Let’s Get Ready to Rumble –

Walthamstow Report 20 Feb 2007

Tuesday’s card was not pretty. There were a number of late arrivals, including Gary Baggs (and more importantly his dogs!) The video man was I’m told caught in Soho. He arrived at the track late, with a huge smile on his face, and a somewhat tempered bulge in his pants. The opening A9 (delayed for my late arrival) was taken by Touchwood Hope, who led off the 2^nd bend and held off Granary Smurf, who broke ok, lacked middle and kept on. The second non-video’d event was a bit of a shambles for the note takers. I asked one of the Stow regulars (Brian) to take notes on the 1 and 2. He thought he was on 1 and 2 in the sweepstake, so our memory of the event is somewhat blurred. The high jumping Windgap Henry somehow managed to win a hurdles event, when leading at the 4^th hurdle, according to the official comments. My intrepid reporter suggested Quick away rails, so what actually happened is anyone’s guess. Suffice to say, he jumped very poorly last week and this can’t have been much of a race for him to win. The favvy Ballymacs Back was middle run up led 1/2W – near the line. I doubt this race will have too much bearing on any race of any consequence. As well as the video man’s late arrival, we were again subjected to cut off replays to fit in “Happy 42^nd birthday to Betty” greetings. This is an absolute disgrace and has been going on for some time at Walthamstow. In the good old days at Hackney, the race replays were shown virtually continuously until 5 mins before the subsequent race.

The H1 was decimated to four runners. The two’s on favvy Wol broke averagely and was severely outpaced on the run up. I doubt if he is too sound. The official comment “Early Pace, Bumped1H” must have been written by Stevie Wonder! (as are most of them) Dixies Silver won a shocking event.

Another four lined up for the A9. Aero Zeppelin was the first to rumble, when having a dwell up on the run in after leading. Shan Rica went rails and was crowded on the run up and plugged on and led on the run in.

Time Connection was somewhat dropped in class and improved on a despicable effort last week to take the S3. Ciarans Prince led to the 5^th and folded tamely.

Ank Marvin strummed much better this week and beat a poor lot to win the P8. The favvy, Matomi Sparkle, was outpaced at the 2^nd and stayed on for 2^nd.

The A8 was taken by Headleys Cross, who led on the run in,  despite having a rumble. (dwelt up)

True Kewell led up in the A7, but faded badly on the run in. Charlies Dart was average away, off rails at the 2^nd and plugged on to lead on the run in. He was cumbersome. Laurens Fortune stayed on for second.

The short price favvy,  Hoylake Claire made the running in the S1, but gave way to her longer priced kennel mate (mmm) Genesis Alix between the last two turns. This has to be a very common pet hate for many Greyhound racing fans. How can a trainer be allowed to have more than one runner in a six runner Greyhound race? Melon Twister didn’t look too sound in behind.

I Dont Clare showed no respect to her 8-1 SP, when making all to land the A5. Rodolfos Secret stayed on for 2^nd. Legal Flyer was 2^nd until fading at the 4^th bend.

Monte Alban looked to be lame, when finishing down the field in the A4. Fionntra Dara made much of the running before folding tamely on the run in. Gortown Joe broke ok, plugged on, and led on the run in.

Siesta Moonlight was thrown in on his best form in the A3. He was slow away, checked at the first bend, but still managed to get his head in front. Mystical Sloth should have won the event, but was clumsy between the last two turns.

Comeontheblues was the last one to rumble in the A1.  She had a dwelt up on the run in and held off Who Needs Wings, who’s steering went awry at the first bend. Who Needs Wings does not look 100%, but has gears.

Last updated: 13 Jun 2008 by Stow_judge