Perry Barr Racing Manager Martin Seal casts his expert eye on tonight’s fabulous open race card featuring the six second round heats of the PGR sponsored (English) Greyhound Oaks and the four heats of the ARC Scurry Cup.

For a reminder of the Oaks first round                             Ante post betting

Heat 1 of the second round of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks. Whats Up Eva was pretty much foot perfect in the first round, and the draw has again worked out in her favour. Droopys Fidget gave herself work to do after missing the break last week, but battled hard, and wasn’t beaten very far in the end. Coonough Crow underlined her versatility when being denied by only a short head, and may be obliged to tuck in behind the leaders and make her move in the second half of the contest. Cashen Eliza made up plenty of ground to go down by a diminishing half length, and could well benefit from that initial look round. Antigua Bingo was always going to be tough to pass once leading up, but has yet to wear the orange jacket so far in her career, although Amanda Jeal’s bitch has the physique to handle herself. Allowdale Cazoo is similarly blessed, and will look to sweep round the outside of the field as she so effectively did in her first round heat. Sel: 1-5-3

Heat 1 of the Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup. Leathems Buick rattled off a four timer in July and August, but has gone off the boil a touch in recent weeks, although his latest trial was a step in the right direction. Quarteira quickly made a name for himself when arriving in the spring, reaching Cat 1, 2 and 3 competition finals all told, and is most definitely a force to be reckoned with. Pawpaw Sean rocks up on the back of a six-timer no less, including victory over his rival drawn directly inside, and Paul Donovan has handled plenty of fast dogs in his time. Coolavanny Finn clocked a very decent 16.12 round here in July, but that was the last time he tasted success at any venue. Bluejig Ophelia has won on four occasions at Nottingham over the summer, and took to the circuit well in a recent sighter. Jaguar Eske has competed in top grade over two and four bends at Monmore, and is a first Scurry Gold Cup runner for Kate Harrison. Sel: 2-3-5

Queen Georgia handled the step up in class well last week, and the red jacket looks just about perfect on that evidence. Havana Bale Out is a tough competitor, and will not be shirking the issue should it come down to a battle in the last hundred yards. Droopys Mandolin took an initial step to her right in the first round on what was her first look at the track, but didn’t let it affect her, and Robert Gleeson’s bitch looks a realistic contender for outright honours. Charming Girl played her part in a thrilling first round heat, and could easily have more in the tank. Barry Denby’s Keane clocked the fastest sectional of the first round (3.39sec), and the others will have a job on their hands should she produce something similar this evening. Kennelmate Leighas Dream bounced back to form with an eye catching display to go under by just a short head, and has hit form at just the right time. Sel: 3-4-6

Having just turned two years of age, Headford Sonny has picked up four opens in a twelve race UK career, and is proven round here sporting the red jacket. Bombout Bullet has been equally successful at home track Hove, and representing top connections, has got progressively quicker in three trials over course and distance. Longacres Storm is better known for his exploits over further, but landed a Monmore top grade sprint with the minimum of fuss last time out. Aero Dylan clocked a flying 28.00sec at Monmore in July of last year, and although having spent most of 2023 on the sidelines, clocked a rapid sectional at Towcester over four bends last Sunday. Always Wishing has quickly risen though the grades at home track Monmore, and could be capable of handling a trap 5 draw. Guzzler lacks experience, but this natural wide runner is a litter brother to Irish Laurels finalist Jacktavern Bolt, and could be a surprise package. Sel: 2-6-1

Queen Shakira faced an uphill task after being led up in her first round heat, but acquitted herself well in the circumstances, and remains open to further improvement. Baywatch Bullet shipped a couple of early bumps behind a fast winner in her heat, sticking to her task well overall, and will not go down without a fight. Rosshill Dana is another blessed with a nice turn of early zip, and trap 3 should enable John Lambe’s runner to hit the lids and put herself in a challenging position. Laughil Jess’s winning streak continued as she held on grimly in a thrilling finish, and it’s worth noting that Dave Lee’s bitch sported the black jacket when she broke the Central Park 491m track record for the second successive week in July. Home Bronagh continues to do Connor Smith and her loyal band of owners proud, and a semi-final place is not out of the question for this tenacious competitor. Sel: 1-4-6

Glenmalure Flyer has done well for Port Talbot based Steve Howard, and reached the semi-finals of the Birmingham Cup here last month. Emers Sammy has spent the last couple of months on the sidelines due to injury, but finished a close up second behind Rossa Rise when that one broke the Central Park 277m clock in August, and was a previous holder of the record himself. Whisky Sallagh has landed a couple of Nottingham sprint opens in recent weeks, and could appreciate the return to a trap 3 berth for owner Ben Owen. Boyneside Bigmac plied his trade over four bends in graded company at Shelbourne Park whilst in Ireland, but got off the mark over shorter at Swindon in August, and caught the eye in a preparatory trial here last month. Farneys Trend has done well for Kevin Boon, racking up wins over a variety of trips all over the country, and warrants plenty of respect. Aero Malachi has spent a fair proportion of the year on the sidelines due to injury, but ran up behind the all-conquering Links Maverick at Oxford in July, and deserves his place in the line-up. Sel: 5-4-6

Without question the race of the round. Following a couple of months out, Droopys Request performed above expectations when narrowly beaten in the first round, but may have her work cut out to lead this field. Droopys Ailsa never saw another rival when making all in her heat, and the winning time was very fair indeed. Queen Joni continues on her imperious way, having now won seven of her ten starts, the vast majority in glorious isolation, and one wonders what the limit will be for this talented bitch. Deacon Blitz deserves credit for having got this far, and her time will surely come when back in a more appropriate level of company. Crossfield Maxi caused a bit of an upset in the first round, but was all out to hold on in the end, and may struggle to get to the front on this occasion. No Rush was nought from four at Perry Barr going in to last week, but what a way to consign that particular stat to the bin, Carol Weatherall’s gallant British bred doing everything right and very much putting herself in the conversation for outright honours. Sel: 3-6-2

Crossfield Larry made his first Perry Barr venture a successful one on St Leger/Birmingham Cup Final night, and certainly ran a smoother line when paying a return visit under trial conditions last week. Laughil Flash has done well for Edinburgh based Robert Galloway, and a recent 15.85 clocking at Sheffield reads well in the context of this race. Hopes Knight claimed the scalp of Gougane Jet in Nottingham’s JenningsBet Sprint Trophy at the end of August, and the big white and black arrives in tip top shape. Mustang Ojay has been sent off favourite the last eight times he has stepped onto the sand, with half of those resulting in success for the excellent Kevin Hutton. Knock Zia has seen the back of Laughil Flash on more than one occasion recently, but the trap 5 runner is a five time winner at home track Sheffield. Different Speed arrives from Monmore, where he proved to be terrifically consistent, and could get a clear passage as the lone wide seed. This is a very good race indeed. Sel: 1-3-4

Lakeside Lady has bounced back to form in recent weeks for Shirley Aveline, but may have to rely on a little bit of good fortune to see herself into next week’s semi-finals. Dapper Lana had to battle hard after leaving the traps a little flat footed last week, but Nathan Hunt’s bitch should be more at home sporting the blue jacket, and could go well here. Betsys Bullet was all out to hold on in her first round heat, but had done the hard work in establishing a handy lead, and her preparation has clearly been spot on. Ballymac Astra had plenty of work to do entering the back straight in the first round, but stuck gamely to her task, and was noted finishing well. Freedom Vesta was always struggling after shipping a first bend bump behind Betsys Bullet, and a trap 5 draw may not help her cause. Ballyhimikin Mel found herself in a similar situation after walking out of traps, and will not be able to repeat that sort of break this evening. Sel: 3-4-2

Barry Denby saw five of his six entries qualify for the second stage of the bitches’ classic, a notable achievement, and his Kilbarry Meadows could well take this field along on the inside here. Starshinestunner met with plenty of trouble last week, and it was to her credit that she battled on gamely to ensure her place in this second round. Strong staying Whitings New Era stepped up on her trial effort to make No Rush work hard for victory, and a place in next Saturday’s semi-finals would be a fitting reward for this likeable bitch. Jet Stream Angel duly reversed Towcester form with Charming Girl, and a trap 4 berth is unlikely to prove a hindrance to owner Mick Freshwater’s bitch. Swift Paloma is the fourth Perry Barr trained representative to reach this stage, and a fruitful six bend career appears likely for owner John Hewitt’s puppy. Bellmore Lola was value for more than the winning margin in round one, and has won from trap 6 on a couple of occasions at Nottingham. Sel: 6-3-4