Banksies Five to Follow- Friday 15th August
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.
Banksies Five to Follow- Friday 15th August
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.
Two winners from the three greyhounds that ran last week. Fabulous Naomi was beaten last Friday afternoon over four bends but ran out a four and three quarter length winner when dropping back down to D3 company on Wednesday in 15.90 (+15) at 11/8 for Laurence Tuffin, while Freedom Pro Am was a three quarter length winner of an A3 contest at Newcastle last night. There was plenty of support for Tom Heilbron's December 23 youngster on the back of last week's defeat, going off at 4/9F but got the job done in 29.06 (-10)
Moving on to this week:
KEADY TOUCH : Ran from Trap 2 in the 6.59pm at Sheffield on Friday 8th August
Having worked with trainer Paul Prior at Doncaster, I know full well that the kennel are no strangers to a useful puppy and he may have another one on his hands with Keady Touch.
This December 23 youngster hasn’t been rushed onto the track, having five trials before making his debut at Sheffield last Friday, but showed in his debut run that he could be worth keeping an eye on.
He wasn’t foot perfect from the traps in the early stages but showed good early pace into the opening bend, and having taken advantage of some trouble on his outside between the opening bends, was able to hit the front. Once hitting the front he was never in any real danger as the front two had pulled clear of the field and crossed the line a length in front in a time of 29.27 (+20) at 5/2
That was a decent enough time for a debutant and if able to brush up on his trapping skills, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him landing the double next time out
SCOOBY DIAMOND: Ran from Trap 3 in the 11.01am at Monmore on Saturday 9th August
January 24 puppy Scooby Diamond made a winning debut in an A6 contest at Monmore on Saturday morning and Nathan Hunt’s runner looks to have a bright future on the back of that run
Having been sent off as an 8/13F, Scooby Diamond trapped in second behind a fast starting rival but was able to turn a two length deficit into a length lead rounding the first bend thanks to a fantastic burst of early pace.
That pace continued between the opening two bends, and leaving the second bend, she had built up a lead of around five lengths, drawing clear of her rivals in behind. That lead decreased slightly in the later stages, but the race was in safe keeping by then, crossing the line three lengths clear in a time of 28.98.
That was a pleasing debut and there looks more to come in the coming weeks and a similar burst of early pace could see her going close to landing the double next time out
SLY KAI : Ran from Trap 2 in the 5.31pm at Hove on Sunday 10th August
Gemma Byford’s Sly Kai found trouble on debut when finishing third but was able to take advantage of a drop in grade on Sunday when recording a first victory in an A4 contest at Hove.
He only trapped moderately, no better than fourth of the five runners, but showed good pace into the bend, crucially clearing the runner in the red jacket before the first bend.
As a result, he was able to gain a nice run rounding the opening bends, and coming out of the second bend, he was able to hit the front and was able to build up a lead of around three lengths. She never looked to be in any real danger despite holding off a late challenge and was able to record a three quarter of a length victory in 30.01 at odds of 15/8F.
That was only her second outing and has the potential of more to come, especially if able to brush up on her trapping skills. If so, then she may not be far away in A3 next time out
IVY HILL VIPER : Ran from Trap 5 in the 2.23pm at Monmore on Monday 11th August
February 24 youngster Ivy Hill Viper went close to making a winning debut in this contest on Monday and I expect trainer Kim Billingham-Hine will be delighted with his performance when finishing second
Having produced a slow start when trapping in fifth, Ivy Hill Viper showed decent pace into the opening bends and was able to move from fifth into third when exiting the second bend.
Heading into the third bend, Ivy Hill Viper was around two and a half lengths down in third place but he started staying on well at this point but was just unable to reel in the winner, going down by a neck in second place at 100/30.
He looks sure to improve on this run especially when able to improve on his trapping and he could go one place better next time out if in a similar position rounding the final bends again.
ALNWICK HAWS : Ran from Trap 4 in the 1.59pm at Newcastle on Tuesday 12th August
Alnwick Haws landed a first victory in his third start in A7, his first start since early July but has clearly matured in that break and Angela Harrison’s February 24 son of classy stayer Droopys Live may be worth watching in the coming weeks
Having gone up to the first bend looking to be the meat in the sandwich of two other rivals, he managed to clear the rival on his inside and managed to ride a bump off the rival on his outside rounding the opening bend to hit the front.
It wasn’t until down the back straight until he was able to build up a clear lead of a length, which then extended into a three length lead rounding the third bend and although he was being closed down towards the line, he was able to score by a length and a half in 29.48 (+10) at 7/2
That time was just half a length behind his quickest time that he produced in a previous trial, but those two efforts were five lengths better than she had previously produced. He may well have more to offer in the coming weeks and if that’s the case, then he may not be far away in his double bid
