Monmore greyhounds preview: Swift Fagan on course for a winning year
Monmore flyer Swift Fagan has been praised for his ‘exceptional’ form which could see him finish the year with the most victories at the track.
The August 2021 dog, trained by Brian Thompson and owned by Berryhill WMC, has won a whopping 12 graded races throughout 2024 – only Kim Billingham-Hine sprinter Outer Limits (13) currently boasting more triumphs.
Swift Fagan has even managed to win three races in a row on three separate occasions over the course of his career and was recognised for his latest hot streak with a special presentation this past Thursday night.
Dave Machin, who heads up the Berryhill W.M.C syndicate, said: “He’s a fantastic handicapper.
“He’s worked his way up from A9 and was even at A2 for a bit, winning a race at that grade, before coming back down to A3.
“He’s been brilliant over four bends and won a couple of 630m races as well at S2. He’s really come into his own.
“Some of the prices he’s won at – 10/1, 9/1 and 8/1 – you can never really count him out. It’s phenomenal. He’s been exceptional.
“We’ve got a few dogs as a syndicate including Swift Pamela and Swift Karen, and he’s right up there with the best we’ve had.
“We have all his jackets and trophies on display back at the club in Stoke, and I always send a jacket to my brother in Gibraltar as he follows his progress closely as well. We’re all really proud of him.
“It all goes down to brilliant training from Brian and his team. We can’t thank them enough.”
Swift Fagan’s most recent outing saw him finish fourth in an A3 on Thursday night.
Tonight, meanwhile, Monmore hosts a Category Three final, heats in another Category Three competition and three other Open races.
The Ladbrokes.com 630 Final is worth £1,000 to the winner and sees Thompson’s Hi Brid run from trap two after an impressive victory in last weekend’s heats.
Richie Taberner’s Hawk was also triumphant last week and has the five box tonight.
Craig Marston’s Whisky Eagle is among those involved in the three Ladbrokes.com 480 heats while in the Ladbrokes.com 480 Maiden, Billingham’s Thinking Time takes on a strong field including Mark Wallis’ Kilmore Dancer.
Wallis’ Category One winner Coonough Crow will be hard to beat in the Ladbrokes.com 684 later in the evening.
The 12th and final race is the Ladbrokes.com 264 as super sprinter Knock Beeswing looks to get back to winning ways for Thompson.
