Review and Hawk shine at Monmore

Two nice open race winners for us at Monmore last night. Strategic Review bounced back to form by taking the Ladbrokes.com 480 with an all the way victory by 2 1/2 lengths in 28.33. 

Earlier on the card Gaelic Hawk continued his move up the ranks by taking the Ladbrokes.com 630 by 2 lengths in 38.87. The son of Westmead Hawk x Black Biscuit could well have a fantastic 2014.

Rolling back the years

Boherna Bridge rolled back the years on Monday night when bouncing away from traps to take the Veterans Open at Nottingham in 28.70. The 480 metre trip was much to short but he raced round like a young puppy to reward connections at a huge 8/1 and a winning margin of 2 3/4 lengths.

Sadly Cuxtons Free was eliminated from the National Sprint.

Kirk Superstar - Monmore 416 Final - Monmore Greyhound Stadium

Kirk is 416 Superstar

Kirk Superstar (pictured here at Coventry) proved connections right about this dog can big Finals by taking the £5,000 Lawrence Jones Memorial Final 416 at Monmore. Superstar came away from traps well and managed slip clear on the outside of the field. Guinness Sky chased hard however it was Superstar who landed the prize by taking the race by a head in 24.92. 

Proud Pegs Tyler ran a superb race in the Puppy race finishing runner up to hot favourite Jaytee Seville who took the race in 28.43. 

Afew Dollarsmore gave his absolute all in the Stayers Final to finish third but we all need to acknowledge the superb Farloe Tango who took the race in 41.08. 

Lawrence Jones Memorial Festival

As always the Lawrence Jones Memorial provided greyhound fans a feast of racing at Monmore.

Proud Pegs Tyler was our only survivor in the Puppy competition after finishing second in Heat 3 to Jaytee Seville. Tyler was on the wrong end of a short head defeat in 28.65 but will be hoping for a clear run in the Final.

In the main competition Strategic Review ran the best to finish 3rd but was eliminated along side Ballymac Warrior and Daddy Knowsbest.

Afew Dollarsmore battled on well in the Stayers Competition over 684 metres to finish second in 41.89 but will have it all to do again in a very hot looking Final. 

Our only winner of the day came care of Cape Impact who is having a great second half of the year. Impact took Heat 3 from an unfavourable trap 4 to win in 24.56. Impact will be joined in the Final by kennel mate Kirk Superstar who finished second in 25.03. Don't rule either of these two out in Fridays Final.

Exocet becomes first Irish winner

Roly Woodcock's Exocet became our first Irish winner last night when producing his customary top class performance to take the 575 Dandelion Night Club Night of Stars Open at Shelbourne Park. 

Exocet bombed from the traps and made all to win by a length in 31.59. The win was one of the protest of my career. I would like to thank Declan Carey the racing manager for giving us the opportunity to take part in a brilliant nights racing. I also can't say enough for the superb sponsors of the night and a special mention to Pat Curtin for putting on a great show. 

Warrior on the charge

The improving Ballymac Warrior took another step up the ladder of open racing last night when running out an impressive 2 3/4 length winner in last nights Division 2 open at Monmore. Warrior was quickly away from traps and wasn't troubled in a clear passage in 28.33. 

Corley Royal recorded his first win when taking the evenings A4. Royal over came first bend crowding to win by a length in 29.13. 

Dollars hits the Bank again

Afew Dollarsmore made it two wins from three starts at Coventry last night when taking the Stayers Open over 672 metres. Dollars stormed to the front of the field at the third bend and then go on to win by a comfortable 3 3/4 lengths in 41.93. 

BAGS Championship Double

There was a couple of real eye catching performances at Monmore on Friday afternoon in the BAGS Championships.

After a couple of runs when getting badly baulked, Proud Pegs Tyler got a clear run after a fast start and romped to a huge 8 3/4 length win in 28.18. 

This was then followed up by the inform Gaelic Hawk taking the second Standard race by a hard fought short head. Hawk overcame early first bend crowded to show a superb turn of pace to win by a short head in 28.54. 

Nottingham Betfred Photos - Steve Nash

 Cluxtons Free

 Daddy Knowsbest - Presentation

Daddy Knowsbest - Action

Steve Nash kindly forwarded these great photos from Nottingham last night. 

Exocet fails to fire in Eclipse Final

Mixed fortunes for us at Nottingham last night. Sadly Exocet left his trapping at home so missed out in Final of the Betfred Eclipse as once behind on the first corner he had an impossible task. Disppointment for connections now in successive finals but lets hope we can final another Final for him before the year is out.

Daddy Knowsbest put in a wonderful run on his comeback to take Betfred Double Delight 480 Trophy when pinging from traps to lead all the way and then hold on when a late challenge came to win by 2 lengths in 28.67. He will now head to Poole on Tuesday where he holds the track record.

Cluxtons Free added another win to his amazing CV when taking the Sprint Trophy in 17.67 by 3/4 length. 

Bolting in at Notts

Two winners for the team at Nottingham last night to keep us in touch which the Trainers Championship.

It was great see Ronaldo's Bolt win his first race when he took Heat 1 of the Maiden competition, winning by 3/4 length in 30.07. Luminous Walk then threw his hat into the ring for a crack at the National Sprint when taking the Sprint open in 17.99.

This was our 150th and 151st open race winners of the years. A great credit to how hard to all the team have worked.

Big Steve set for TV Debut

Big Steve Masters will be featuring on Racing Post Greyhound TV tonight. The programme starts at 6.15pm so make sure you tweet the show and let him know how he is doing.

Steve also has some big news to reveal about the kennel for 2014.

Impact on the Crayford charge

Cape Impact contained his great run of recent form when romping to a 2 3/4 length win in the Sprint Open at Crayford. Local supporters sent him off a warm 6/4 favourite and he duly delivered in 23.49. 

Change leads a five star night

Five winners on a Thursday night gave us all a big boost going into a busy few days.

Minnies Botanist got the ball rolling when recording her first win in the A3. Staying on very sweetly to take the race in 29.38. Then litter sister Minnies Bolbina recorded the same feat when taking advantage of a drop to A5 to win in 29.23. 

Start Itup Sooty made it four wins from his last six races to take a competitive looking A2 by two lengths in 28.89. 

Loose Change then lost his maiden tag in open race company to take the Ladbrokes.com 480 maiden, Change had to over come crowding throughout the race but stuck to his task well to win by 1/2 length in 29.03. 

Finally Ballymac Warrior ended a fantastic night for kennel when taking the A1 in great style. Breaking well then leading all the way to win in 28.61. 

Only way is Essex

Pending how Exocet comes out of the Eclipse at Nottingham but we could well head to Romford for the Coral Essex Vase.

Exocet really enjoys his racing and seems to take well to plenty of trips to the track. His natural speed could be a real tool at Romford and he has some top class form over 575 metres already when racing in Ireland. 

Don't be surpassed if he makes the entries along side our super bitch Sidelight.

Dogs heading all over

It's not worth me saying its a big few days for kennels as I've been saying that for months now.

Tonight we will be double handed in Monmore Sprint Open with the inform Phoenix Bolt and Conors Legend whilst Loose Change and Start Itup Sweep will represent us in the 480 Maiden.

Tomorrow is the Semi Finals of the Betfred Eclipse at Nottingham in which Slippery Sooty and Exocet both represent us. 

On Saturday it will be a long trip to Crayford as they host a good stayers race ideal for Boherna Bridge and Cape Impact will run in the Sprint.

Dollars in the money

Afew Dollarsmore got back to winning ways at Coventry last night at Coventry.

Dollars took the Boylesports Stayers Trophy (Division 2) by staying in touch early on over the 672 metres and then forcing his way clear off the 6th bend. He needed to fight off a late challenge Droopys Perugi to win by 1/2 length in 42.10. 

Exocet sets Eclipse standard

As the team were recording a hatrick of winners at Romford the team also headed to the East Midlands to start a campaign for the Eclipse.

In Heat 1 Exocet didn't have everything his own way as the early pace was made by Mileheight Alba. Exocet stuck close to the leader then powered off the final bend to win by 2 lengths in 29.68. 

Joining Exocet in the Semi Finals will be Slippery Sooty who snatched the third qualifying spot in Heat 2 in 30.17. 

The Semi Finals will take place next Friday of which 2 from each race will qualify for the £8,000 Final. 

Sidelight shines in spotlight

As hoped, Sidelight delivered one of her fine running displays at Romford last night in the Final of the Coral on TV Stayers. Sidelight was quickly away from traps and once on the rails she was always going to prove difficult to pass. The Mark Wallis trained Reel Trickyone chased her down hard but couldn't get within the one length winning margin. The winning time was 35.55.

On the supporting card Creamery Empire recorded his second win for the kennel in the Maiden Stayers in 35.91. Empire really needed to dig deep to win by a neck. 

Boherna Bridge then showed once again what a super dog he is when winning the marathon over 750 metres. Bridge overcame a real rough race to prevail in 47.78 by 1/2 length.