In their own words – Hove Finalists
Hove stages one of the classiest double-headers in the sport tomorrow as the finals of the £20,000 Premier Greyhound Racing Regency and £10,000 Coral Sussex Cup will draw a bumper crowd to the seaside venue.
A host of stars and major winners grace the 12-race card with Droopys Clue, the Greyhound of the Year, favourite for the Sussex Cup and Cooladerry Dust topping the betting lists in the Regency after his impressive fastest-of-the-night wins.
Joe Conneely has spent time this week going over the two finals with connections. Just click on the links to hear the interviews.
Nathan Hunt will be represented in the Regency Final by Cooladerry Dust. The sole wide seed set the fastest sectional in the semis. Littermates Ballymac Taylor and Haka Carlo will start in the middle and are almost inseparable in the betting. Find out what Emily Wallis and Jason Heath make of their chances.
Baywatch Bullet will be looking for the early lead inside for Belinda Green and Billy Boyle while Bubbly Scorcher has the red jacket to sport for Paul Young. Lightfoot Falcon is the outsider of the field for Seamus Cahill.
Both the Cahill and Green kennels have runners in the Sussex Cup as well. Green has got Wasted Monday into the final for a second consecutive year while Cahill fields the favourite, Droopys Clue.
The favourite will have to clear Romeo Command for Patrick Janssens who was hopeful of his chance from the innermost draw. Derek Knight won the competition last year and will be doubly represented by Clona Uriel and Newinn Benni. Uncle Freddie is the other finalist, a consistent type for the Rees team. Charlie Rees spoke to us about his chance.
A huge thank you to all connections for their time.
Northern Flat Review
Wicky Ned lands the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat Final for Jimmy Fenwick
It was not a classic performance to close out his time as a puppy but Wicky Ned showed grit and determination to get the job done. Time might show that Newcastle is not his favourite track which will, in hindsight, make this all the more impressive. He needed to make room for himself at the opening bend before having to kick again off the final bend to hold off Sizzling Sam and Romeo Crossfire.
ARC Angel of the North
Things were a little bit more straightforward for Untold Ruble in the Angel of the North Final. Tom Heilbron’s bitch pinged out and never looked like being caught. She clocked a flying 28.14 (+20) which is the third quickest time of the year. It was not the fastest of the night, however.
That honour went to Antigua Eagle for Kevin Hutton who went a spot quicker, while 28.17 was produced by Romeo Jackson on the undercard. Romeo Jackson was the middle leg of a treble for Heilbron, started by Toddys Thunder who was the 100th open race winner of the year for the Link Kennels trainer, a maiden century for the team.
Bar One Sprint Second Round
Saturday evening will be a busy one in Ireland as well. After setting a new track record in the first round, Broadstrand Syd will be looking to confirm his position at the top of the Bar One Sprint market. Ballinakill Alf and the 2023 winner Carrick Aldo are next in the betting. Romeo Taylor is the only other dog who is a single figure price at present.
Heat five could be the race of the night as the 2023 Irish Derby winner The Other Kobe takes on the new track record holder. It was at this stage that Carrick Aldo suffered his only defeat on his run to victory last year. Connections will be hoping that he can hold off his main rivals which both look drawn to his outside.
Willwego.com Irish St Leger Second Round
Things start to get serious at Limerick with the second round of the Irish St Leger. The opening round allows fourth and fifth-placed finishers through so this is where the competition really begins. It is a competitive contest with 6/1 the field after the opening round.
Quickest last week was Unanimouspanther but he has a few ahead of him in the market. Carmac King is just at the head of the market with 2023 winner Clonbrien Treaty and Knockeen Dazzler a point behind him and a further point ahead of Jaytee Craze.
The action gets underway immediately with Clonbrien Treaty in the opening heat and Knockeen Dazzler in heat two. Favourite Carmac King goes in heat seven with some fair early pace inside of him. He should be too good from halfway but might have to work a touch harder than in round one.
Open Race Winners
16 wins: Different Speed
14 wins: Acomb Felix – Druids Say Go – Queen Joni
13 wins: Ballymac Taylor – Coonough Crow – Romeo To Victory
12 wins: Dashing Dude
10 wins: Bettys Jack – Garfiney Blaze – Not So Slow – Queen Georgia – Rioja Maxi – Yahoo Megan
Opens
Friday: Romford
Saturday: Central Park ♦ Doncaster ♦ Hove ♦ Monmore ♦ Oxford ♦ Perry Barr
Sunday: Crayford ♦ Sheffield ♦ Towcester
