7.11.21. This update is shorter than usual because we have so many dogs resting for one reason or another. We should have several triallers this coming week starting with Mia on Monday.

Without doubt the highlight of the week was Noduff Caesar’s handslip at Monmore Green on Bonfire Night. It’s been six months since Bertie fractured his hock in an innocuous fall during his second grading trial. Two operations, a course of Tvati, much rehabilitation and patience later the day finally came when we would see if he could stand up to a sprint outing. He’s had gallops but these aren’t quite the same as the real thing. The verdict was as good as we could have expected. He flew round with no apparent ill effects and a formal sprint trial will follow. What was even better was that he was the happiest and most excited greyhound on the planet. So nice to see.

This week also saw Noduff Grand win for the first time in an A4. A little wider than ideal in trap 3, Wallace was slowly away but showed good early (and still managed a sectional of 4.47) to turn close up in third. He pressured the leaders to take it up at the third bend and pull away in a time of 29.04. His reward is an early reappearance tomorrow in A3 company, also from trap 3. A double is very much on the cards if he can avoid trap 2 early.

Poor Noduff Excalibur ran really well but could still only manage 2nd in A2. From an ideal trap one draw he finally showed the trapping ability he exhibited in Ireland. He would have led most A2 races but the six dog (who had recently won in A1) also trapped in best style and they contested the lead right up to the final bend when the six showed his superiority. The remainder were a long way behind and Wallace again broke 29 seconds without winning. His chance will surely come soon.