Cooladerry sets the Regency standard again

Three semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency shared the stage with the Sussex Cup semis – and Nathan Hunt’s Cooladerry Dust was once again quickest.

He powered past Queen Georgia approaching the penultimate bend for a two and a quarter lengths victory over the staying-on Haka Carlo in 41.48sec for the 695m trip who grabbed second for Jason Heath in a blanket finish for the qualifying spot ahead of Coonough Crow and Queen Georgia.

The other Regency semis were won by Paul Young’s Bubbly Scorcher who powered to the front approaching the third bend and went on to score from fast-finishing Ballymac Taylor (Mark Wallis) by almost three lengths in 41.73sec before Belinda Green’s trap-to-line winner Baywatch Bullet secured her place in the decider in runaway style in the third semi-final as a fast start set up victory over Lightfoot Falcon (Seamus Cahill) in 41.59sec.

Betting Guide

15/8 Cooladerry Mist 7/2 Ballymac Taylor, Haka Carlo 5/1 Baywatch Bullet, Bubbly Scorcher 14/1 Lightfoot Falcon

Cahill’s clue to the Sussex Cup Final

Droopys Clue, the Greyhound of the Year, stormed into the final of the Coral Sussex Cup with a fastest-of-the-night 29.56sec victory in the second semi-final of the famous event at Hove on Saturday.

Breaking smartly and always bossing proceedings, he came home two and a half lengths clear of Belinda Green’s always-handy Wasted Monday to give Seamus Cahill a crack at a fourth Sussex Cup victory at the weekend after Loughteen Blanco (2013), Sporting Dave (2018) and Droopys Gold (2019), and Green a chance to follow up Ninja Kerry’s 2022 win.

Derek Knight, meanwhile, will have a chance of a fifth Sussex Cup title after sending out the first and second in the first semi-final – Clona Uriel and Newinn Benni both starting well and dominating proceedings before the former crossed the line a half a length clear in 30.12sec, with favourite Newinn Syd back in third.

Knight first won the Sussex Cup in 1998 with Astrosyn Eulogy before wins for Smoking Bullet (2000), Lozzas Dream (2002) through to Candolim Monsoon’s success last year.

Sadly, the defending champion will not be lining up in Saturday’s £10,000 final after missing out on the places in the third semi-final, won by the popular Romeo Command.

Leading off the second bend, Patrick Janssens’ runner was always in front thereafter, but Uncle Freddie (Richard Rees) kept up the pressure and before going down by three-quarters of a length victory in 29.73sec. Janssens will be looking for a third Sussex Cup win after successes for Barricane Tiger (2016) and Bockos Doomie (2020).

Betting Guide

6/5 Droopys Clue 7/4 Romeo Command 8/1 Newinn Benni, Wasted Monday 10/1 Clona Uriel 12/1 Uncle Freddie

Other Finals are set for next week at Hove

Two minor competitions had heats at Hove last night as well, a sprint and a dual distance. 

Blarney Roy went quickest in the dual distance for Richard Rees. He will appreciate the extra 15m in the final and the widest of four middle seeds might be the place for him as a strong runner.

The quickest of the sprinters was Not So Slow by a single spot over Cree Jo Jo. A couple of the others in the final have quicker times in the past so this is well set to be one of the best races of the night.

Pall Mall Final – The field is set

Aero Sacundai produced the quickest time in the Pall Mall semi-finals last night at Oxford for Richie Taberner. 

The ante post favourite had not shown his best last week when behind the track record-setting El Tornillo but was sharper in his trapping. Once on the bunny, he was not going to be caught but Kevin Hutton’s Droopys Hanover was cutting back the deficit quickly as the line came.

Long Fellow used the inside draw to his advantage to make room for himself in the opening semi. A smart type when he gets on the lure, his time was 15 spots behind Aero Sacundai. Wrighty won the middle semi to make it a clean sweep for the red jackets. Four railers and two middles have made the final with Eze reaching the decider again for Angie Kibble.

New Track Record set at Dundalk

Broadstrand Syd lit up the Bar One Sprint at Dundalk on Saturday night with a new track record. 

John Linehan’s son of Droopys Sydney lowered the clock with a spectacular 20.57. It was his first try at a sprint trip, already a smart performer over four bends, including a 28.12 at Cork. Still a puppy and with just nine starts under his belt, he might have a little better still to come.

Romeo Taylor (20.91) and Trinity Junior (20.92) were the only other pair to dip under 21 seconds on the night. Those times only going to show just how sensational a run Broadstrand Syd produced.

Defending champion Carrick Aldo made a solid start to his defence with a 21.04 success. Fleadh Rileigh (21.01), Zippy Canning (21.25), Laughil Bruce (21.39), Neon Nite (21.29), Apple Tart (21.07), Peppered Sean (21.28), Elite Kursk (21.23) and Stonepark Hoffa (21.45) were the other heat winners.

British raider Salacres Buzz was unable to land a blow. The Hope Jeal Sprint runner-up broke fairly but moved off around the turn to lose any chance of qualifying.

Panther goes quickest in the Irish St Leger

Limerick lit up in the first round of the Willwego.com Irish St Leger 

Clonmel Produce Stakes winner Unanimouspanther produced a hugely impressive 29.34 to land his heat by six lengths. Oscar The Grouch and Superfast Gordon clocked 29.41 and 29.44. They were the three fastest times of 2024 as the quality runs came thick and fast.

In the last decade only Jaytee Taylor (29.21), Part Blake (29.24), Priceless Brandy (29.26 and 29.30), Swords Rex (29.27) and Secreto (29.32) have gone quicker. Others winners on the night were Airfield Katie (29.87), Jaytee Craze (29.71), Miami King (29.91), Ballyhimikin Rex (29.53), Knockeen Dazzler (29.72), Sogna In Grande (29.88), Drombeg Rio (29.86) and Carmac King (29.72).

Opens

Sunday: Crayford ♦ Sheffield ♦ Towcester
Monday: Nottingham ♦ Suffolk Downs