How competitive is Saturday’s Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic?

The first clue is in the ante post prices where at least three of the firms have Paul Young’s recent Irish arrival Bubbly Dave as the 7-4f with Waltham Magic a 2-1 chance. But Betfred have those prices reversed.

Or how about the fact that the impressive Coral Regency winner Zascandil can be backed at 8-1? Or that the 37.58 heat winner Beechgrove Bell can be backed at 25-1?

Angela Harrison’s Waltham Magic ran seven graded races at Monmore as a pup. Her final appearance, a year ago today, was in A2 company. She was 17 months old at the time but has matured and improved even more than her new kennel were expecting.

Assistant trainer Jimmy Wright said: “She has a 28.28 at Newcastle which is outstanding. Sometimes dogs can be flattered by one run on a fast track, but she has a couple of 28.30 runs too. There is no doubt that she has turned into a top class bitch.

“She has won out of four, five and six so the draw is of no concern to me. But she has to come away and hope that Paul Young’s dog get caught in some early traffic. I don’t know whether he was as expensive as they say he was, but he looks a lovely dog. Then again, the one has his trap. Anything could win it if they get it right on the night; it is an exceptionally good final.

The kennel also have Droopys Delight running from trap four in the puppy decider.

Jimmy said: “I think she has a decent chance. I would have really preferred trap three, but really didn’t want five as she will turn left coming out of the boxes.

“I can’t wait for Saturday. There is no doubt in my mind that Monmore is the best run track in the country. It is such a shame that there are no crowds, because that place really buzzes on a Saturday night.

“The racing office are great too, but they don’t take any nonsense. I’ve entered dogs in the past and Tony (Williamson) has phoned me back an hour later and said, ‘sorry Jimmy, I can’t accept that dog as a railer. Unless you change its seeding it doesn’t run‘. I have no problem with that whatsoever. If the man is as strict with everybody, which I have no doubt he is, it can only help for clean racing. It is great to see someone caring enough to go to that effort.”

 

 

Barring disasters, Waltham Magic’s next competition has already been lined up. She will be entered in the GAIN Greyhound Nutrition Three Steps To Victory at Sheffield in September.

Jimmy said: “We are expecting to enter a few including Droopys Back Up, Droopys Catch and Velvet Juliet who has been off lame. But she trialled back at Newcastle in 16.81 for the sprint so we are very hopeful.

“We also sent some to Yarmouth for the (RPGTV) East Anglian Derby: Droopys Carat (27.72, Droopys NAdal (27.70), Droopys Dazzler (27.50) and Levante Beach (27.81). I understand that Nadal’s sectional (5.18) is a record.”

 

Reminder of last week’s semi finals: