Kranky Drake was out of luck in the final of the Nottingham Puppy Classic on Monday evening as despite his fastest sectional of the competition he was crowded all the way around the opening two turns and lost all chance. He ran well enough to finish 4th behind what is a brilliant winner and we’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds for him. Plans are fairly fluid although a return to Towcester is likely in the short term.

Magical Luka produced a breathtaking performance in the novice 400m final at Romford on Friday evening as he flew the lids and ran riot to win by 8 lengths in 23.51 for his owner Pat Guilfoyle. We’ve been lucky enough to have had some fabulous Romford dogs in the past but it’s fair to say he’s probably the best we’ve ever put around the London Road venue. He’s taken his race very well and it’s all systems go for the Puppy Cup. We just hope he has the luck throughout the event now.

The brilliant Union Rebel made it 4 wins from 6 races since returning from injury and he showed his love for Romford when flashing out the traps to lead all the way in a good quality standard open. He won by just over a length in 23.83.

Jazzy George ran the track a lot better than in his trial but despite a fast start he was collared on the run-in to be beaten into 2nd place. It was his first 4 bend race since the end of May though so we’re hopeful that he will strip fitter in the coming weeks.

Lively Lulu got our home bred Moments of Magic litter off to the perfect start at Oxford on Friday evening as she ran out a very impressive winner of an A2 on debut. She broke fast and led all the way in 27.05 and definitely has a touch of class about her. She’s a lovely action and this was only her 3rd time over a four bend trip so there’s plenty left to come with her. Despite finishing last, Bonita Moon ran much better than the bare form line suggests and she won’t be long in winning a race. She’s a comrade of Lively Lulu but already looks like she’s destined for a career over 6 bends. She was green and got a bit of crowding on the run-up but stuck to her task well and would have learnt plenty from the experience.

We look to have a nice batch of young dogs coming through again and there were some pleasing trials before racing.

Ollie the Ox is a strapping looking 38kg February puppy and he moved well in his first ever 4 bend run to clock 27.04. He trapped much better than in his sprint trials and showed a nice touch of early pace. Despite his size he’s a very tight railer and runs a good bend. Jazzy Belle posted 27.28 in the same trial and is another young pup (Jan 24) with a bright future. There’s a lot more to come from her and hopefully she’ll be ready for the Puppy Collar and Puppy Oaks.

Droopys Doris (26.83) and Deelish Crofty (27.17) both took a step closer to a return to racing with a smart spin. Doris will head for the Oaks and is a lovely bitch. Rebel Alaska moved very nicely in his first trial for the kennel when clocking 15.24. He’s a beautiful looking March puppy with a huge stride on him. He’s not done too much of late so will have another sprint trial next week. Pom Pom was also given her first trial for us and railed tightly to post 15.35. She’s been with us quite a while now but has had a few issues to work through. She’s beautifully well bred by Droopys Sydney x Jet Stream Lynx and is a sister to Resonate who we already have in the kennel.

Signet Nayla got her Produce Stakes campaign off to a great start as she led all the way to win her first round heat at Swindon on Saturday afternoon. She won by nearly 8 lengths in 28.28 and looks to have fared quite well in the draw for the 2nd round.

Despite having 7 runners at Oxford on Saturday evening we were only in 2 races. Thankfully we managed to come away winning both races.

Start The Engine soon bounced back to winning ways after defeat last week as he led all the way in the standard open to lead home a kennel 1-2-3-4 when beating Rioja Maxi by 1 1/2 lengths in 26.76. He’s now won 10 of his 12 career races and is just a wonderful dog to have in the kennel.

Baran Tombstone made it 4 wins from his 6 races as he won the maiden open by just over 3 lengths in 26.78. He posted a very good 3.88 split and never looked in danger. He became the first open race winner we’ve had from his sire and our former greyhound of the year, Signet Ace.
Dog Dog made a nice debut in the same race and the unraced home bred pup won’t be long in opening his account.

Venetian Mick ran out a very impressive winner of his maiden 500m open race at Towcester on Sunday afternoon on his debut for the kennel. We thought looking at his Irish races that he might make a nice potential stayer but he seems to have changed his running style in the UK and is showing plenty of early pace. He flew the lids to record a good 4.07 split on his way to a 29.02 success and looks a very nice member of the open race team.

Although she had every chance and was beaten just over 2 lengths, I thought Baroness Velvet gave one of the performances of the week from the kennel when runner-up to the top-class Strike It Skye in division one of the Empress trial stakes. Velvet is only a February baby and this was just her 2nd career start but she broke very well and showed lovely pace to lead to the 3rd bend. She’s still green and has plenty more to come. We’ll let her take her chance in the Empress Stakes but the Puppy Collar and Puppy Oaks look lovely targets for her.

Antigua Kestrel finished 2nd in his standard open but had no answer to a sensational run by the winner, Romeo Tomcat. Givemethemoney finished 3rd in his open and went well enough. He has plenty of ability but seems to look after himself at every opportunity.

Coppice Lottie (29.47) and Dreamin Francis (29.79) will take their chance in the Empress Stskes after trialling well before racing.