Banksie's Five To Follow

Banksies Five to Follow

Each week I’ll be looking to find Five Puppies who have caught the eye in graded in action in the last week who could be worth following in the coming weeks. To follow any of the selections, build your own kennel here and receive notifications for when they next run

Moving onto this week:

DROOPYS STRING: Ran from Trap 2 in the 1.17 at Hove on Friday 11th April

This September 23 youngster caught the eye when making all the running on debut in an A6 contest last Friday for trainer Carl Gardiner. He showed a good burst of early pace to hit the front round the opening bend and was soon able to build up a good lead of 4-5 lengths going down the back and never looked to be in any danger, crossing the line in front by 3 ¼ lengths in a time of 30.04 at odds of 6/4. Hopefully the grader doesn’t raise her more than one grade, and if that’s the case, then she could go close to landing the double.

SHANAHEE CODY: Ran from Trap 1 in the 12.12 at Doncaster on Sunday 13th April

It’s not very often that you will find a Greyhound winning by 17 ¼ lengths, let alone a puppy, but that was the case on Sunday when Jimmy Gaskin’s July 23 youngster Shanahee Cody did just that in a B7 contest. Yes, it was a weak race, which was why he was sent off as 4/11F and there may have been some bunching up in behind, but he did what he had to do in impressive fashion, soon hitting the front in the early stages before drawing clear down the back, recording a time of 28.47. That was a huge improvement from his debut outing and with the chance of yet more to come, he could land the double, even with a likely double upgrade next time out as a minimum penalty.

ZENITH OTTOMAN: Ran from Trap 1 in the 3.19 at Romford on Tuesday 15th April

Was a good runner up on debut. This September 23 youngster missed her break, coming out in 5th, but showed decent enough early pace into the first bend. Between the first and second bend and bumped off the rail, losing maybe a length, but the Dave Mullins runner came out of the second bend in second, about 4 lengths behind the leader and set off after the leader, staying on well to finish runner up to cut the winning margin down to a length, recording 24.49 in doing so. If able to trap on better terms, she can improve on this run and may not be far away next time out.

BONNIE SUES GIRL: Ran from Trap 2 in the 11.09 at Nottingham on Wednesday 16th April

Was eye-catching in defeat in just her second start over four bends. Philip Wilson’s August 23 youngster found trouble on the run to the first bend when trying to get across to the rails, and then again on a couple of occasions round the first two bends, almost coming to a standstill on the second occasion. That would have put her at least 10 lengths behind the leaders as she wasn’t even in camera shot at that point, but she set off after the leaders and made plenty of ground up rounding the final bends and on the run in, staying on to finish third, only beaten by a length in this A5 contest, recording a time of 31.36 at odds of 15/8F. Can only improve with a clearer passage and if drawn in Trap 1 next time out, then she has to be of interest.  

EASY TEXAS: Ran from Trap 3 in the 5.03 at Towcester on Wednesday 16th April

Laurence Tuffin’s October 23 youngster trapped well and made all the running in lower grade on debut previously and was looking to land the double in this A3 contest. That looked to be on the cards when trapping well and built up an early lead, but he couldn’t quite hold onto that advantage and the Evs F was picked up close home in a time of 29.67. He may still have more to offer though as that was just his second outing and if he can produce another fast start and build up a similar lead again next time out, then he may just be able to hold on at the finish.