How many fabulously game greyhounds go through their entire careers just missing out on the ‘big one’. Having reached the deciders of the Sussex Cup, Produce Stakes, the Brighton Belle and British Breeders Stakes, plus a string of Cat 2 events including having failed by a short head to the mighty Fabulous Azurra in the British Bred Oaks Final, it looked like No Rush had missed her chance. But on a great night for home grown talent with four winners, Carol Weatherall’s fabulously game blue got her long overdue rewards with a half length win in the 2023 English Oaks Final.
The Monmore Puppy Derby threw up some fabulous young performers, several of whom have been dogged by bad luck. None impressed more than Churchfield Syd who damaged a monkey muscle when well clear in his semi final. Richard Rees’ brindle has contested 11 races since then, which included three Cat One finals. He was down the field in the Birmingham Cup, runner-up in the Gold Cup and then came good to land the PGR Kent Derby Final on Sunday. A mention too for Rydon Ranger who set a new course record for the 664m course in a supporting open.
Long Fellow walked away with the cash after his win in Friday’s RPGTV Cowley Puppy Collar Final at Oxford but the 26.72 winner is bypassed in favour of Cooliogold. Maxine Locke’s Monmore Puppy Derby runner-up was racing for just the fifth time since being knocked over and injures at Sheffield in April. But that 26.52 run suggests he is back to his best. The run was equal to Links Maverick’s old 450m track record and just three spots outside Coolavanny Shado’s current clock.
Despite the hype, match races very seldom reach the heights of expectation that precede them. But nobody was sold short as Ballymac Taylor and Bubbly Inferno battled out a fabulous ten bend buckle over at Romford on Friday. They crossed the 575 metres in an inseparable 35.11 split. After 925m there was only two lengths between them, mainly due to neither bailing out when they went shoulder to shoulder. What a spectacle! Out of interest, the last race over the course took place in 2018 and was won by Zascandil in 58.61.
Beaten 4-7 Romford Puppy Cup favourite Coolavanny Mercy and Brinkleys Ginger clocked identical 29.52 (-10) runs at Towcester on Sunday. But as a December whelp, it is only the Angela Harrison runner who will be able to contest the RPGTV Puppy Derby. The eight ‘official trialstakes’ are due to take place next Sunday.
Droopys Clue’s lesser known litter sister Droopys Flotilla (‘Fidget’ has a higher profile) was in action at Monmore on Saturday and was in front at 670 metres. Unfortunately for connections, she racing over 630 metres and wasn’t quite able to reel in the front running Dubai Kid who was making his six bend debut for Craig Marston.
Beaten a short head in the Juvenile Classic by Droopys Clue and also the bridesmaid behind Stormy News in the Gymcrack, Dubai Kid’s litter brother Wrighty found himself up against a Yarmouth A1 field on Wednesday and class told. A 27.64 win and, with Supa Nova in the field, a returning SP of 9-4.
Only one open at Sheffield last week, and a four-runner one at that. So the cautious vote goes to the evergreen Maximum Security for a typical professional performance. Time was nothing out of the ordinary but Ballymac Archer couldn’t catch him.
Staying in Yorkshire, it says something for the quality of the A2 top heat that defending POW Ay Up Frederick went to traps as a 7-1 chance with Rapido Drops, a Henlow open race hat-trick winner, starting as the 11-10f. But it was Bev Heaton’s Jan pup Ballymac Alyssa, who short headed the Apr pup, Ballymac Don by a short head in 28.15.
On the subject of Henlow and opens, Rapido King landed the quickest over the standard trip on Sunday with a 27.41 run. But that isn’t enough to topple Droopys Moose with consecutive wins over the 692m trip. Prior to that Jason Heath’s black had been beaten in his previous 17 races.
The 20 spot going variation between Harlow’s Wednesday morning and evening meetings was crucial in the selection this week. Early in the day, Alberta Jamie saw off an A5 field in 26.42 (N). That evening, the quickest of the 415m opens went to Sober Panther in 26.46 (-20) with last week’s selection Curtistown Mac back in fourth.
Suffolk Downs staged opens on Thursday with Lissatouk Blake and Chosen Maggie successful over two and eight bends respectively. But we’re swerving the pair in favour of Maggie’s kennelmate Glengar Daisy who saw off a very competitive A1 in 23.90. Big run from Glideaway Bono in here though, beaten on the nod having trailed the field until halfway.
A fortnight ago, Dashing Dude was the Swindon selection based on his just having equalled the fastest time of the year for the sprint. On Thursday, he went one better by knocking three spots off his PB and the FOY is his alone.
The same week that Dude was the Swindon selection, Getup Me Boy was representing Hove. Belinda Green’s 28.84 Enniscorthy winner remains unbeaten in three UK races and enhanced his reputation with the quickest of the 515m open race times on Thursday night.
If you had to pick a local to take on the raiders in the forthcoming ARC Classic, it would be the reigning POW Witton Supremo who shave seven spots off last week’s A1 win to take a Friday night trialstake in 26.98. Litter brother, Watchall Sid landed the other TS in 27.24. Entries close at 10am tomorrow – first round on Friday.
Crayford’s next big event is the Ladbrokes Gold Collar which gets underway on November 11. Moaning Rossi extended his winning sequence to four when landing a trialstake on Saturday in 33.59. But then following her Perry Barr exploits, Laughil Jess returned with a 33.71 run on the same card. Dave Lee’s bitch is yet to be beaten in 13 outings over c&d.
Jess’s 19 month old kennelmate El Tornillo clocked the fastest 450 of the year at Doncaster on Saturday. His 27.30 was only 14 spots outside the track record on his first look at the course. On the same card, the home bred Agile Annie recorded the fastest 483 since Dropzone’s 29.13 set back in 2019, when completing a four-timer in 29.28. Then over six bends, Trewmount Fury landed the dual distance final in the fastest time (41.28) since Roxholme Poppy’s 41.21 back in March 2018. Three selections a bit OTT? Which one would you have chosen?
Droopys Biggy (5-6f) remained the punters favourite with another trademark ‘led near line’ performance in the week’s top A1 at Newcastle. But there were several quicker runs on the clock, the quickest of which was Gartcloss Tams’ near six length A2 win in 28.79.
Top local pup Anndadown Cuddles lost her Pelaw Grange title last week when failing to catch Tells Lad. But the pair met again on Sunday when Ronnie Knight’s youngster restored her reputation.
You’ve got to be going some to win the same award twice in a week. Barry Denby’s Leighas Dream was pencilled in as Nottingham’s POW after her 29.83 win in A1 on Monday. Until she ran again on Friday and picked up a 480m open in 28.49.
