Ned is wicked fast in Bresbet Steel City Cup
Wicky Ned sets the standard on the clock while Tom Heilbron won half the heats!
28.49 was the second quickest time of the year over Sheffield’s 500m, Wicky Ned clocking the fastest three. The Gymcrack and Northern Flat winner still has very few miles on the clock given he is chasing a third Catergory One success of the year.
Trainer Jimmy Fenwick said “We are really pleased with his run as in the five heats before Ned’s race we felt the track was running slow due to less than ideal weather conditions. Ned seems to love it around here, He flashed from the traps, something Ned will have to continue through the competition. The time of his heat is an incredible run but it’s only the first round! He’s come out of race fine, we will now focus on preparing for the next round.”
Tom Heilbron had three of the six heat winners courtesy of Links Maverick (28.90), Romeo Crusade (29.03) and Romeo Cypher (29.07). Heilbron was delighted with the night, especially with Maverick. “He’s not finished yet, quite a few were saying it before the match race but when he did what he did and got the job done.
“He’s been judged harshly. He went lame in the first round of the Derby and then went to the Select Stakes at Nottingham with the worst of the draw of the railers and would’ve been second if momentum wasn’t cut off at the second bend by Unanimouspanther.”
Heilbron was ebullient in his praise for the GB Skip Hire sponsored match race at Romford. “It was a right buzz being down, got to spice things up every now and then. Star Sports purchase is also a big plus for him, “Pelaw is only 25 minutes from me door to door, its good for the game for him (Ben Keith) to come and take the place over. You know from his background he’ll come in and give it a go.”
His other two heat winners both overcame the odds. “The two brothers (Crusade and Cypher) both had tough heats and a bad draw. They are two class acts coming back to that sort of form. Get them off the front and they don’t get caught.” Heilbron also won with Glengar Luna on the card for a four-timer.
Union Rebel landed his heat in 28.82 for Kevin Hutton. The Produce Stakes runner-up improved for a recent trial round with a sectional only three spots slower than Links Maverick. Although Gun Slinger was the slowest heat winner with a 29.22, his performance was perhaps the most spectacular. Acomb Felix looked to be home for all money off the second bend but the Mark Wallis-trained hound had other ideas.
Our thanks to Rob Crawford for the pictures of the winners.
Heat one – 1st Romeo Crusade (t4) – 2nd Acejukeboxpopper (t5) – 3rd Farneys Willie (t6)
Second heat – 1st Romeo Cypher (t5) – 2nd Epic Gold (t6) – 3rd Droopys Extragud (t2)
Heat three – 1st Gun Slinger (t5) – 2nd Acomb Felix (t4) – 3rd Acomb Treat (t3)
Fourth heat – 1st Links Maverick (t3) – 2nd Silverhill Ben (t5) – 3rd Seaview Sydney (t1)
Heat five – 1st Union Rebel (t5) – 2nd Proper Heiress (t4) – 3rd Bombay The Joker (t3)
Sixth heat – 1st Wicky Ned (t3) – 2nd Swift Silly (t1) – 3rd Senahel Tester (t6)
Tips for Monday night at Nottingham
***8.01 Nottingham – Loxleys Forest (10/3 bet365)
**8.36 Nottingham – Velvet Hurricane (2/1 general)
*9.11 Nottingham, – Hurry Up Jordan (4/5 Paddy Power, Betfair)
*6.53 Nottingham – Kylenoe Bilbo (4/7 general)
After a hectic weekend of category one open race action, we head to Nottingham for the start of a new week. They have four one-off open races taking place including the rescheduled sprint final, two staying races and a one off standard.
The nap of the evening runs in the Arc Stayers Trophy over 680m at 8.01pm. Trap one Loxleys Forest was nearly three lengths clear of Kind Cian when they last met over this trip on September 16 when finishing second and third, both with a clear run. Ballymac Duke should set the pace early and although has winning form over further, he hasn’t raced over an extended distance since the beginning of June so I am willing to take a chance that Loxleys Forest can get first run at Ballymac Duke and catch him late on.
The next best is trap one Velvet Hurricane in the Arc Standard Trophy over 500m at 8.36pm. The draw has worked in his favour with Velvet Madrid moving off from trap two and Sambar Kian moving in from trap four. That means Seaside Degs looks sandwiched between two dogs cutting across him early. That should allow Velvet Hurricane to steel a march from the second bend who has put in two big runs behind Catunda Ciaran recently over C&D and with a decent break can go one better this evening.
Recent St Leger finalist Hurry Up Jordan should make no mistakes in the Arc Stayers Trophy at 9.11pm and the Arc Sprint Trophy Final at 6.53pm can go the way of Kylenoe Bilbo who was majorly impressive in the heats beating Bluejig Ophelia just over three lengths in a rapid 17.72 so a repeat of that run should see Lynn Cooks charge go onto land the spoils.
Crayford win sequence extends for Laughil Jess
A fifth straight Sunday success for Dave Lee’s star over 540m.
The Queen of Crayford was in no mood to relinquish her crown last night, notching another hugely impressive win, stopping the clock at 33.54. It was a 24th win over 540m in open race company for her and a fifth win on the bounce. Lee was also on target with Ministing in 23.36.
When Jess does hang up her racing boots to head to the paddock, it might be that Ricky Holloway’s Miss Syd is a contender to take over the mantle. As Floyd mentioned in his British Performance of the Week, she is an open race winner over four, six and eight bends at the track, successful in 12 open races at Crayford in total.
It was an excellent night for Holloway who had four other winners on the card. Signet Harper won the 380m hurdle in an impressive 23.49. Littermates Kates Honey and Kates Dream both won over 540m while Patterdale Zorro was also a six-bend scorer for the kennel.
Another trainer who had a strong evening was Darren Whitton who landed the first three races on the card. Newinn Lotto was very impressive in 23.22 in the opening contest with Moaning Mason and Moaning Rangers following that up. Julie Luckhurst tidied up the other two races with Rockmount Rosie and Cowgirl.
Irish Derby gets an official launch
Sharon McHugh (Head of PR & Sponsorship, BoyleSports) joined Tim Lucey, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland to launch the 2024 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby earlier today at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium. The competition which commences on the 18th October will see over 140 greyhounds compete for a first place prize of €125,000. The Final is on Saturday 23rd November 2024.
There are just 11 days until the start of the Boylesports Irish Derby.
Tickets are still available for the Irish Derby at the newly refurbished Shelbourne Park. This is year one of a new three-year sponsorship deal with Boylesports. The opening round is run over two nights, October 18 and 19 with the final on Saturday, November 23.
Tim Lucey, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland, said, “We are all looking forward to six weeks of exceptional greyhound racing. We are also looking forward to fans enjoying the new look Shelbourne Park and anticipate an electric atmosphere as crowds watch greyhounds compete for the ultimate title in our sport. Having BoyleSports as sponsor has helped to deliver many fantastic finals over the past 11 years, and I look forward to another great event for 2024”.
Sharon McHugh, Head of PR and Sponsorship for BoyleSports, commented, “We are delighted to continue supporting greyhound racing in Ireland with our sponsorship of the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby. It’s the All-Ireland of greyhound racing and it’s an extra special year for the Derby in its new beautifully refurbished home at Shelbourne Park. The move to October /November this year has opened the door to some UK challengers which promises to make for an exciting and fiercely competitive six weeks. We’re looking forward to all the action and seeing how the betting shapes up.”
Stats
- Redbrick Luna – 3.11 Doncaster – 5/7 when running in D2 grade from trap six.
- Scatter Milo – 3.29 Doncaster – A perfect 5/5 in D1 from trap two.
- King Marvin – 3.32 Central Park – 8/14 at D1 grade.
- Bloos Boy Flash – 5.11 Monmore – 6/11 when running in A1 grade.
- Kylenoe Bilbo – 6.53 Nottingham – 6/12 from trap three.
- Ooh Black Berry – 7.04 Harlow – 5/8 from trap two.
Opens
Friday: Romford
Saturday: Central Park ♦ Perry Barr
