Posts tagged Boherna Best
Boherna Best’s future in hands of vet
Mar 10th
Boherna Best, a current 66-1 shot at taking this year’s William Hill-sponsored Derby may not even be able to take part in the competition due to an injury he has picked up from a trial run at Sheffield on Monday night.
The Dual All England Champion has not set foot on the tracks since December, where he took third in the final of the ibetx.com St Mungo Cup.
Trainer Barrie Draper was preparing Best for next month’s Blue Riband at Hall Green, but the chances of him actually running now are uncertain.
Best was looking fairly normal as he cleared kennelmate Magna Oliver in the opening of the 280m workout on Monday. The problem only occurred after the second bend, which resulted in Oliver beating Best by four lengths, at which point it was clear that something was wrong.
“There doesn’t seem to be anything broken and more than likely it’s a muscle injury,” said Draper in the Racing Post, “but we won’t know for sure until he’s been checked out thoroughly.
“It’s a real blow because everything had been going well with him.”
The extent of the injury can only be determined by the vet, but whether the news is ultimately good or less encouraging, it will definitely create a set-back to his journey for the Derby, should he make it.
His 2009 campaign wasn’t as great as 2008, although he did manage to retain the All England Cup title, an event in which Ballymac Ruso was the joint-market-favourite. Ruso, also a great dog for the tracks, sadly faced an early exit from the sport himself due to an injury.
Owner Anthony Rhodes has already declared he will retire Best if the injury means he will be out for a lengthy period. In which case he may possibly join Ruso at stud.
Bateson retains her title at Shawfield
Dec 6th
Ardkill Tunoco (5-2) credited trainer Julie Bateson with back to-back wins of the ibetx.com St Mungo Cup. Tunoco produced a tremendous performance to reverse Boherna Best’s All England Cup form in Saturday’s £2,500 final on the 480m track at Shawfield.
Bateson always looked like retaining the title once Tunoco had flashed out of the traps and got first run on Best, who gave chase but never threatened to catch up with the leader.
Tunoco ultimately scored by more than five lengths from kennelmate Target Gold, who stayed on late to pass the All England Cup champion for second.
The winning time of 29.36 sec reflected a surprisingly slow track. Bateson said: “I don’t think the slow going affected the outcome, although I suppose it might have helped Target Gold get second as he’s a really strong runner.”
“We’ve always said Ardkill Tunoco is very good when he gets it right and that’s just what he did this time.”
“The St Mungo is a fantastic old competition with a brilliant trophy and one I’ve always targeted since I got a licence. A lot of credit and thanks are due to ibetx for stepping in at short notice to ensure it went ahead this year.”
B.Shah
Can Wallis take awards by storm?
Nov 25th
As excitement mounts over the destination of the Greyhound of the Year title for 2009, the GBGB has announced that the popular Annual Awards Dinner will take place at The Hilton London Metropole on the evening of Sunday 31st January 2010, following a successful, sell-out first year.
GBGB you ask? Yes, the single new industry body, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain will be masterminding this event.
Lenson Joker was crowned last year’s Greyhound of the Year while Mark Wallis was awarded the Champion Trainer Trophy.
Event organiser Amanda Duplock said: “Enquiries about the awards are already flooding in and with debates over who will take this year’s titles beginning in earnest; we’re looking forward to another sell out event.”
Wallis certainly stands a very strong chance in being crowned champion trainer once again and if his hound Eye OnThe Storm produces a win this Thursday at the Betfred Eclipse Finals, he may also possibly be put on the list for consideration, a list which I’m sure Boherna Best is already on.
The event is affordable and accessible for the whole of the greyhound racing industry, ticket prices should be the same as last year at £50 per person or £500 for a table of ten.
B Shah