Sometimes, word gets around about a certain greyhound.

Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a lot of talk circulating about Paul Tompsett-trained River Runaway, who had only had four races in Ireland before joining the Crayford trainer’s kennels in April.

It would appear the expectation that surrounded the dog is now coming to fruition after a sparkling performance here on Saturday night when winning a A2 race in a decent time of 23.48sec.

Just look at the way his times have improved in his five races here.

His debut race saw a finish time of 24.54 over our 380m trip followed by 24.29, 24.10, 23.68 and now 23.48. That tells you that there is probably more to come from a dog who could become a major player here.

It is as competitive as ever at the top in grade A1 and while the aforementioned will next race in this elite grade, he will not find wins too easy to come by such is the level of opposition.

One dog that has now established herself in our top grade is Droopys San Remo.

She joined Jean Liles’ kennel here recently and had her first race at Crayford on April 4, going straight into the A1 grade having had 35 races at Romford, Pelaw Grange, Brough Park and Sunderland.

Her record shows seven wins from those races but all were in good class grades and she certainly seems to like her new venue here having won three of her six starts – the latest coming at the weekend at generous-looking odds of 5-1.

She loves trap one and on the evidence, will win plenty more from that box, whatever the opposition.

Do not be put off by big prices about her – she can defy them as this latest result proves.

I feel obliged to mention my wife’s dog, Saxonthebeach, who has taken off lately climbing up the grading ladder having won races in grades A7, A6, A5 and now A4 in just seven races.

I have had a few dogs over the years but he is shaping up to be the best and he is doing well for a greyhound that finds trapping out fast difficult.

While he has made some improvement in this area, he has done most of his winning the hard way by giving his opponents a head start but managing to catch them at the first bend.

Given any sort of gap, he will take full advantage.

I am hopeful that in time he will learn to trap out faster, but now in grade A3, you simply cannot discount him if he gets half a chance.