Column tip Sharons Delight was unlucky in the A1 Owners’ bonus final at the weekend when leading from traps until just before the winning line, when headed by Ryves Rock.

Beaten by the smallest margin of just a short head the dog will be fancied next time out and should gain quick compensation.

On occasion one of our contracted trainers have a greyhound that is above the normal graded class of dog and accordingly they are entered into Open races at both other tracks and on occasions at Crayford.

In Open races they meet dogs of similar ability who are simply too good to run week to week in graded races which all stadia operate.

The range of ability in Opens is therefore unlimited and it is from this category of greyhounds that all of the major race winners are produced such as the Greyhound Derby, The Oaks and Television Trophy etcetera.

One such dog attached to Steve Gammon’s kennels is Pony Bride who has had most of her 35 career races at other venues, however, recently Steve has raced her here in various Open races in which she had managed three runner-up finishes.

Clearly she has ability and whilst she has found just one too good for her in those races she made no mistake at the weekend when winning a top graded E1 race over 714 metres.
When you are looking for winners this is exactly the type of circumstances that you should look out for. I have little doubt that she will win an Open race here on occasion but the minute you drop her down to a graded race she will always be likely to win.

Her short odds of 5-4 favourite reflect that the bookies are also fully aware of this but a winner is a winner and after the event those odds look fair enough after she came from fifth place to win easily.

So with the aforementioned in mind I would suggest that you look out for the following dogs that like Pony Bride will race in Opens but are likely to win at graded level.
Julie Luckhurst sends out Droopys Celeb in various Opens and she also won an Open here at the weekend at odds of 2-1, also over 714m.

The dog ran here between July and September 2011 before going to graded racing at Sittingbourne. Last month she returned here winning at S2 graded level. Again she has the ability to win Open races and looks in tip top form.

Others in this category are Springwood Ali, Fernhill Fury, Burgess Lad and Jims Journey.