Banksie's Five To Follow- 4th July 2025

Banksie's 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.

Due to the warm weather putting paid to several meetings during the week, only two of the five selections from last week ran during the week. Kim Billingham-Hine’s IT’S OUR TIME went close to making all the running again but was picked up close home on Wednesday at 7/2, while at Yarmouth, Robert Emery’s March 24 baby GROUCHOS BOGGER ran an incredible race to finish fourth on Wednesday, having been at least fifteen lengths behind after early trouble. If you think that’s an exaggeration, take a look at the 8.13pm at Yarmouth on Wednesday. She is definitely one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. 

To follow any of the greyhounds mentioned and receive notifications when they run, then click here

Moving on to this week:

CAISTER KAY:  Ran from Trap 3 in the 12.59pm at Yarmouth on Sunday 29th June

Having had three selections in this column two weeks, there is a real danger of this soon becoming a Craig Morris appreciate column, but the Yarmouth trainer has two more selections this week, the most eye-catching of those two being November 23 youngster Caister Kay.

Having finished down the field in her first two starts, the penny looked to have dropped in some fashion on Sunday afternoon as she showed a good burst of early pace to hit the front on the run to the first bend in this A8 contest.

She was already in a lead of two lengths when a few of her rivals in behind encountered some scrimmaging at the first bend, but out of the second bend, she had a lead of a good five lengths. The lead just kept on extending and rounding the third bend the distance hit double figures. Of course, she was in no danger of surrendering that lead at all, crossing the line twelve lengths clear of her nearest rival, recording 28.17 (+10), winning at 6/5F.

There is a danger that the grader may take a firm view of that performance such was the margin of victory, but a two grade rise looks the least that could be expected. But that was just her third outing, and a similar burst of early pace could see her overcoming her penalty.

CARTOONIST: Ran from Trap 4 in the 7.56pm contest at Yarmouth on Monday 30th June

Having found trouble on debut in A4, Cartoonist was handed a drop into A5 company on Monday which he was able to take advantage of in impressive fashion. 

Having trapped awkwardly, coming out in last, he then showed pace into the bend but from trap four, moved across towards the rails, and at the first bend moved off and bumped into his rival in trap five.

Turning out of the second bend he was in fourth position, a good five lengths behind the leader. He made progress down the back and turning into the third bend, he had made good headway on the leader, with the gap now down to a length and a half. He battled on well and was able to reel in the leader in the final strides to record a half length victory in 28.23 at 6/5F.

That was his best run on the clock despite the break and trouble round the first bend, and looks sure to improve on what was just his second start, and once he figures out how to run the first bend having moved off as he did on his debut, then he can score in higher grades than this A5 contest.

SNOWDON LOUIS: Ran from Trap 2 in the 1.26pm at Central Park on Friday 27th June

There won’t be many February 24 pups winning on debut in top grade, but that was the case with Julie Luckhurst’s Snowdon Louis when he made all the running last Friday afternoon in a D1.

Having trapped in fourth, Snowdon Louis showed good pace up to the bend and was able to hit the first bend with a three quarter of a length lead. He ran a fantastic bend, and coming off the second bend, that lead had extended to nearly two lengths.

He was able to maintain that distance on the run for home, crossing the line a length and three quarters ahead in a time of 16.71 (-10) at odds of 4/1. On the clock, that run may seem a little disappointing as he had gone quicker in two of his three previous trials, but as I said, he only trapped out in fourth and it could have been that he produced a much better break In those trials.

He has bundles of scope for improvement, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to follow up this victory in top grade next time. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see him competing in a Maiden Sprint Open Race in a few week’s time.

 SPORTING INCA:  Ran from Trap 2 in the 6.31PM at Monmore on Saturday 28th June

Despite being sent off at 8/1 for his debut outing in A8, the Alan Jenkins trained January 24 whelp made a winning start to his career in good style.

With the runner in trap one stumbling badly out of the traps, Sporting Inca showed a good burst of early pace into the bend on the rails and having got the better of a coming together with the runner in trap four to take up the lead between the opening bends, he was able to build up a three length lead out of the second bend.

This was a lead that ensured that he was never in danger of being picked up, and actually went on to extend it off the final bend, crossing the line three and three quarter lengths in front in a time of 29.28. Despite the early collision, that was his best time so far and can only improve on that performance, so could be worth following again, especially if he is in a race where he can lead on the rails

HOLDING TOMMY: Ran from Trap 4 in the 5.37pm at Monmore on Tuesday 1st July

Having made all the running on debut in A10 company previously, Richie Taberner’s January 24 youngster made it two wins from two starts with another all the way success in A9 on Tuesday.

Having trapped well, Holding Tommy hit the front on the run to the opening bend and was able to build up an advantage of two lengths as he raced out of the second bend. Approaching the third bend it looked as though the pack were starting to close but Holding Tommy kept on kicking from the front and stayed on well enough to record a three length victory in 29.24 (+10) at 7/2.

That time bettered his previous winning time on debut by three lengths, and there is every chance of yet more improvement to come. If that’s the case, then another early lead down the middle would give him solid claims of landing the hat-trick