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Britania Richard out as Derby gets under-way
BY JIM CREMIN
BRITANIA RICHARD was tonight (6.15pm) withdrawn by Wimbledon's vet at kennelling after sustaining a cut to his tail.
Ken Tester, his Hove trainer, was bitterly disappointed. "It was a freak accident, the dog was in the paddock at home, stuck his tail through the fence, and a dog the other side took exception and bit him. I've never seen the like before . . . it's relatively superficial so we decided to see what the vet said. But it's still bleeding, and he ruled it wasn't on. In a couple of days he'll be fine."
Trap 3 is now vacant in heat 11. Trap 5 was already vacant here. It is now a race for four runners, and it is a heat where the first three qualify.
Several trainers reported nightmare journeys - all had been well until they hit Friday night traffic on the M25. One handler said: "If we get through, I'm praying for a Saturday draw next week, Fridays are hopeless."
"Let battle commence" said Wimbledon racing manager Gary Matthews earlier with relish as kennelling began.
P J Fahy was among those eagerly looking forward to the night ahead. "We're here, the dog's [Irish star Tyrur Sugar Ray] fine, yes it's a long way to go but nothing ever comes easy."
The entire meeting, alongside the open gala at Romford, is live on RPGTV tonight. Race by race Derby notes will be carried here, plus Jim Cremin's blog will follow later.
In trials before racing, Salthill Dazzler won a trial in 29.69sec, Ballymac Tock ran a solo in 29.39sec, he was very slowly away,
The first four qualify from every heat EXCEPT heats 5, 10 and 11, which are first three
Heat 1 (first four qualify)
1st Kereight King trap 2 28.67sec 4.80 sectional
2nd Carkei Max two lengths
3rd Airlie Impact length and threequarters
4th Britania Ardbeg threequarters
Kereight King made it a wining start for Ireland and the syndicate that includes AP McCoy. He put the race to bed with a fast start. Carkei Mark took second, showing good speed after being crowded at the start. Airlie Impact was pinched back at the start as Five Card Draw came across him, but safely took third. The fourth qualifying place went to Britania Ardbeg. Mags Gamble, the All England Cup hero, never got into the rac after getting a first bend bump - and was among those that had an uncomfortable long journey on the M25.
Heat 2 (first four qualify)
1st Screen Critic trap 6 28.58sec 4.72sec
2nd Farloe Calvin trap 3 two and a half lengths
3rd Aero Tobias trap 4 length and a half
4th Zenas Elena trap 5 four and a half lengths
Screen Critic confirmed the good impression he has made in Britain, although was given a race to the third bend by Clonmel Produce Stakes favourite Droopys Calvin. They disputed it, until Screen Critgic asserted. In a five runner race with four qualifiers the decisive moment really was at the start when Youtalktoomuch walked out - and went out.
Heat 3 (first four qualify)
1st Laughil George trap 5 28.45sec 4.82sec
2nd Islas Scolari trap 6 six and half lengths
3rd Kilara Missy trap 2 four and a half lengths
4th Knockglass Billy trap 1 short-head
Another win for Ireland, but it was Michael O'Donovan's Laughil George who was soon clear and won easily. It looked good, and the time was there. Islas Scolari plugged on for second after crowding. Kilara Missy was a gallant third at massive odds. Knockglass Billy moved middle at the bend, and tired coming home. He probably needed the run. Ayamzaman got an awful run, and went out after being clobbered on the first and third turns.
Heat 4 (first four qualify)
1st Eden Star trap 3 28.90sec 4.87sec
2nd Silverview Pinky trap 1 half a length
3rd Bouncy Bocko trap 6 length and a quarter
4th Bubbly Lucky trap 2 length and a quarter
A win is a win, but Eden Star was made to work hard with Silverview Pinky bowling along in front, leading to half-way. Eden Star was shuffled a bit as he came to challenge at the second, but kicked on at the third before tiring on the run-in. He gave the impression that there is significant improvement in the locker. Bouncy Bocko walked out but took off to qualify safely. Fourth through is Bubbly Lucky, who went straight on at the bend, and was baulked at the third too.
Heat 5 (first THREE qualify)
1st Jolly Bullseye trap 2 28.80sec 4.84sec
2nd Teejays Bluehawk trap 3 length and a quarter
3rd Sidaz Jack trap 4 two and a quarter
The unlucky dog here, finishing fourth but going out was Paradise Martini (baulked third). Jolly Bullseye made it a double for Kevin Hutton after his Screen Critic earlier, and there was much to like about the decisive way he took the race by the scruff of its neck. The Arc finalist was soon clear. Teejays Bluehawk, run off his feet early, came through fast and late for second. Sidaz Jack had turned second, and was safely third.
Heat 6 (first four qualify)
Heat 7 (first four qualify)
Heat 8 (first four qualify)
Heat 9 (first four qualify)
Heat 10 (first THREE qualify)
Heat 11 (first THREE qualify)
Heat 12 (first four qualify)
Heat 13 (first four qualify)
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Vic looks the part, Eske battles, Laughil fastest
BY JIM CREMIN AT WIMBLEDON 5:34PM 31 MAY 2013
The first four qualify from every heat EXCEPT heats 5, 10 and 11, which are first three
Weather: muggy
Official going: normal (no bowser during racing)
Heat 1 (first four qualify)
1st Kereight King trap 2 28.67sec 4.80 sectional
2nd Carkei Max two lengths
3rd Airlie Impact length and threequarters
4th Britania Ardbeg threequarters
Kereight King made it a wining start for Ireland and the syndicate that includes AP McCoy. He put the race to bed with a fast start. Carkei Mark took second, showing good speed after being crowded at the start. Airlie Impact was pinched back at the start as Five Card Draw came across him, but safely took third. The fourth qualifying place went to Britania Ardbeg. Mags Gamble, the All England Cup hero, never got into the rac after getting a first bend bump - and was among those that had an uncomfortable long journey on the M25.
Heat 2 (first four qualify)
1st Screen Critic trap 6 28.58sec 4.72sec
2nd Farloe Calvin trap 3 two and a half lengths
3rd Aero Tobias trap 4 length and a half
4th Zenas Elena trap 5 four and a half lengths
Screen Critic confirmed the good impression he has made in Britain, although was given a race to the third bend by Clonmel Produce Stakes favourite Droopys Calvin. They disputed it, until Screen Critgic asserted. In a five runner race with four qualifiers the decisive moment really was at the start when Youtalktoomuch walked out - and went out.
Heat 3 (first four qualify)
1st Laughil George trap 5 28.45sec 4.82sec
2nd Islas Scolari trap 6 six and half lengths
3rd Kilara Missy trap 2 four and a half lengths
4th Knockglass Billy trap 1 short-head
Another win for Ireland, but it was Michael O'Donovan's Laughil George who was soon clear and won easily. It looked good, and the time was there. Islas Scolari plugged on for second after crowding. Kilara Missy was a gallant third at massive odds. Knockglass Billy moved middle at the bend, and tired coming home. He probably needed the run. Ayamzaman got an awful run, and went out after being clobbered on the first and third turns.
Heat 4 (first four qualify)
1st Eden Star trap 3 28.90sec 4.87sec
2nd Silverview Pinky trap 1 half a length
3rd Bouncy Bocko trap 6 length and a quarter
4th Bubbly Lucky trap 2 length and a quarter
A win is a win, but Eden Star was made to work hard with Silverview Pinky bowling along in front, leading to half-way. Eden Star was shuffled a bit as he came to challenge at the second, but kicked on at the third before tiring on the run-in. He gave the impression that there is significant improvement in the locker. Bouncy Bocko walked out but took off to qualify safely. Fourth through is Bubbly Lucky, who went straight on at the bend, and was baulked at the third too.
Heat 5 (first THREE qualify)
1st Jolly Bullseye trap 2 28.80sec 4.84sec
2nd Teejays Bluehawk trap 3 length and a quarter
3rd Sidaz Jack trap 4 two and a quarter
The unlucky dog here, finishing fourth but going out was Paradise Martini (baulked third). Jolly Bullseye made it a double for Kevin Hutton after his Screen Critic earlier, and there was much to like about the decisive way he took the race by the scruff of its neck. The Arc finalist was soon clear. Teejays Bluehawk, run off his feet early, came through fast and late for second. Sidaz Jack had turned second, and was safely third.
Heat 6 (first four qualify)
1st Ballymac Eske trap 2 28.97sec 4.95
2nd Garryglass Ridge trap 3 short-head 4.80sec sectional
3rd Isabels Boy trap 6 lengths and a quarter
4th Farloe Tango trap 1 threequarters
It was the performance, and not the time. Ballymac Eske missed it, was then run off his feet as 4.80sec Garyglass Ridge blazed the trail (cutting sharply in too) before Ballymac Eske turned it on coming home and secured a gallant short-head win. Trevor Draper, brother of trainer Barrie, said: "It's ridiculous, we've got the ante-post favourite for the Derby and you're hoping he misses the break! Goodness knows what would have happened had he broken, but he's shown some guts - as did Eden Star earlier. I can't recall him ever coming from behind."
Isabels Boy was second up and showed a lot of pace too after a first bend baulk; Farloe Tango walked out.
Heat 7 (first four qualify)
1st Boherna Rumble trap 3 28.84sec 4.87sec
2nd Slick Santiago trap 4 length and a quarter
3rd Insane Call trap 2 length and a quarter
4th King Bradley trap 6 length and a half
Desperately close for the fourth qualifying spot here, it was King Bradley by a short head over Final McCoy. Boherna Rumble was soon clear. Slick Santiago ran well for second, and lost a length when trying to mount a challenge at the threequarters so there is little between the front two.
Heat 8 (first four qualify)
1st Shaneboy Alley trap 6 28.72sec 4.75sec
2nd Droopys Jet trap 1 threequarters
3rd Fridays Shane trap 2 half a length
4th Erics Gav trap 5 five lengths
A long lead here saw Shaneboy Alley, the Arc hero, safely home. However, it came as a relief to see him apparently walk off ok, as he took a nasty looking tumble after the line. Droopys Jet plugged on for second after first bend crowding, and will improve for this. Fridays Shane ran off at the bend. Eris Gav took the fourth spot through into Sunday's draw.
Heat 9 (first four qualify)
1st Jaytee Zeus trap 1 29.47sec 4.92sec
2nd Farloe Chico trap 3 threequarters
3rd Blue Appeal trap 6 short-head
4th Zenas Boy trap 5 short head
Ignore this time, it was a bunched race. Zenas Boy(4.87sec) set up a lead, but there was crowding everywhere, with Farloe Chico suffering worst. Jaytee Zeus pluggd on to lead up the run in. Farloe Chico and Blue Appeal (last down the back) recovered to get into contention.
Heat 10 (first THREE qualify)
1st Ballymac Vic trap 5 28.53sec 4.87sec
2ne Tulligoline trap 2 eight and a half lengths
3rd Swords Jackso trap 1 two and a quarter
Ballymac Vic broke moderately but accelerated away smoothly in a win that looked the part of a serious contender for the £150,000 prize. He romped home over eight lengths clear. The second and third ran respectably but were run off their feet. Swords Jacko kept midde from red, and was crowded twice. Tulligoline was crowded early as Cu Na Mianta flew out and cut across.
Heat 11 (first THREE qualify)
1st Jaytee Hellcat trap 4 28.67sec 4.84sec
2d South Armagh trap 6 half a length 4.74
3rd Bonamassa Rocks two and threequarters
Only four runners here (Britania Richard pulled out at kenneling) but a fascinating race, with serious pace put into it by South Armagh (4.74 up). Jaytee Hellcat followed him round and then stayed best for a game half length win and made it a double for Paul Young. It was close for the third (and only other) qualifying place and it was fortunate for Bonamassa Rocks (run off his feet early) that Golden Wonder totally missed it. Bonamassa Rocks squeezed through by a head.
Heat 12 (first four qualify)
1st Lemon Pluto trap 4 28.80sec 4.79sec
2nd Tyrur Sugar Ray trap 2 half length
3rd Black Jedamac trap 6 half length
4th Ringtown Snowy trap 1 three lengths
Charlie Lister got off the mark here, and it was a typically professional start from Lemon Pluto that secured the win (4.79). But he needed it as Tyrur Sugar Ray, showing no ill effects from his tumble here last Saturday, took off down the back and seemed really to enjoy himself. He is a serious player. Black Jedamac ran a terrific race to be third. Ringtown Snowy took the fourth spot, he walked out and will go better for the experience.
Heat 13 (first four qualify)
1st King Nicky trap 6 28.85sec 4.80sec
2nd Hather George trap 4 neck
3rd Young Golden two lengths
4th Longwood Fantasy one length
A doube for the McNairs with King Nicky showing a burst of decisive early where there was some real pace on show. But Hather George ran really well throughout and in going down by a neck, suggests he is going to be devlishly hard to knock out. Yuong Golden survives, as did, just, Longwood Fantasy.
**heats 12-26 are Saturday; second round draw 1pm Sunday.
"Let battle commence" said Wimbledon racing manager Gary Matthews earlier with relish as kennelling began.
P J Fahy was among those eagerly looking forward to the night ahead. "We're here, the dog's [Irish star Tyrur Sugar Ray] fine, yes it's a long way to go but nothing ever comes easy."
Britania Richard was (6.15pm) withdrawn by Wimbledon's vet at kennelling after sustaining a cut to his tail.
Ken Tester, his Hove trainer, was bitterly disappointed. "It was a freak accident, the dog was in the paddock at home, stuck his tail through the fence, and a dog the other side took exception and bit him. I've never seen the like before . . . it's relatively superficial so we decided to see what the vet said. But it's still bleeding, and he ruled it wasn't on. In a couple of days he'll be fine."
Trap 3 was vacant in heat 11. Trap 5 was already vacant here.
Several trainers reported nightmare journeys - all had been well until they hit Friday night traffic on the M25. One handler said: "If we get through, I'm praying for a Saturday draw next week, Fridays are hopeless."
Jim Cremin's blog will follow later tonight
In trials before racing, Salthill Dazzler won a trial in 29.69sec, Ballymac Tock ran a solo in 29.39sec, he was very slowly away,
