JIM CREMIN

Weblog: At large in the greyhound world

From a Kempton course shop to Wimbledon's one

WATCHING the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket final in the on-course Tote credit club shop at Kempton felt like going back in time. No gaming machines and old fashioned text screens that gave the impression they might once have been powered by Extel.

Midway Skipper showed a bit more fire and threatened to slip clear of first bend trouble, but Ireland's  Group Skater eventually took his chance with aplomb. It was not to be for Dazzle Special, who ran well after getting a bad early run, but I’m sure Theresa and Tony Hunwicks will have plenty of fun ahead with their bitch.

At least Peter Bridges, owner of the renamed Bridge Diamond, will be pleased. He had contacted me, a bit taken aback by my criticism of the Greyhound Board for allowing his  change of name from Ashby Diamond in the middle of an event.

However, after some debate, he graciously accepted the point that was being made – and that it wasn’t being directed at him.

He did mentionhe was on at 100-1 each way, first four, so I was pleased for him when his dog took fourth spot.

Kempton was set to be a tricky day for punters with the going so sticky, but Razor Royale was always going best in the big one, the Racing Post Chase. His jockey, Paddy Brennan, oozed confidence as they turned for home though was plainly eager not to get to the front too soon [we’d term that ‘waiting’ in greyhound racing!]. And as soon as his horse did, mistakes followed and it turned into a thrilling finish when he made a hash of the last and Nacarat almost got back up to retain his crown.

Our guests were all well looked after by Kempton’s Carlo Paganini, the course’s executive restaurant manager. Phil Stocken, executive chef for Jockey Club Racecourses, was introduced and took a deserved bow given the large volume of top quality meals provided. One eager lady guest even kissed him! I never saw this sort of treatment when front of house at Wembley.

I also didn’t have a bet on the day’s racing, but Barry Faulkner, the new chief executive of the Greyhound Board, knows a lot about international horseracing and is ultra confident on the chance of Gio Ponti in the Dubai World Cup at the end of March. His persuasive view is: “Gio Ponti finished second in the Breeders' Cup Classic and trainer Christophe Clement is a real target trainer. He was pushed out in the betting because he was beaten in his prep last week, but he will not have been anywhere near to being fully wound up for his return run. He will be ready in four weeks time!”

Another of our guests, Angie Bowers, the Racing Post/SIS Manager of the Year, is going to Dubai and has some spending money when her hubby, Jim, backed Razor Royale.

I’ve followed Barry in and Ian Welch of Ladbrokes kindly got Mark Cancea, his company’s head of trading, to take mypony each way at 6-1. This is what you call blind faith, but Barry made me want to have a bet. If he can get punters wanting to do that with greyhound racing, possibly on jackpots [I plan to address that subject in the paper’s Monday Column] hewill be our saviour!

On to Wimbledon where the local owners’ association had worked hard on a fund-raiser. Take a bow Alan Clarke, Bob Boswell, Peter Green and Michael Bailey.

And well done to Alan Kerr of Paddy Power whose Kerrs Destiny was impressive in taking a generously sponsored A1, the D H Green & Son Ltd Stakes. He powered clear down the back.

Reshaping work on the third bend is under-way – it becomes the first turn when the stadium changes sides next month. Runners did seem to be going into it a tad better.

I bumped into two scousers,Kenny Tyrer and Paul Smith, whose company Artisan turned out to the building contractors working on the far side. They said it was all going well and they were on target. The game is counting on them.

Wimbledon are going to have to review their pricing policy over there as with a reduced capacity they might struggle to cope with the crowd that pitched up Saturday. Clearly the TV ad campaign is helping when you saw long queues of young people outside the grandstand entrance.

Bernie Doyle, the Wimbledon trainer, told me that he had never seen it so packed, so early upstairs.

That is encouraging, especially with a tremendous Sky card ahead on Tuesday. Hope you can use one of our vouchers from the paper to join us.

Can we also remind connections of the RP Juvenile runners that a pre-racing reception will take place from 6.45pm at the rear of the restaurant.

And having started Saturday in one course betting shop, it was odd to end it in another as Kinda Ready, the Derby champion, powered to an impressive 27.87sec comeback win at Monmore. It’s great to see him back.

**Anyone who fancies treating themselves with a luxury Wimbledon hotel should give Cannizaro House a shout on 0208 970 2772 and quote Racing Post to get a discount. They even throw in a copy of the paper in the morning!