry Stadium in the very near future.  I stress I will not be leaving Monmore Green as I am very happy there, but the situation has arose that my kennel strength at Monmore has gone out of control and ever increasing daily.  Monmore Green General Manager, Richard Brankley and Racing Manager Jim Woods, both have given me full support and permission to have talks with Harry Findlay to supply some graders at Coventry.

I understand this is the first time a Ladbrokes owned track has allowed this to happen and I thank Richard & Jim for this opportunity.  There will be no change at all to my current contract at Monmore Green and I have no intention of jeopardising my future there.  As you are well aware I'm a Coventry kid born & bred and took out my professional license when Coventry re-opened its doors.  I had a fantastic 18 months at my local track and then landed the lucrative contract at Monmore.  Since Harry Findlay re-opened the track this year I have had quite a lot of my old owners and others, asking me if I ever will return on a graded basis.

After thinking long & hard and a kennel block lying empty after the retirement of Martin Burt it made sense with my ever increasing dog strength, attracting new owners daily and also I have started my own breeding venture with my old kennel superstar 'Ballymac Ace' who has already pups on the ground from some great bitches including 'Daughter of Peg, Southern Dooey, Zafonic Oyster and Raynes Park'. Therefore Coventry my local track would be ideal to run as a second track.

After a chat with Harry who was delighted to bring myself the local boy back home, have agreed that I grade on around 15/20 dogs. Harry has some big ideas for Coventry and with the low tote retention and other plans, I hope I can help him achieve great things here. With other tracks threatening closure and the sad news on Walthamstow, we need small tracks like Coventry to survive, so I hope with my doubling up Monmore and Coventry I can keep attracting owners to the sport at both.

I will also be trying very hard next year to get back to the top in the Trainers Championship. We have had an up and down season this year with some bad injuries not helping us, but overall we are still doing well, currently lying a safe third and once again for the 6th year running leading graded trainer at Monmore Green.  I have some nice dogs coming through for next year so fingers crossed we can have a good campaign in 2013.

Many Thanks

Chris 

Pups and Sapling Page Launched

Following demand for our regular owners and more land available at kennels we now have a Pups/Saplings Sale Page. Please take a look and call if interested.

Defence to start in BAGS Championship

Monmore start the defence of their BAGS Track Championship today at Perry Barr. We are once again pitched in against Perry Barr and Hall Green. There are six races made up of Sprinters, Bitches, Standard, Dogs, Stayers and Puppys. Chosen from our kennel are El Poacher who runs in the Sprint, Droopys Julie in the Bitches, Farloe Gambit in the Dogs and our best chance Sidelight in the Puppys.

Good luck to all connections.

Hawk and Judy kick start week at Monmore

There was a maiden win for Farloe Hawk this afternoon at Monmore when he took advantage of a drop to A6 to record a 2 1/2 length win in 28.91. Galtee Judy also hit the target as she recorded her 8th career win when leading all the way in the A4 to win in 28.69. 

Devilacare very much one to follow

After a very pleasing debut win at Nottingham last week at Nottingham, Devilacare was sadly beaten tonight in the Maiden Final at the same venue. Sent off a warm favourite by the local punters he was never of terms tonight but I'm sure he will be worth following over the winter months.

Joscar returns to winning ways

Joscar returned to winning ways at Coventry on Sunday night with a gutsy performance to take the Mark Hill Puppy Trophy. Joscar had a ding dong battle with Scene Setter from the moment the traps opened yet Joscar put his head down when it mattered most to win by a neck in 29.76. Many thanks to Dave Yanez for the quick fire photos.

Scouting Report - Part 2 + Autumn offer !

As you are aware two weeks ago I went on a scouting mission to the Emerald Isle for 'very young pups' with raw potential.

On my travels I went to the Famous Ballymac Kennels, there I watched several trials at Tralee track.

3 extremely young bitches caught my eye. Please bear in mind that these are only 'raw' end of Sept 2011 whelps  (13 1/2 months old) They have only been in the boxes 3 times and 2 of them were having their only their 2nd 525 yards runs of their lives. The track was definitely 'back' time wise from a race track as it was rotovated the day before.

Lot 1

Ballymac Clara - Sept 2011 - W/Black bitch

Brilliantly bred as she is by - the legendary 'Westmead Hawk' x 'Ballymac Dot' - which is the exact same dam line as such superstars as 'Droopys scolari' 'Droopys Maldini'. She comes from the famous 'Little Diamond' dam who was voted dam of the year.

'Ballymac Dot' has already produced the likes of 'Ballymac Polly' - 29.26 Enniscorthy & 28.99 Tralee (£8,000 refused) 'Mayo dazzler' (29.09 Harolds cross open)

'Clara' in her 3 dog trial was in against 2 May 2011 dogs who had way more schooling. She however 'pinged' from traps to show some serious early toe to make the 1st bend in front - by the 1st bend she was 2 lengths in front. Down the back straight she was gone 3 lengths clear of a  'Royal impact x Galtee Ellie' (who was valued at 10.000euros) Not surprising this young baby's stride shortened up the run in (due to her not being fit and only having her 2nd 525 yards run) and she was beaten 2 lengths in 29.18.

A fantastic performance from one so young - she can only improve & improve from further from this - she will easily break the 29.00 seconds at Tralee. Her 2 1/2 sisters have already done so.

Lot 2 - 'Ballymac Pixie' - Sept 2011- Black bitch 64lbs weight

Another fantastic bred baby by 'Burnpark Champ' who has already produced track record holders like 'Ballymac Eske' & 'Sids dream'

Her dam line is equally phenomenal x 'Ballymac Cait' who is by Westmead Hawk x Cabra Dancer whose pups at 12 weeks old make £5,000! thats if you can get one!

'Ballymac Cait'  was specifically kept for breeding, she won in 28.77 at Tralee and is a full litter sister to the likes of 'Cabra Millie' £50,000 REFUSED (28.34 Shelbourne Park) - 2012 Irish oaks runner up - This is also the exact same line as the great 'Cabra Fly' who was sold for £15,000 and was a top open race star for us at Westview kennels. 'Cabra Cool' is also from the same line. He of course won the £25,000 Scottish Derby.

'Ballymac Pixie' - in her 3 dog trial missed her break and was bumped at the 1st bend but showed top class all round pace to come from behind to win in 29.38 -

Like 'Clara' she can only improve & improve -

That was only 'Ballymac Pixies' 2nd 525 yards trial ever.

Both these bitches possess serious dam lines plus they have shown huge potential. We have acted fast to secure them as we feel at the price they represent huge value for money. If they stayed in Ireland and were fully schooled up they would be treble the price.

They are literally straight from the 'Ballymac' rearing paddocks.

Please contact me direct to discuss these young pups further. In a not to be repeated offer any dog bought off the website or blog from now until Christmas, WILL NOT be charged any daily kennel fees up to 1st January 2013.

1st round Leger wins for girls

The prestigious Williamhill.com St Leger kick started at Wimbledon last night and we came away with two first round winners in a very tough looking competition.

Peggys Style took Heat 1 of the competition with a super staying performance to win in 42.15 by 3/4 length. A really pleasing run for her connections. Goa Girl beat the highly rated Jaytee Monroe in Heat 7. The race had plenty of traffic problems but Girl stuck to her task well to take it up coming out of the 5th bend to win in 42.28.

Bullet fires to A1 success

It was good to be back among the Monmore winners last night as we landed a treble. Sharp Bullet took advantage of a drop into grading company to take a very tough looking A1 by 2 3/4 lengths in 28.73. A deserved success if ever I saw one.

The improving bitch Miss Capulet made it back to back wins when taking the A9 in 29.76. Shades of Kara was also on the mark landing the A7 in 29.18.