Flotilla destroys Nottingham track record

The 680m clock fell last night with Nathan Hunt’s Droopys Flotilla lowering the figures.

Two lengths were taken off the track record which had stood since March 2013. A litter sister to dual St Leger winner Droopys Clue, she was a finalist in the Golden Jacket at Crayford. The type that had always threatened to turn excellent runs into something spectacular, last night was that night. She clocked 40.89.

There were three trial stakes for the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse on the card with Mark Wallis sweeping them. The 2023 Eclipse winner Newinn Syd looks set to put up a stout defence of his title. He had to work hard to score in 29.60 but his attitude got him to the front where it matters.

Proper Heiress was the quickest of the three, producing 29.32. Only March On Freddie and Unanimouspanther have gone quicker in 2024. Just the sixth race of his life, he was four lengths behind Wicky Ned when eliminated in the semis of the Steel City Cup. That’s an eye-catching level of form for a dog with so few miles on the clock.

Just behind in that Sheffield contest was Gun Slinger who was the other Wallis winner in 29.43. John Lambe won the sprint contest on the night with Fair Joe. Colin Watson scored with Chippy Chase over 480m.

FAIR JOE (t4 left short heads On The Banks (t2) in 305m open
Nottingham 4th November 2024
Photo: © Steve Nash

GUN SLINGER wins Eclipse Trial Stakes (Div3) by over six lengths in 29.43 (+50)
Nottingham 4th November 2024
Photo: © Steve Nash

PROPER HEIRESS impresses with 29.32 (+50) to complete a Mark Wallis clean sweep of the three PGR Eclipse Trial Stakes, a week before the heats.
Nottingham 4th November 2024
Photo: © Steve Nash

Havana Top Note has been retired

Havana Top Note

Havana Top Note, one of the most consistent greyhounds of recent times, has been retired after failing to finish in a trial stakes for the Jay & Kay Coach Tours Kent St Leger at Crayford on Sunday.

The Liz McNair-trained and KSS-owned runner had started a red-hot favourite for the contest but was soon out of the picture and it was clearly something was amiss.

“He’s done a gracilis injury and that’s it for him on the track,” said Rab McNair. “He’s grand in himself but owes us all nothing, he’s been brilliant.”

McNair described Havana Top Note, an April 2021 son of Eden The Kid and Mean Beauty, as probably the most underrated dog the Ashford kennels has been involved with.

“He’s been a great dog but there’s always been one or two of ours that have had the headlines – and not him,” said McNair.

“If it wasn’t Havana Lover or Fromposttopillar, it was Queen Joni and King Memphis – but Top Note mixed it with the very best and was a big-race winner himself, remember – and he loved Oxford!”

A second home at Oxford

Winner of last year’s bet365 Challenge Cup at Oxford and this year’s bet365 Hunt Cup at the Cowley track – he was a finalist in the Hunt Cup last year also – Havana Top Note also finished second in this year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket at Crayford to Dazl Rolex.

He also reached the final of this year’s Coral Essex Vase at Romford to Roxys Bullet and last year’s Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes at the London Road track to Hollow Man. Plus he was fourth to kennelmate Fromposttopillar in the 2023 Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic

“Top Note ran in Derbys and St Legers – that takes some doing – and was probably one of the best competition dogs we’ve ever had. He’ll have the best of homes now,” added McNair.

Freddie set for date in the last 24

David Mullins and George Watson spoke to Joe Conneely for the Gone to The Dogs Podcast.

After a messy third round heat, Mullins has taken Freddie back for a check over. It is now the halfway point of the competition.

“We brought him home on Sunday to be checked over by George Drake, I just wasn’t quite happy with how things were. He had a few problems which hopefully we’ve put right.

“I’m definitely confident in the dog’s ability, I know if he does it right, he’s going to give himself every chance. I was a lot more at ease last time than I was in the first and second round. Though I can’t say I was at the second bend!” Of course, the trouble at the second bend could have been a disaster for the dog as the field tangled.

Watson added “It’s been a lot of fun, you don’t want to go over there and embarrassing yourself…we go into the weekend hopeful again.” He went on to describe the feeling from the stands “your anxiety is up there, it’s the longest 15 minutes between races you’ll ever have.”

You will be able to hear the entire conversation later in the week on the Gone To The Dogs Podcast.

Angel has one on her shoulder at Tralee

Kingdom Stadium novice stakes heat has a poignant winner.

A debut win for Cathys Angel might not have been noted by many on Saturday night. A 29.67 winning time from the front put the June 23 daughter of Ballymac Bolger into the next round. That is no more than the tip of the story’s iceberg.

Ger Flavin, a member of the Cathys Army Syndicate, told Talking Dogs: “Tom (Pa O’Connor, Saleen) and Patrick kindly donated a greyhound pup for the Swanky Cathy Fundraiser, which was held in September 2023, in support of our friend Cathy McAuliffe who was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier in the year. The pup went up for Auction, that night a group of 96 friends and family from all over formed “Cathys Army” and we were not leaving the Swanky Bar that night without the pup.

He continued: “The pup now is named Cathys Angel after Cathy’s love of betting on any horse or dog that had ‘Angel’ in the name. A bus left the Swanky Bar on Saturday evening for the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium and returned singing “Sweet Caroline” into the village of Tarbert, remembering our great friend Cathy. Cathy sadly passed away in July this year.”

Update from Star Pelaw

The new Star branded signage was delivered to Pelaw yesterday.

There is a sneak peak behind the scenes at the track on the Star Sports website. It includes interviews with Racing Manager Dave Gray as well as the Head of Greyhound Operations, Kim Sanzone.

Gray has almost two decades of experience at the track and said. “The whole sport and industry has changed considerably in that time. Hopefully this new impetus we have now at Star Pelaw can buck the trend.”

Samzone described the track as a Tardis inside. She was delighted with the positive reaction that the sale of the track has had from regulars. “Everybody was so friendly and buzzing about what was happening. Everybody was super helpful they couldn’t have been kinder to me…great positivity for the first night.”

There will be a gala, grand opening meeting including open races on Sunday, November 24. That is a date for your diary to pack out Star Pelaw and help to start the venture as it means to go on.

Stats

  • Keeperhill Meek – 2.41 Romford – 5/9 when draw in six.
  • Says You Spoofer – 3.13 Perry Barr – 5/9 in D2 grade.
  • Makeit Gypsygirl – 3.59 Towcester – 6/11 in the blue jacket.
  • Savana Cheetahs – 4.56 Towcester – 5/8 when running in D3s.
  • Alien Snogger – 5.14 Towcester – 7/12 when racing in a D1.
  • Inniskeen Love – 7.31 Youghal – 5/10 from the red jacket.

Opens

Friday: Romford ♦ Sunderland

Saturday: Perry Barr