Review

According to the Racing Post statistics on Saturday 6th July, the Norahmac kennel is now joint top kennel at Hove on a wins/runs ratio for the year – this at 23%. And we are top in the ratings at 25% in the ‘hottest’ stats.

That’s an excellent effort, especially considering the dreadful start to the year with kennel sickness and bad luck through injuries. An opportune moment to recognize the efforts of all the hard working kennel staff who never take their feet of the pedals come rain or shine. It’s the sheer hard slog of the staff that is the driving force behind Norah’s continuing success, now on a par with her high level of success as top contract trainer at Wimbledon in her years there.

The club’s runners generally ran well, without winning, last week though Leah (Memories Leah) seemed to forget to turn left at the first bend in her return on Saturday.  She seemed okay after the race and any further news on her well being will be updated here.

Molly(Classy Molly) has come into season and will be off until the autumn. Gilbert (Ferdia Oscar) trialed well at Peterborough last week, the sixth fastest on the card. Further improvement can be expected. He’s having a spin around Hove this Monday in a sprint trial.

The kennel has been flying at Hove recently and winners have been coming thick and fast, with many clocking decent time figures. Many of these dogs are owned or co-owned by club members so it’s an upbeat vibe at Burhil kennelsl at the moment.

***Norah would be grateful if Mr Coughlan could call the kennel at his earliest convenience.***

The DVD races of our recent club winners, including Dessie’s double, will be uploaded on Monday (8th).

It’s not been possible to reach mutually agreeable terms with Hove regarding organising our ‘Summer Soiree’.  The main reason is that the Sprinters Function room is being used for Discos all through July. Further negotiations are taking place and Coral Stadia General Manager, David Macdonald, has said he is very keen to enable us owners to make the most of our experience so, with his generosity on behalf of Corals,  we are hoping to have a big social event in September.  Details to follow.

Update on above (Sunday afternoon): Norah reports Leah (Memories Leah) is sore and is taking  a trip to the vets on Tuesday to be checked out. Early indications are it’s not too serious.

Lenny (Droopys Leonard) continues to progress over hurdles and had a schooling hurdle trial, just getting caught in a two dog practice. He returns to the kennel this week and Norah intends to trial him over hurdles at Sittingbourne next Tuesday (16th).

Preview

Horse Outside has to overcome an awkward frame-up if he’s to trouble the judge in the A5 at 4.27pm on Wednesday’s card. Another trap two lodging, in a typically tight affair, leaves us hoping for the best.

The 5.22pm, an A8, sees Oscar (Lima Oscar) line up wearing the orange jacket. Our lad is running well in himself since his return but would have to find a few more spots, notwithstanding trouble on the inner, if he is to grab gold in this heat.

It’s a cracking card on Thursday evening, live on RPGTV, and Wendy (Hanover Lady) has been pitched in the deep end in a particularly hot Open Sprint at 9.24pm. In what is a rather bizarre frame-up Wendy will need to find about thirty spots to trouble the judge in any kind of cleanly run race. And she’s still a maiden anyway!

Anyone who fancies a longshot can expect to get a few quid on at triple figures on Betfair come the night.

Friday sees Dessie (Droopys Design) return to the fray, contesting the A5 at 12.58pm. Our Sept ’11 whelp seems to be at his level now and found the going somewhat tougher last time than in the two previous, winning, runs. This sets a fair standard, and, from the three berth, Dessie will need a sharp break and some luck at the first bend to trouble the judge.

Sittingbourne, Sunday sees the race debut of our new boy, Gilbert (Ferdia Oscar). Following some decent trials our white and black lad gets a chance to show his competitive mettle in the Standard Open at 8.45pm. Berthed in five, and having his first look at Central Park, Gilbert has something to prove, and there are one or two useful sorts in the line-up. Fingers crossed for a bold show.