Banksies Five to Follow- Friday 23rd May

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.

Moving onto this week

Click here to follow any of the following selections

ASHWAY DIVA: Ran from Trap 2 in the 5.31pm at Swindon on Friday 16th May

October 23 youngster Ashway Diva, trained by Adrian Rawlings, made a winning debut in A5 at Swindon and was well fancied to do so as she was sent off as 4/6F, which may not be a surprise as she won at Shelbourne in her last start in April in 29.04.

Having trapped well, Ashway Diva turned the opening bends in front and quickly built up a lead of around four lengths down the back. She came back to her rivals slightly on the run for home but never looked to be in danger, winning by two and a half lengths in 28.67 (+10). That was a huge improvement on previous trials, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her going up at least two grades for that victory, but she may yet have more to come over the next few weeks

TAMMY THE BEST: Ran from Trap 3 in the 5.24 at Newcastle on Friday 16th May

Newcastle trainer Jimmy Fenwick is no stranger to an improving puppy and he could have a potentially useful one looking to go through the grades in the coming weeks and months. Tammy The Best is a January 24 whelp and having been eased in grade having found trouble on debut previously, she took advantage to score in A8 in a very pleasing fashion.

Having trapped well enough, Tammy The Best turned the opening bends in second place but was forced to check off behind the leader in trap two, causing her to lose a length or so in the process but still turned the second bend in second position.

She then showed decent pace down the back as she was making inroads into the leader, but as the gap reduced to around a length and a half, she had her back legs taken away by the runner in Trap 4, causing her to lose a couple of lengths in momentum, but gathered herself together well, staying on well to reel in the leader on the run in before going on to score by two lengths in 29.67 (+10) at 4/1.

She showed a very likeable attitude for one so young and stayed well at the finish, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her rising through the grades in the coming weeks

CITADEL BOB: Ran from Trap 3 in the 11.18am at Monmore on Wednesday 21st May

Richie Taberner’s November 23 puppy was well fancied to make a winning debut on his previous start last week but gained connections some compensation on Wednesday morning when making all the running.

Having broken well, Citadel Bob was soon in control of this contest, emerging from the second bend with a four-length lead and the odds on 8/11F was never in any danger whatsoever, crossing the line for a two and a half length victory in a time of 29.01 (+20).

That run was four lengths quicker than any of his previous efforts, and with the chance of yet more to come if the grader doesn’t act too harshly, then he may not be far away from landing the double next time out

WESTFORTH MACY: Ran from Trap 2 in the 4.47pm at Sunderland on Wednesday 21st May

Trainer George Stark has a couple of young February 24 pups who ran well on Wednesday. The first is Westforth Macy, who was a good runner up in just her second start in A5. The February 24 youngster finished last on debut but clearly learned a lot from that run

Having been slow into stride, Westforth Macy turned the opening bend in fourth, but moved up into third coming out of the second bend, about four lengths behind the leader. But she showed good pace down the back and was just over a length behind the leaders into the third bend. At this point, she ran out of racing room with the two leaders in front of her blocking her passage through on the rail, but as they swung off the last bend, she was able to stay on well enough to finish second by three quarters of a length.

That run was four lengths quicker than anything she had produced in trials, and being so young, is open to all sorts of improvement over the next few weeks and looks one to keep onside

WESTFORTH BOYO: Made all the running from Trap in the 5.06pm at Sunderland on Wednesday 21st May

The second of Stark’s young puppies ran in the very next race after Westforth Macy in a handicap contest. I think this will be the first time I’ve mentioned a greyhound who has ran well in a handicap contest, but nonetheless, he made all the running on Wednesday on his debut.

Stark’s February 24 youngster was off the front of the handicap, with a 14 metre advantage over the scratch runners and when the traps rose, Westforth Boyo was out in front. Off the second bend, he held a good four length lead, but that lead wasn’t really eaten into down the back straight by his rivals who have competed in A3 and A4 contests in level start races in the past.

However as they headed into the third bend, the cavalry in behind did start to make up ground, with the lead being reduced down to just over a length, and Westforth Boyo did look to be a little vulnerable at this point, but he battled on well, and held off his rivals to score by a length, with a time taken into consideration of the handicap mark of 28.76 at odds of 7/1.

Like his kennelmate previously, that was also his best time on the clock by nearly five lengths and being so young, so open to more improvement and could be worth to see what grade he appears in when he goes into level start action.