PGR Regency Final – Runner-by-runner

Always a fantastic competition where we get the best of the six and eight-bend dogs making it to this prestigious final. This year is no different with a good mixture of running styles taking their place in the £20,000 to the winner showpiece event.

Won last year by the truly astonishing Space Jet, trained to perfection by Matt Dartnall. The greyhound racing community was devastated to hear the news recently that Space Jet is sadly no longer with us following her short battle with cancer.

1 BUBBLY SCORCHER

(Good News – Bubbly Firebird, June 21) – Paul Young – The Champagne Club Syndicate

A finalist last year behind Space Jet, Bubbly Scorcher had an extremely difficult draw to work from being out in trap five. This year it couldn’t have worked out any better for him, being boxed away on the inside in trap one. The long straights at Hove are key to this dog’s chances.

A heat runner-up behind tonight’s favourite Cooladerry Dust, Bubbly Scorcher went one better in last week’s semi-final beating Ballymac Taylor comfortably in a fast time of 41.88. He shows his speed on the straights and with the short run to the first bend it could be the best place to be for Bubbly Scorcher if he can take an unexpected flyer from the red box. He is a 5/1 chance across the board.

2 BAYWATCH BULLET

(Droopys Sydney – Blundel Spark, May 21) – Belinda Green – Messrs Boyle, Jones & Whittington

Faultless through the competition, Baywatch Bullet comes into the final on the back of two impressive displays in heats and semi. A Kent St Leger third back in May, this competition would have always been the target for connections with a drop back in trip at Romford and Towcester in between.

She is a constant breaker and has made all in both rounds so far, stopping the clock at 41.74 calculated last week beating Lightfoot Falcon over three lengths. She needs a repeat break to give herself the best chance possible this evening and is a 5/1 shot to land the spoils.

3 BALLYMAC TAYLOR

(Ballymac Anton – Ballymac Merkle, Sep 21) – Mark Wallis – MWD Partnership

Recent Dorando Marathon Winner, Ballymac Taylor is undoubtedly the strongest runner in the field dropping back in trip. Trying to emulate the amazing Space Jet by winning the Dorando Marathon on Derby Final night to a month later working her way through the field to clinch the Regency.

Known for her exploits over the marathon distances, Ballymac Taylor impressed when winning her first-round heat. She had to work extremely hard in her semi-final when qualifying in second behind Bubbly Scorcher, giving herself plenty to do. Connections will be hoping the race slows up in front of Ballymac Taylor where she will be looking to take advantage. One thing for sure is you can never rule this strong running bitch out of any race and a 7/2 general price would suggest this.

4 HAKA CARLO

(Ballymac Anton – Ballymac Merkle, Sep 21) – Jason Heath – Mrs A Jeal

Back on the scene with a bang at Towcester on last month’s Derby Final Card. Haka Carlo was the biggest gamble of the day from 20/1 into a returning SP of 5/1 where he chinned Queen Georgia right on the line to the delight of the Northamptonshire crowd and of course connections.

A similar route to the final to Ballymac Taylor, he was an impressive winner of his first-round heat. He gave connections a mighty scare but thrill at the same time when getting up to finish second, a short head in front of Coonough Crow in last week’s semi-final. That run behind Cooladerry Dust secured his place in tonight’s decider.

He wouldn’t be ideally drawn in trap four of four railers but it would be a surprise to see Haka Carlo up there with the pace early. He will be looking to tuck in and work his way through, Getting the first run on Ballymac Taylor is key to his chance. In the market, he sits around 7/2 to take the prize.

5 LIGHTFOOT FALCON

(Broadstrand Bono – Lightfoot Feery, Mar 21) – Seamus Cahill – Ms Badesha & Messrs Cooper

The outsider of the field but knows how to win races at the Sussex venue over four and six bends. Lightfoot Falcon is a model of consistency flirting between distances but very rarely runs a bad race. A 29.41 500m trial prior to the first round set him up for a successful return to the 695m trip, beating Coonough Crow in the first round.

Staying comfortably in second position behind Baywatch Bullet last week, Lightfoot Falcon was always going to qualify for tonight. He will need to break well from trap five and hope the inside quartet tangle up. He will then need to see where the favourite turns but there are worse 14/1 bets to be had.

6 COOLADERRY DUST

(Good News – Glenduff Callie, Nov 21) – Nathan Hunt – Dust

A dog who has massively improved over the recent months. The eye was caught when winning a 630m maiden at Monmore on their Winter Derby final card giving himself plenty to do but getting up on the line in a steady 38.13. He then had three months off before entering the Coronation Cup at Romford. He put in a remarkable display in his semi-final winning by over ten lengths breaking the thirty-five-second barrier.

Found trouble in the final behind New Destiny before a credible third at the hands of first-time six-bend trier Barntick Bear on Derby final night. Cooladerry Dust has been faultless throughout the competition and is a worthy favourite heading into tonight’s final. He’s won heat and semi-final comfortably clocking a rapid 41.63 calculated last Saturday. He has a brilliant draw to work from and will look to steer a wide course to victory tonight. Around a 7/4 chance that looks like a more than fair price for Cooladerry Dust.

Conclusion

A really intriguing final where it is impossible to rule any of the six runners out. I thought Bubbly Scorcher was a fair Each Way bet at the start of the competition and the draw has worked out perfectly for him in trap one and I am going to be with him.

Cooladerry Dust has a great draw out wide in 6 but faces more early pace here with the likes of Baywatch Bullet and Lightfoot Falcon expected to be going to the winning line in front the first time round so if Bubbly Scorcher can hold his pitch on the inside and lead the other strong runners, he can reel the early pacers in heading into the straight.

Ballymac Taylor and Haka Carlo need to lead each other and whoever gets the first run between the pair will make a race of it but I’m going to be with Bubbly Scorcher.

Good luck to all involved and let’s hope we get to witness a final that last year’s winner Space Jet would be proud of.