Rain doesn’t dampen a great Category One evening

It was Seamus Cahill at Perry Barr with a superstar! 

‘Cluedo’ could not have been more impressive in the opening round of the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger. No dog has ever gone back-to-back in this competition but Droopys Clue strongly suggested records are there to be broken.

His 42.74 time was 55 spots quicker than any of the other 35 runners over the 710m trip could manage. It was a display of front-running brilliance, moving further clear with every stride to run out a 15 1/4l winner. Already the hot favourite for the competition, this will have his supporters overjoyed.

Greenwell Ange was the second quickest for John Flaherty in the opening heat. She showed smart early pace to get the lead after a couple of strides and was always going to hold on from the stronger finishers.

Both Toddys Thunder (Tom Heilbron) and Savana Jackpot (Diane Henry) clocked identical times of 43.39. Tuono Bella was another to front run her way to victory, scoring in 43.79 for Paul Donovan. Although Hurry Up Jordan was the slowest of the heat winners, he was also the only one to do it from behind in 44.22.

Thunder sets the Birmingham Cup standard

John Lambe is responsible for Hurry Up Jordan and the Birmingham Cup is run in the memory of his dad, Michael. Bockos Thunder was the quickest winner in the opening heat. He scored in 28.14 for Kevin Boon but arguably, he did have the pick of the conditions on the night before the heavens opened.

Local hero Darley Diglake put his track knowledge to good use to score in 29.40 for Robert Hall. Aayamza Sydney had not been seen in race action since the Derby but if there was any ring rust it was not noticeable as he picked up heat five in 28.44 for John Mullins.

Nathan Hunt got on the scoresheet with Untold Paanga in 28.40 in a heat that changed complexion late on.  The other heat winners were Aghaburren Beau (28.66 – Brian Thompson) and Long Fellow (28.77 – Matt Dartnall).

After the rain delays, the semi-final draw for both competitions will be made on Monday at the GBGB.

PGR St Leger Heat 1 – 1st Greenwell Ange (t4) – 2nd Coonough Crow (t2) – 3rd Haka Carlo (t1)

PGR St Leger Heat 2 – 1st Toddys Thunder (t6) – 2nd Magical Luna (t2) – 3rd Tromora Rex (t4)

PGR St Leger Heat 3 – 1st Tuono Bella (t2) – 2nd Trickycinderella (t4) – 3rd Lamorna Amaze (t3)

PGR St Leger Heat 4 – 1st Savana Jackpot (t4) – 2nd Hopiehopiehopie (t2) – 3rd Move Over Ogie (t5)

PGR St Leger Heat 5 – 1st Droopys Clue (t3) – 2nd Clona Curly (t5) – 3rd Hawk (t6)

PGR St Leger Heat 6 – 1st Hurry Up Jordan (t6) – 2nd Mrs Doyle (t2) – 3rd Lively Lauren (t3)

M Lambe Birmingham Cup Heat 1 – 1st Bockos Thunder (t4) – 2nd Cunnigar Yousir (t3) – 3rd Rioja Bungle (t1)

M Lambe Birmingham Cup Heat 2 – 1st Aghaburren Beau (t5) – 2nd Seaview Sydney (t4) – 3rd Aero Sacundai (t2)

M Lambe Birmingham Cup Heat 3 – 1st Untold Paanga (t1) – 2nd Whyaye Man (t2) – 3rd Unanimous Leon (t3)

M Lambe Birmingham Cup Heat 4 – 1st Long Fellow (t1) – 2nd Ballycleary Ten (t6) – 3rd Brickwork Ruck (t5)

M Lambe Birmingham Cup Heat 5 – 1st Aayamza Sydney (t1) – 2nd Aero Patina (t2) – 3rd Tricky Wiggles (t5)

M Lambe Birmingham Cup Heat 6 – 1st Darley Diglake (t6) 2nd Droopys Extragud (t2) – 3rd No Better Feelin (t1)

Empress Stakes Semis headline Towcester’s afternoon card

All eyes on semi-final two at 4.07 in a race fitting of the final.

The three at the head of the ante post betting and three of the four quickest heat winners line up in opposition. New Destiny went fastest last week for Mark Wallis clocking 28.75. She is sporting the red jacket this afternoon.

Queen Georgia will exit trap three after a 28.86 a week ago. She is the strongest of the three big guns in this contest. Runner-up to Droopys Clue in the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers at Monmore, she will be hoping to turn handy and outstay them.

Phil Milner’s Avongate Venus clocked 29.01 in her first round victory. She has been spectacular during the summer with 28.70s and 28.80s so is more than capable of stepping up on that time. This has the potential to be a stunning buckle.

The first semi contains Leighas Dream who was the other winner to duck under 29 seconds last week. The ARC Angel of the North runner-up laid down a serious 28.84 marker for Barry Denby. Signet Tess should keep her honest early but the daughter of Droopys Sydney should have too much all-around pace for these.

Icemans Girl was visually impressive in her heat win for Nathan Hunt. A vacant trap in one and a slower to rise type in two should see her turn on the speed and stamp her ticket into what should be a stunner of a final on September 15.

Crayford Open race action tonight

A full card of 12 opens from the Kent track to enjoy on Sunday night.

It is the usual excellent mix of contests tonight with races over 380m, 540m and 714m as well as hurdles races over four and six bends. Patrons will have to wait around until the final race of the night at 9.14 to see the Queen of Crayford, Laughil Jess in action.

The 7.33 is a Category Three final over 540m for maidens. The two heats last week were won in 34.37 and 34.38 by Epic Princess and Castle Judge respectively with Rahyvira Ivy a short head behind the latter.

Syd sets the Laurels standard at Cork

The opening round of the Laurels took up the entire Saturday night card.

Tribal Syd was the ante post favourite heading into the competition and he showed why with a quickest of the night 28.01 for Murt Leahy. His main rival in the market is Crafty Shivoo who also got her campaign off to a perfect winning start with a 28.36.

The 2023 Irish Derby champion The Other Kobe went just a spot slower than Syd in winning his heat. He had shown that the gears were still there over two bends at Dundalk in August and the return to four in recent weeks has proved exactly that.

Charlie makes it 15 in a row

Crack stayer Tuono Charlie ran riot again in the Irish Cambridgeshire semis

A 40.79 winning time was six spots off the track record that he set in the heats last week. It was a run that was 10 lengths too good for any of his opponents as once more he battered them from the front with a display of brute strength.

Kinturk Road got closest to Tuono Charlie in the final of the Mcp Group 750 at Tralee last month. He won the other semi-final in 41.37 and will once more be the forecast choice to chase home Ireland’s top stayer next Saturday.

Elsewhere on the card there was a new 575y track record. That’s It Jack took 16 spots off the old standard. The September 22 son of Malachi has taken a real liking to the track, winning all three of his starts there.

Stats

  • That’s Our Doll – 5.45 Lifford – 5/7 from trap four.
  • Dazl Rolex – 7.16 Crayford – 7/8 in opens at the track when in trap six.
  • Laughil Jess – 23/33 overall at the track.