Albert’s Diary

By Daryl ‘Albert’ Gleeson

As I finish my diary in late June normality is returning and we can start to go back on course as punters.

I have been on course at Grafton the previous two Monday nights and I can tell you it was great to catch up with all my mates … not to mention being able to watch the races live on course. Yes, watching them live on SKY is great, but being on course is even better.

The class of greyhounds racing at Grafton at the moment is as strong as any provincial track in NSW. What about the prizemoney in NSW at the moment! Around the Northern Rivers, where I live, Grafton and Lismore have had races for $7500 to the winner and Maitland also had one of these thanks to our friends at Ladbrokes. Fair dinkum it seems like only yesterday we where racing for around $300 a win.

Dave Irwin certainly would love these races as he won the final at Grafton and Maitland – both worth $7500 to the winner with his promising bitch Nangar Silk. Owned by the Barnes family, Nangar Silk certainly looks like she will progress to top grade and this promising bitch will be my dog to follow for the month. Also, as we go to print, good luck to Stevie Keep and his flyer Copperhead Rogue, who has gone to the Victorian kennels of Kel Greenough to be set for the upcoming Bendigo Cup.

As for me last month, to state the obvious we have been quiet, but hopefully if my health gets a little better – and at the moment it has – my next carnival will be Coonamble starting on Wednesday September 30. Yes, that’s right the first day’s racing in Coonamble is on the Wednesday and all the finals will be on Monday October 5. We will have all the dates and info for the carnival in our August edition of the Chase.

Now on to the NRL. What a goose I have made of myself in saying in previous editions of the Chase that I was ‘potting’ the Roosters to make it three in a row. Well, let me tell you, after watching the Roosters beat the Eels recently, whoever beats the Roosters will be winning the comp. Before the virus I was tipping the Raiders, but in recent weeks they just have something missing. But, don’t worry, coach Ricky Stuart will have the Raiders peaking at the right time, just like he did last year.

Parra gave their all against the Roosters, but just came up short. I don’t think Parra could have played any better, but the Roosters would have beaten anyone that weekend. Manly have been playing well, but disaster struck when that genius Turbo Tommy got injured and he looks like being out for six weeks. Where Manly are on the ladder when Tommy comes back might decide just how far they go in 2020.

Panthers have been a surprise packet, playing good footy. That would be right, because I have tipped the Panthers the last two years as my ‘smokey’, but they have produced rubbish. Maybe this year they might be more consistent. What about the Knights! They have been sensational. Let’s hope Ponga and JR Pearce can stay fit. Let’s make the Knights my smokey for 2020. Geez, Mark Arandale , Troy Harley and Geoff Sattler,  the three most one-eyed  Knights’ supporters that I know, will certainly do some partying if the Knights can bowl over the Roosters.

The Storm I suppose are always a chance with Cameron Smith still doing what he does best – playing great football and being best pals with the refs. But if the grand final was being played in the next couple of weeks you would have to say there are three hopes – Roosters, Raiders and Knights … and then Parra.

As I said, I was ‘potting’ Roosters, but time will tell.

Until next month – cheers, Albert.