Well I made the trip to London for the gruelling (24 heats over 2 nights is HARD work) first round of the English Derby. I managed to slip a bit of 'networking' into my visit and as it was a very warm weekend there was a need for an amount of 'refuelling', but all in all the head was clear, the racing was SUPERB, and Spurs were underwhelming (some things never change) as I inevitably took in a couple of frustrating hours at a game at the Lane.
THE RUNNING CIRCUIT
First things first, I wanted to report on the track and the general scene at the Don. There have been several negative comments about the English showpiece and the venue - some based on a perception by people who haven't been to the track.
I arrived at Plough Lane on Friday afternoon and walked around the track as dogs were arriving. I have been to Wimbledon several times at this stage but I hadn't seen the actual running circuit as closely as this before. When you race dogs you get to know tracks very well - I know Thurles and Galway so well I could walk them blindfolded.
What I did notice straight away was the brilliant race surface. It was as good as I have seen in Ireland - on a par with Clonmel. Your foot left an imprint but you didn't sink down into it. And it is not like some tracks I have walked where they were like concrete.
The straights are long and a good bit narrower than what I'd be used to in Ireland. The first bend is what I was interested in. The general (and incorrect) perception that many who have not been to the Don is that it is a tight first bend. Well I can tell you it is not tight. The radius at Wimbledon is not as wide as - say Thurles or Shelbourne Park - but the approach into the first bend is possibly easier. If you look at the attached photos you can see a general and steady curve in the home-straight approaching the bend and a good sweep around the actual turn.
I stood on the first bend for about half of the races over the 2 sessions and I saw very little trouble - well less than I expected anyway.
TV pictures give a false impression of the bend. You see Wimbledon is an old fashioned stadium - and is a lot like a foreign football ground with concrete banks very close to the turns and this gives a 'closed-in' feel but in reality the bends are no narrower than your standard Irish track.
Something I did not like was that over the hare-rail there is a concrete 'path' around the outside which really should be grass or sand to make it fairer on dogs not negotiating the bends.
So the running track is a good one - it's not sweeping like Hove or Dundalk, but it is not cramped like Crayford or Kilkenny either.
This is not an advertisement for the GRA though and I must post a few negatives.
THE STADIUM
First of all, on a hot Saturday night in South London, the heat and air quality upstairs was appalling. This needs to be addressed - it was extremely uncomfortable. Our party only went upstairs because we could not get bevvies downstairs. I kid you not there were 50 or so punters trying to get served at the downstairs bar with just 3 serving (the same as a normal non-Derby night apparently). To compound matters one of the girls serving could not serve draught beer and was only able to dispense spirits. That was a new one on me.
The TV at the popular first bend (where the shrewdies stand) was not working. Several salad-dodgers earned their burgers over the weekend dashing in and out of the stand to watch videos after races. Sloppy management.
There are a number of areas in the grandstand that urgently need decorating. There are more than a handful of stains on the ceilings from leaks, torn carpeting etc. But most noticeable to yours truly was the shabby seating across the stadium. A mish mash of plastic chairs of different styles (some broken, some not) is simply not good enough - it is like a really dirty greasy spoon cafe in many parts of the stadium. And as for the toilets under the first bend - they are a disgrace and facilities like these would not pass any health and safety testing.
THE BOOKIES
Well I spent most of the Friday session camped upstairs, sitting in line with the winning post taking it all in. I was shocked to see only 4 (four) bookies standing on one of the biggest nights of the year at Britain's premier greyhound track. There are 3 times that number standing in Limerick and 20 in Dublin. But why?
Well as the gates opened to let people in (there was a healthy crowd waiting outside) I could'nt help notice a few young chaps dashing into the stadium and racing upstairs to get a pitch on the winning line. Then they got laptops out and set up for the night with bags of snacks and bottles of soft drinks. I noticed they got in with vouchers from the Racing Post and Blue Square website. So these guys got in for nothing, got a free drink, ate their own snacks from home, and presumably bet via the exchanges or with off-course firms. Now I'm not saying this is wrong - but why are the track allowing this to happen. Security should stop them bringing in their own food and drinks the same as most entertainment venues do. Wimbledon (and greyhound racing) got nothing from these chaps.
But this example is merely a symptom of the general malaise within UK greyhound racing. I did my own experiment on a number of races and the best prices available on dogs with the layers were all beaten when I called Ladbrokes and VCBet as dogs approached traps. So the guys with the laptops were being sensible.
But all in all, apart from basic management and stadium facilities, there is not much wrong with Wimbledon that cannot be fixed by throwing a few hundred thousand pounds at it.
THE IRISH CHALLENGE
I did my roving reporter bit before racing. I asked several London punters what they thought of this year's renewal and they all thought it was wide open but were unimpressed by the Irish entry. I suggested that to underestimate the Irish could be a very costly exercise - and so it was to prove.
I managed to speak at length with Irish Champion Trainer Pat Buckley and he was very hopeful for his charges - he did stress however that his dogs would all come on for the run - they were not likely to be 'supercharged' for the first round. He happily pointed me in the direction of a dog in an early race that won easily and covered the Bantiss expenses for Friday night.
I spoke with Athenry trainer Ger Holian who told me that Cash Dream would run a big race on Saturday - that paid for the Bantiss Saturday expenses. The son of Crash looks to me like a dog that can make a serious challenge and is still escaping the radar of many of the pundits.
Something that must be noted is that most of the Irish trainers are lodging with UK trainers this year. Ger is with Paul Garland, Pat is with Nick Savva, and big Pat Curtin is staying at his good friend John Mullins.
Pa Fitz is staying with Matt Dartnell and he had two super winners on Friday in Ballymac Under and Melodys Pat. Melodys Pat has a reputation for being a bad kenneler and punters have been traditionally wary of backing the Larkhill Jo dog in later races. He pinged and won in an early heat on Friday night but I have heard a whisper that this is a different dog this year. The Race Of Champions winner has reportedly kennelled a lot better this year and word is strong on this dog's prospects this time around.
I bumped into Irish Greyhound Personality of the Year Pat Curtin several times over the weekend - I wonder are there a few of him as he was everywhere - and he told me that his three runners on Saturday would all run big races. Aston was a 'banker' and so it proved. I had a big double on Spurs and Aston both priced at 1/2. Id Spurs were a greyhound they would get a few schooling trials over hurdles - but they managed to hold on and win. Aston was magnificent as usual. I made a big mistake and decided not to back all three Curtin runners in Heats 15,16 & 17. Of course all 3 won and apparently a leading Dublin layer took Curtin on and ended up owing the fearless punter €60,000 for the treble. Oi Oi!
It was my pleasure to meet Jim Cremin of the Racing Post. Jim was camped in line with the winning post for the duration of the two sessions and was beaverishly tapping away on his laptop throughout the marathon 24 heats. Jim thinks this year is a great renewal of the Derby and was impressed with Fear Zafonic. I look forward to reading his blog.
I also found myself sitting next to GBGB spokesman James McCreadie. The GBGB are getting some amount of stick on the internet forums - much of it justified - but I found this very young Irishman very approachable. I asked him what he thought the sport needed to stay alive and hopefully go forward in the UK. A future politician perhaps, McCreadie turned it full circle and asked me what I thought the game needed. Poor lad didn't know what he had let himself in for as I pulled my seat forward and let go with both barrels.
I will say that he seemed to be taking it all in, and was not dismissive of me in any way and actually engaged on some points that I would have thought he may have chosen not to bite on. He could be a good man for the sport and if the rest of the GBGB have as much cop-on as this young man appears to have, then the future of the fledgling organisation and UK greyhound racing in general may have a fighting chance. Of course the fact he will be cheering Shelbourne Aston endeared him to me instantly.
THE RACING
The videos are on the net and excellent analysis is available on the Racing Post website. But here are my views on how things went on Friday and Saturday.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Heats 1-12 were simply superb and I think if the winner of the Derby is not going to be Shelbourne Aston, then the winner of the 2009 English Greyhound Derby was on display on Friday night.
1. Melodys Pat was a big price at 4/5. He was never going to be headed by Droopys Noel who was in red and Pat flew the lids from trap 3 (2 was vacant). There was only one winner from here although Noel kept up a good gallop and was 2nd all the way. Winning time 28.91 not exceptional and I would like to see these two dogs in a more competitive race before evaluating their chances. More to come I'm sure.
2. Lazerus just won this after a messy scrap with Ja Mann who in fairness had every chance of winning this heat. Winning time of 29.05 probably not reflective of either runner as they were engaged in a very close buckle.
3. The heat of the night. Ante-post favourite Fear Zafonic was imperious as he bolted from traps and led all the way. He really put daylight between himself and the field down the back and if Charlie Lister's dog has more improvement (likely) to come then he is a justifiable hot favourite for the Derby. I say this because the opposition all ran very well. Greenwell River and Jesters Nap both paced up very well and River in particular had a bit more to do in the race - he will come on for the run and my 66/1 bet on him must be a lot shorter on him. Zafonic was brilliant though and 28.66 tells its own story.
4. Ballymac Under was favourite for this last year and he showed he is back to his old self with what I think was the run of the night. He missed the break badly (5.05 sectional) but still made the first bend. He strode out brilliantly to beat Barnfield Slippy in 28.79. Slippy ran well in defeat that must be noted. Under's sectional was 15spots slower than Zafonic but he was only 13 spots slower on the clock overall.
5.The Irish challenge had a blip here as Scottish Derby winner Cabra Cool ran below par and was knocked out. Fatboyz Nodrog was also lucky to qualify after a bumpy ride. Southern Sunset won at 14/1 - the 'rag was 20s' on the exchanges. The joy on Nottinghamshire based trainer Tony Hackett's face as he saluted the crowd after the race was great - to see a trainer not in the limelight take on classic winners and win deservedly (28.96 was a good run) can only be good for our sport.
6. One time ante-post jolly Ninja Jamie has been under-performing after his famous defeat of College Causeway a couple of months back, and whilst Charlie Lister's dog got back to winning ways in a decent time of 28.95 the manner of his victory was inconclusive. I was very surprised at the way he ran and he totally made a mess of the 2nd bend running super wide. Out in front for 26 seconds in this race was King Edward who got caught coming home - ran well and looks like a dog that can go a few rounds courtesy of his early pace. If drawn in stripes he can keep qualifying.
7. Steve Locke told me not to back Love Mac and sure enough he ran a blinder to win this heat in 28.88. He ran well to take the scalp of last year's finalist Kryptonite and favourite Westmead Osprey who failed to qualify.
8. Ballymac Ruso won like an even money shot should. He went whoosh from traps and won as he liked by the length of the track in a splendid 28.68. The Irish Derby finalist added himself to a few shortlists and uncrossed his name from a few more after a recent barren spell. Matt Dartnell's dog ran a stormer.
9. The gamble of the night. Cabra Boss was backed in from large odds to go off at 8/11. Connections celebrated afterwards as a big gamble was landed. The McNairs know how to 'get one ready' for a touch and are famous down the years for winning in the early rounds of the big events. Boss won well by 5 lengths in a good 28.79.
10. This heat was as tough as the earlier one in which Zafonic obliged. Windy Millar, Wise Thought and Boherna Best all harboured Derby claims before this race and it was the son of Honcho Classic, Windy Millar, that took the spoils. Early pace wins races and the 4.96 split recorded by the 2008 Kasco Thurles Unraced Stake winner gave him a lead of a couple of lengths at the bend and the result was never in doubt. Wise Thought ran well enough in defeat. Barrie Draper's kennel would have been sweating but Boherna Best held on to qualify in 4th.
11. Glenard Sunrise won this messy race in 29.09 as Ballymac Bull was eliminated. My 100/1 bet Droopys Lee ran very well in defeat after trouble. The winner has more in the tank I think and was a deserving winner.
12. The slowest of all the heats on the first night was won by Centaur Allstar in 29.29 (Irish punters will remember him as Black Allstar who was impressive in Dublin). Ger Holian's Balliniska Woods is a crack sprinter and looked a winner all the way to the 3rd bend where he 'fell in a hole' and finished last - he didn't get the trip at all. The winner did nothing wrong I suppose but hard to see the Derby winner in this field. Local bitch Ravello Drive was available at 12/1 before racing to be the bitch to go the furthest and I fancied that as a good bet but forgot to do it.
SATURDAY
13. Cash Dream was a punter's dream - he showed exceptional early pace and was a winner at the first bend after a sensational 4.89 split. He finally crossed the line in 28.81 and I think Cash Dream is an interesting outsider for outright glory.
14. Favourite Forest Master was eliminated after taking a tumble at the 3rd but he was always in danger of getting beaten after a shoddy start. Lenson Smoothie simply scorched to the bend and led to the home straight before the strong running Side Bet finished strongest in 29.03 - a good run.
15. The first leg of the Curtin treble and Shelbourne Denny was impressive when leading from the off to win in 28.96. I think he should have been caught coming home Cabra Fly who had every chance from my position on the first bend and should have won. Bubbly Totti ran a solid race in 3rd. If Denny stays stronger the next night he can go a few rounds for sure.
16. Castlehill Pat won what was perhaps the messiest race of the first round getting up to win in 29.28. Hard to make a case for any of these as the race was scrappy, but Blonde Fern was a bit disappointing, but then again she does not run the Don as well as other tracks and that must be a frustration for connections of this fast bitch. Pat Buckley's Slick Ace had every chance but failed to see out the trip after leading to the home stretch.
17. The 'champ' ran here and Shelbourne Aston took a massive step to his right on leaving traps and was bumped. He was last to the bend where again he met a bit of trouble but was in a good position in third place coming out of the 2nd bend as a few rivals ran off the turn. While all this was happening Bonville Brett had stolen a march and was probably 6 or 7 lengths clear of Aston, with Lord Karl in between them. Come the third bend I was clearing my throat as Aston cleverly checked and went around Lord Karl before effortlessly picking off Bonville Brett in the run in to win by 3 lengths from Steve Locke's gallant runner-up in a satisfactory 29.05. Aston was noticebaly a country mile in front at the ridiculously far away pick-up. Personally I would be a little concerned about Aston's inside seeding after this performance.
18. Following Aston's breathtaking run which possibly raised the biggest roar from the stands on the night, it was the turn of another old boy Lenson Express to show there is life in the old dog yet as he showed a flash of brilliance to beat the very well backed Droopys Director (2/1f from 11/2) in 29.07. Tony Collett's dog got up in the shadow of the stands and this dog could hold strong claims of a second seccessive Derby Final appearance on this performance.
19. Tyrur Kenny joined Aston and Express in an old-boys' treble (ok these 3 dogs are not ready for the couch yet but they are all well into their 4th year - 5th in Express' case). The Irish Easter Cup and Tote Gold Cup winner from last year showed the Irish form is very strong when leading all the way in a very convincing 28.92. Coolavanny Dart ran well in defeat while a runner with a big Irish reputation Soviet Maldini continued to disappoint his new connections by getting eliminated after trouble.
20. Farloe Reason was majestic in winning his heat in 28.84. A facile trap to line win is hard to judge. Initially I thought the track could be 20 slow but I wonder did Reason fade a bit coming home as it's hard to see Charlie Lister having him at the max in the first round. Wise Opinion ran a stonker in 2nd - definitely a type to keep qualifying for Seamus Cahill.
21. I thought Tyrur Hestor was the bet of the night but despite leading he ran a pig of a 2nd bend. Bend running is usually this dog's forte and he wwas picked up quickly in the back straight by Dotland Hit Man to a chorus of cheers - he had been backed well. The 2nd favourite who ran well at Shawfield in the Scottish Derby eventually put 3 lengths between himself and the jolly and was more eyecatching than the 29.04 clock would suggest.
22. An eventful race in which Barnfield On Air again failed to deliver. A warm favourite he showed little and was very fortunate to qualify as one of the dogs behind him gave up running for some reason. London Walter however was a deserving winner. He was a promising pup and came back to his best to win well in 28.92 after a good 4.95.
23. Kinda Easy did not run like a 14/1 shot in the penultimate heat and his 28.87 winning time and 4.90 split made people take notice. In fact his victory was...kinda easy..... to be honest. Mark Wallis did not have too many great runners in the first round but this lad was in the top bracket of first round performances. He beat the fancied Bandicoot Tipoki which says a lot. Attykitt Admiral ran well to qualify in third which is an achievement in itself as he has had a awful run of luck with injuries. Irish Derby and Laurels Runner-Up Slip The Lark was in trouble from the off and failed by a head to qualify for Pat Buckley and Keith Allsop which was very unfortunate.
24. Nearly there now - phew. Deanridge Furyjustified favouritism for Dean Childs with a very comfortable trap to line 29.03 victory
IN SUMMARY
Charlie Lister, Pat Curtin and Pa Fitz were the big winners over the weekend - Charlie in particular has a very strong hand. I personnaly really enjoyed the weekend. Some great racing and very few shock eliminations and on the whole trouble free racing - the first bend's bark is far worse than its bite. I didn't see a dog carried from the track.
From a punting perspective I held my own and my two ante post bets (Droopys Lee and Greenwell River) are alive and well. I like the look of Cash Dream and will be searching for a price this evening.
Shelbourne Aston stole the headlines (are you really surprised?)and is front page of the Racing Post today - he is now a clear 2nd favourite at 10/1 after a very favourable 2nd round draw.
Another 4 days and we do it all again. Bring it on.
Fear Zafonic C Lister (Unattached)
Ballymac Ruso M J Dartnall(Coventry) 
Farloe Reason C R Lister (Unattached)
Glenard Sunrise M J Dartnall (Coventry)
Kinda Ready M Wallis (Harlow)
Wise Thought (w) M White (Unattached) 