After suffering a crisis of confidence the real Roxholme Poppy turned up at Monmore on Thursday night to clock the fastest time in the first round of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic.
Hayley Keightley’s bitch (Aero Majestic-Pookies Sophie, Mar 16) beat Moreton Madras by ten lengths in 37.40 for the 630m. The other qualifiers went to Bombers Bullet (37.58), Bull Run Button (37.90) and Ela Juliet (37.92).
Assistant trainer Mark Keightley said: “She is a bitch who has lacked confidence since been battered around in the Puppy Derby last year. She has looked okay when she has led, but not so comfortable having to come through dogs.
“Hayley decided that she needed a complete break earlier this year and we gave her a few runs on the schooling track to regain that belief. That was the real Roxholme Poppy. When she leads, I don’t think there is a greyhound in training capable of picking her up. But when she doesn’t, she is definitely vulnerable.”
