Perry Barr takes centre stage again

***8.28 Perry Barr – Magical Luna (9/4 Ladbrokes / Coral)
**7.01 Perry Barr – Tricky Wiggles (9/2 Ladbrokes / Coral)
*7.36 Perry Barr – Long Fellow (7/2 Ladbrokes / Coral)

The semi finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger and M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup In Memory of Michael Lambe Senior take place at Perry Barr this evening.

Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger

The first semi at 7.18 sees Lively Lauren likely to go off favourite in what looks an open contest with a blend of early pace runners and strong stayers. I am going to be with her off the front, as she’ll be a different dog on a faster track than she ran on last week. The going was completely against her then when being caught by Hurry Up Jordan and Mrs Doyle. They re-oppose tonight but she was only beaten three-quarters of a length and if she can win the sprint leg, I would fancy her to hold on with Coonough Crow taking the second qualifying spot.

Semi-final two at 7.53 is a race for second. Droopys Clue runs from trap one and was sensational when winning by over fifteen lengths last week in the opening round. A level break sees him lead and win comfortably. It then looks between Haka Carlo and Hopiehopiehopie for second and I am going to be with Haka Carlo who should get first run on Hopehopiehopie. It would take a brilliant performance from the latter to catch the former for next week’s final so I’m going to be with Droopys Clue over Haka Carlo.

The last semi-final is at 8.28. It looks to have given trap two Magical Luna a perfect run into the race. Tuono Bella on her inside should lead with Toddys Thunder. If Magical Luna can get a tow into the race behind the two leaders, I would fancy her to stay on strongly and pick the early pacers up late on. The race could then suit Clona Curly to also qualify who can shown his four bend speed to get competitive on the second lap. Any mistakes between the leaders can allow him to finish second to Magical Luna.

M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup

Semi-final one at 7.01 can suit the strong running Tricky Wiggles in a face full of early pace. Aero Sacundai, Unanimous Leon and Cunnigar Yousir will all need to try and lead each other to give themselves the best chance of qualifying. With that, the race could get scrappy in front where Tricky Wiggles looks well drawn to take advantage. He is clocking 28.20 from off the pace and that could be enough to see him head into next week’s final off the back of a semi-final victory, with Aero Sacundai taking the other qualifying spot.

In the middle semi at 7.36, I fancy Long Fellow to lead and make all. Dogs can break so much better from traps three and four at Perry Barr so I’m hoping Long Fellow sticks to that theory and comes out running from trap three to lead and dominate. Bockos Thunder was a good winner last week catching Cunnigar Yousir and should get a nice run from trap five with Rioja Bungle moving in from four. As such, I’ll be with Bockos Thunder to qualify in second.

Semi-final three at 8.11 can see track specialist Darley Diglake from trap six head into the final next week unbeaten by taking this tricky affair. His 3.35 sectional from the same trap last week on a slow track will take some matching but his breakneck early speed can take him to the front early on. From there, he will then be looking over his shoulder for the likes of Aayamza Sydney who will be staying on strongly but I’m with Darley Diglake to beat Aayamza Sydney.

Romford Puppy Cup heats

Six heats last night for the puppies produced three sub 24-second times.

There were no blistering performances in the opening round of the Coral Puppy Cup. The more competitive nature of the competition compared to trial stakes will have played a part but in general, the cream came to the top ahead of next Friday’s semi-final stage.

Roanna Mamba was the fastest of the heat winner for Michelle Brown, producing a 23.92 from the front. A 3.72 sectional was the second quickest of the night for the son of Pestana. Second fastest was Golden Bullet, also representing Brown, who enjoyed an outstanding evening.

The ante post favourite is Fire And Ice. Matt Dartnall’s charge was an efficient winner of the final heat in 23.98. He had stopped the clock in 23.64 last week but didn’t need to go that fast to run out a comfortable winner.

On The Banks won the opening heat for Nathan Hunt in 24.06 on his first UK start. Gingers Prince scored in 24.27 for Patrick Browne and Swift Underwater landed the other heat in 24.36 for John Lambe.

Heat 1 – 1st On The Banks (t2) – 2nd Swift United (t4) – 3rd Droopys Maybe (t1)

Heat 2 – 1st Swift Underwater (t1) – 2nd Droopys Dreamy (t2) – 3rd Amy’s Gem (t6)

Heat 3 – 1st Roanna Mamba (t4) – 2nd Newinn Souly (t5) – 3rd Untold Rufiyaa (t3)

Heat 4 – 1st Gingers Prince (t2) – 2nd Ritz To Rubble (t3) – 3rd Fabulous Aria (t4)

Heat 5 – 1st – Golden Bullet (t4) – 2nd Rapido Ali (t3) – 3rd Vixons Promise (t1)

Heat 6 – 1st – Fire And Ice (t2) – 2nd Fabulous Livia (t1) – 3rd Droopys Faith (t4)

A big night at Doncaster

The Yorkshire Derby and BGBF St Leger both start this evening.

Only bet365 have priced up the Yorkshire Derby where Romeo Command is the 3/1 favourite. He will sport the red jacket in heat two at 7.04 for Patrick Janssens. The issue is he’s been drawn in the toughest heat of the night and one that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a fortnight’s time.

ARC Angel Of The North runner-up Leighas Dream will take him on as will Derby Plate finalist Druids Say Go, Derby quarter-finalist Droopys Doughnut, Acomb Alfie and Stonepark Wes. It should make for a superb contest.

Fabulous Dyna, the winner of the 2023 BGBF St Leger is back to defend her title. Laurence Tuffin’s charge is in the second heat at 7.24. She was picked up in the shadow of the post in a trial stake last week on her return to the track.

Other Saturday night opens

Central Park, Monmore and Oxford all have open racing tonight.

The Kent track hosts a Kent Derby trial stake at 8.19 which features King Combs for Liz McNair. He was unfortunate to bump into Churchfield Syd in the opening round of the Kent Derby last year and then Droopys Clue in the semis where he exited the competition.

Three heats of a 480m standard highlight the Monmore card. Bang On Edith goes in the first for Nathan Hunt. Unlucky to get knocked out the Produce Stakes in the second round, she was runner-up in a similar Category Three competition here back in June. That was won by Aero Pattika who runs in the Birmingham Cup semis at Perry Barr tonight.

Oxford host eight open races this evening. The 9.01 is a stayers contest where Alright Gordy for David Lewis will take on Kevin Hutton’s Coppice Lottie in what should be the race of the night.

Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire Final

Tuono Charlie out to make it 16 in a row.

The 9.24 at Limerick tonight is a must watch for greyhound racing fans. Crack stayer Tuono Charlie is out not only to win the €4,500 competition but also to extend his remarkable winning streak since being stepped up in trip.

Owned by Paul Dyer and trained by Sharon Hunt, his winning run started at Kilkenny on March 29, beating Kinturk Road. That dog is in opposition once more tonight and is probably the forecast link but it is all about the streak being extended.

1/3 Tuono Charlie 7/2 Kinturk Road 5/1 Droopys Comrade 12/1 Aherla Rocco 14/1 Boss Go 50/1 Rach Itup Reg

Laurels second round

There are eight heats in the second round at Curraheen Park.

Tribal Syd set the standard last week. He goes in heat two at 8.35 for Murt Leahy. Just one spot slower was Graham Holland’s The Other Kobe who goes in heat seven at 9.50. The other one at a single price is Crafty Shivoo who has a tricky draw in stripes for Patrick Norris in heat five. She takes on Evolution at 9.20.

Potentially, the race of the evening is heat six at 9.35. Ower Cracker will take on Romeo Taylor, Ballycowen Conor, South In Sydney, Faypoint Harvey and Romeo Falco in what should be a superb contest.

11/2 Tribal Syd 8/1 Crafty Shivoo, The Other Kobe 10/1 Evolution, Road Exile, Romeo Taylor 14/1 BAR

Brendan Duffy and Pat Ahern have passed

Both men were a huge part of the greyhound community in Ireland.

Duffy is best known for his Central prefix. His Central City was a Coursing Derby winner and threw some smart pups on the track like Droopys Quincy and Sidarian Bullet amongst others.

Ahern will be known to most on both sides of the Irish Sea because of the Tullig prefix. A name that has been constant for more than 50 years in racing and on the coursing field, he will be hugely missed by the sport as a whole.

Yarmouth Broadcast link

We have the YouTube link for the first Gone To The Dogs Live broadcast. 

Home Run Hounds Annual Awareness Raiser

At Himley Hall, Dudley at 10.30. 

Greyhound of the Month – August

There are joint winners of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Greyhound of the Month for August.

The Richard Rees-trained Ladbrokes Gold Cup winner Churchfield Syd and David Mullins’s JenningsBet Puppy Classic winner March On Freddie polled the same number of votes in a vote among Greyhound Writers’ Association members, shading fellow nominees Coppice Ella (Kevin Hutton), Droopys Clue (Seamus Cahill), Queen Georgia (Liz McNair) and Unanimouspanther (Pat Buckley).

The July winner of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Greyhound of the Month was Richie Taberner’s Aero Sacundai.

Stats

  • Droopys Clue – 7.43 Perry Barr – A perfect 4/4 so far at the track.
  • Anytime Jamie – 8.45 Thurles – 5/8 when running in A4 grade.
  • Bellmore Cricket – 8.52 Doncaster – 5/6 when sporting the orange jacket here.
  • Ryhope Beach – 9.12 Shelbourne – 8/14 from trap six.
  • Sir Oreo – 9.18 Oxford – 5/9 in one off open races at Oxford.
  • Around The Bay – 9.50 Dundalk – 6/10 from trap one.

Opens

Saturday: Perry Barr
Sunday: Crayford ♦Sheffield 
Wednesday: Yarmouth