Banksie's Five To Follow- 18th July 2025

Banksie's Five To Follow- 18th July 2025

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.

No winners from the three runners that ran last week, but all three runners ran well in defeat finishing third, and two of those were only picked up in the later stages, including Own View, who went close to overcoming a four-grade penalty following a debut victory!

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Moving on to this week:

BOOK LAUNCH: Ran from Trap 6 in the 11.43am at Romford on Saturday 12th July

October 23 youngster Book Launch got off mark at the third attempt and this runner, trained by Gemma Evans, looks to have plenty more scope for improvement.

Having trapped reasonably well, Book Launch showed decent pace into the first bend, turning second a length and a half behind the leader. However, beaten the first two bends, he decided to try and go up the inside of the leaders but struck into the rail, causing him to lose plenty of momentum, from being a length or so behind, to being a good four and a half lengths behind coming out of the second bend.

He then set off after the leader, and but heading into the third bend, he was still three lengths down, but that distance was shortening by the stride and coming off the last bend, it was down to a length. With the wind in his sails, he overtook the leader on the run in and went on to score by a length in this bottom grade contest in 25.14 at 2/1.

It was only his third start and looks sure to learn and improve on this run and if that’s the case, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him scoring in A11 next time out.

BOMBSHELL BULLET: Ran from Trap 1 in the 4.34pm at Hove on Sunday 13th July

Although beaten by a fellow January 24 puppy called Droopys Playgirl, Belinda Green’s Bombshell Bullet ran an eyecatching ran on debut to finish third last Sunday afternoon.

Having won two previous contests in Ireland, Bombshell Bullet was sent off at 9/4 to score in A3 but ran a good race in defeat. After a moderate break, she turned the first bend in fifth, just a couple of lengths behind the leaders, but just before the second bend, she showed her inexperience and moved off into the runner in trap five, causing her to lose a couple of lengths, and coming out of the second bend she was about four and a half lengths behind the leader.

She was making progress on the leader approaching the third bend but the runner in second in trap two cut across her at the bend, forcing Bombshell Bullet to check her stride, and then collided with the runner in trap four as a result. Chances of winning by this point were gone, but she stayed on well again to finish third.

She could have any amount of improvement to come in the coming weeks and if she can gain a clearer passage rounding the opening bends, then she may not be far away at the finish in another A3 contest next time out.

AAYAMZA CRYPTO: Ran from Trap 4 in the 7.22pm at Yarmouth on Monday 14th July

The John Mullins trained Aayamza Crypto gained a first victory in just her third attempt at Yarmouth on Monday night and this January 24 daughter of former classy runner Smallmead could go through the grades in the coming weeks.

She showed potential in her previous start back at the end of June when staying on well to finish a close up third but improved on that run here to score in A8 company. Having trapped moderately, she showed decent pace to the opening bend, turning third, a couple of lengths behind the leaders.

Stamina is in her bloodline, so when she turned the third bend just over a length behind the leaders, it always looked likely that she would reel in the leader and she hit the front just off the last bend, staying on well at the finish to score by a length in 28.63 to justify her price of 11/8F.

She looks sure to improve again in the coming weeks and could go close to landing the double in A7 next time out if close enough to the leaders rounding the final bends again.

LINKS MAGICIAN: Ran from Trap 2 in the 11.27am at Newcastle on Tuesday 15th July

I think Ryan Buckton’s February 24 youngster has become the first greyhound featured in this column who could have been mentioned twice in the one week!

Having initially caught the eye when running out an impressive winner on his debut outing at Newcastle in an A6 last Friday when making all the running despite a bump at the start, he came in as a reserve on Tuesday morning to make all the running in an A5 contest.

He showed a good burst of early pace when leading round the opening bends and was able to build up a lead of three lengths when coming out of the second bend. That lead was maintained until the later stages but was able to hold on by a length in 29.29 (-10) at 11/8F.

That run was his best time on the clock, beating his previous winning time by four lengths and he may have more to come yet. If that’s the case, then he looks more than capable of scoring in A4.

ROCKLEY:  Ran from Trap 1 in the 1.08pm at Nottingham on Thursday 17th July

This is only the second time that I have made a selection who ran well in a handicap contest, the only previous time was on 23rd May when I put up George Stark’s Westforth Boyo. He has gone on to score in four of his five starts in handicaps since, and hopefully, Jill Llewellin’s Rockley can have similar success.

This was just his third start and only his second in a handicap but this March 24 youngster could have plenty more to offer in the coming weeks, not only in handicap action but back in level start racing.

Running from trap one, he already had a useful looking advantage on the field, receiving 13 metres, but that lead was extended due to crowding in behind rounding the opening bends, and as they headed down the back, he still had a lead of four lengths into the third bend.  

Just as the pack were making inroads, there was again crowding behind, helping to maintain and if anything increased his lead as he went to record a comfortable five and three quarter length victory.

That was only his third start and if competing in handicap action again, especially if able to go off the front again, then he could make all the running again with a little help behind, but having had the one run in A8 company on debut, if he continues to improve and returns to A8, then he has every chance of scoring at that level as well