A Best Of The Night performance in a heat of the McKenna Memorial last night at Sandown Park for Intrepid Bale was visually impressive but not surprising to his trainer.
“He was huge as usual,” trainer Sam Grenfell said.
“Sometimes you think he’s gone and then he passes four dogs in a matter of 40 metres.”
Intrepid Bale is one of the most experienced greyhounds in the Group 2 McKenna Memorial final, which will be run on Thursday night at Sandown Park.
“The older he has gotten, the fastest he has become.”
He holds an impressive 33.99 second personal best over the 595 metres. Second to Without A Trace who has stopped the clock in a time of 33.82 seconds.
Intrepid Bale has drawn box seven in Thursday night’s final, a fair challenge from the favourable box one he jumped from in the heats.
“If he gets a clear run, he can win but when you’ve got to navigate through a field of seven other dogs that comes the issues,” Grenfell said.
“If he was to lob in the top four through the first corner, he opens himself into a winning position.”
“Box draws can be crucial as he flops out of the box and relies on no trouble to happen in front of him.”
