Banksie's Five To Follow- 2 May 2025

Banksies Five to Follow

Each week I’ll be looking to find Five Puppies who have caught the eye in graded in action in the last week who could be worth following in the coming weeks.

Last week saw two winners from the four runners that ran. June 23 youngster Patoka trapped well and made all the running at Monmore on Tuesday, making it two wins from two starts, in 29.01 at 7/4F, while Rolo Snowy was an impressive winner at Yarmouth on Wednesday Evening, winning by 4 ½ lengths in 28.60 at 11/10F, a first victory for the August 23 puppy.

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Moving on to this week:

ON THE WALL: Ran from Trap 6 in the 5.21 at Doncaster on Monday 28th April

Having finished runner up on his debut outing previously, Jimmy Gaskin’s January 24 puppy went one place in impressive fashion on Monday Afternoon in a B2 contest at Doncaster. 

The recent purchase from the sales at Towcester trapped well enough and turned the opening bends in a close up second, but it was the pace shown down the back that really caught the eye, building up a three length lead into the third bend from the pick-up, drawing clear at the finish to record a 7 length victory in a good time of 27.90 at 15/8. It’s fair to say he is likely to compete in a top-grade contest next time out, but with the chance of more to come, he could defy that penalty.

CRAFTY PROSPERO: Ran from Trap 2 in the 4.07 at Towcester on Wednesday 30th April

Michelle Brown looks to have a useful prospect on her hands as Crafty Prospero made a winning graded debut in impressive fashion on Wednesday Afternoon having previously finished runner up in an Open Race previously.

 After a slow start, he had to check his stride into the first bend and bumped into the runner in Trap 3 just before the second bend but set off after the leaders and into the third bend, he had cut down the two length deficit, to squeeze through on the rails to take up the lead. He drew further clear at that point, crossing the line 5 lengths in front of his nearest rival in 29.47 at 7/4. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him making a return to an Open contest in the coming weeks but if in A2 next time out, there’s no reason why he can’t land a double

GWAN KEANO: Ran from Trap 3 in the 6.42 at Swindon on Tuesday 29th April

Having been a beaten favourite in his previous five starts, Gwan Keano got off the mark at the sixth attempt in fine style on Tuesday Evening for trainer Rob Short in an A9 contest. Having shown cracking early pace in by far his best break to date, he was able to build up a two-length lead round the opening bends.

 That turned into a five-length lead down the back and never looked to be in any danger at any stage, crossing the line 4 ½ lengths clear in a time of 29.39 at 4/7F. That run shows why he has been fancied in his previous contests, and providing the grader doesn’t penalise him too much, maybe two grades at worse, he could go on a winning run, especially if he has now got the hang of trapping.

HOWAY BLUESTAR: Ran from Trap 2 in the 3.26 at Newcastle on Wednesday 30th April

Trainer Jimmy Fenwick is no stranger to a decent looking puppy and he may well have one that could go through the grades In the coming weeks as Howay Bluestar made an impressive winning debut in A8.

 Having shown a good burst of early pace on the rails, he soon built up a two-length lead into the first bend, which turned into three off the second, which turned into seven rounding the final bends. He crossed the line 5 ¾ lengths in front in a time of 30.03 at 5/1. Like Gwan Keano above, you would hope the grader doesn’t hit him a penalty that’s too severe, may two grades at worse, but with the chance of more to come, he could defy that penalty.

SHARBEN UMBREON: Ran from Trap 3 in the 1.26 at Sunderland on Sunday 27th April

There wouldn’t have been many more unlucky losers on debut than Chantelle McNicholas’s Sharben Umbreon last Sunday lunchtime. Having trapped reasonably well, the September 23 youngster showed good pace into the first bend but had nowhere to go with the runner in Trap 4 cutting across her, forcing her to move off, losing a length or so in the process. 

Down the back-straight, she seemed to check at the pick up, maybe expecting the hare to stop as it would at the end of the race, and stumbled slightly when doing so, losing maybe another length. At this point, she was a couple of lengths behind the leader but was making up that ground into the third bend, when she again had nowhere to go, having been forced to check off the back of the leader and finding trouble, losing another length or so at least. But she stayed on well again after and was only beaten by a length at the finish. She looks certain to improve for that run and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her leaving the grade of A4 behind in the coming weeks