Wallis’ joy after a semi-final treble
ECLIPSE BOUND: Mark Wallis with Bridge Honcho who is set to run in tomorrows opening round of the Betfred Eclipse.
Mark Wallis had a near-perfect night at Wimbledon on Saturday as three of his dogs reached this year’s williamhill.com St Leger semi-finals.
While recent Ladbrokes TV Trophy winner Blonde Reagan could only finish second in the second quarter-final, both veteran stayer Blonde Fletch and bitch Ballintine Molly recorded victories at the South London track.
“I was really impressed with all three of them,” said Wallis. “Although Blonde Reagan finished second he did well to qualify from what was a tough quarter-final as he slightly missed the break.
“Blonde Fletch was a little bit all out at the finish but he managed to hold them all at bay and now heads into the semi-final unbeaten, while Ballintine Molly will need to break as well as she did on Saturday if she is to make it through to the final.”
Following the draw for the semi-final of the Category One competition, Ballintine Molly and Blonde Fletch have been pitched together in the opening heat, with Blonde Reagan in the second semi-final.
“Nothing in competitions is easy at this stage but having looked at the draw Blonde Reagan looks to have the easier of the semi-finals out of the three of them,” said Wallis.
Tomorrow night, the Lakenheath handler will send three runners-up to Nottingham for the opening round of this year’s Category Betfred Eclipse.
Heading up the trio of runners from Imperial Kennels is former John Smith’s Kent Derby winner Jazz Apollo.
He will be joined by Henlow Gold Cup finalist Darian Chief and Coral Olympic runner-up Bridge Honcho.
“All three of them should go well in the competition but they are up against Ballymac Eske, who is champion over this 500m trip and he will be hard to beat,” said Wallis.
“Jazz Apollo runs Nottingham well, while Bridge Honcho ran well in defeat at Hove on Thursday.
“Darian Chief is running well at present and finished second in a trials race at Nottingham last week.”
On Friday, Wallis enjoyed rattling up a near 58-1 four-timer at Romford, which included 19th open win of the season for Ayamzaman, who took the Category Three Coral on TV Standard Trophy Final.
Away from action on the track Wallis’ newly-created syndicate, the Mark Wallis Greyhounds Racing Club, has purchased its second dog in the shape of August 11 pup Ollie Blue. For more information on the syndicate visit www.markwallisgreyhounds.co.uk.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Newmarket
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North
