The Final Challenge
They are betting 8/1 bar the top two in the market for the Bet365 Challenge which seems quite remarkable since ‘the others’ include the current track record holder and a bitch contesting her sixth Category One final.
But the layers are currently pricing Havana Lover at around the even money mark with Lively Lauren at 9/4. Both occupy their favourite traps and both look likely to get their chance to lead.
Their course and distance history goes back to March 24 when both won, though in different styles. Lauren produced her characteristic early break (15.13) and set a new track record of 39.68. Lover missed her cupboards and had to come through some light traffic (15.36) before clocking 40.07.
The pair met for the first time a week later but had to settle for second and fourth behind Untold Rupee in a Hunt Cup Trialstake. But while Rupee and Lauren went out of the main event in the first round, Lover went on to claim the Cat One decider in 39.41 – which despite being hand timed, should still have been verified as the track record.
Lively Lauren has a 70% strike rate from ten races over the 650 course. She is unbeaten in four attempts from the red box and has a PB of 39.44. Havana Lover has a 75% success rate from a dozen races.
Lover has a best 250m split of 14.98, Lauren is like a precision machine with three 15.00s in her last four races. They are both unbeaten going into the final with Lover having a 2-1 advantage on winning times, though the average margin between them is less than a length.
Rab McNair’s view:
Mark Wallis’ view:
Matt Dartnall’s view:
Kevin Boon’s view:
Impressive win from Whiskers
Any thoughts about Jonny Whiskers stamina vulnerability were answered in emphatic form by Harry Burton’s ARC Classic winner. Few could now doubt that he is equally at home over the Newcastle 480 metres as the Sunderland 450, as he landed the fastest semi final of the PGR All England Cup.
The fact that Whiskers had the ability to lead was never in doubt. And while it is true that he benefitted from trouble behind, Harry Burton’s hound already had the race in hand. He found almost six lengths on the clock to clock a calculated 28.40.
Swift Silly faced a different challenge in her qualifier. She had to get across an early paced field from an unfavourable draw and she had to battle to do so after an ‘okay’ piece of trapping. But she outpaced both Coolavanny Mercy and Brookside Richie to the bend (!!) and was never troubled thereafter.
The opening qualifier saw another thoroughly professional performance from the original ante post favourite Bogger Rambo who continues to progress steadily.
With only two lengths between the three semi final winners, the final already had a challenging look about it. Then they did the trap draw. . . .
At €5K to the winner, the Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby isn’t among the most lucrative events in the Irish racing Calendar – though you wouldn’t know it looking at the fabulous calibre of the field. But then it isn’t called ‘the Kingdom Derby’ for nothing. The last thing any self resecting Kerryman would want would be for the prize leaving the kingdom and heading over the border to Limerick. Check out that field!
We continue our ‘Greyhounds to follow in 2024’ feature today with the thoughts of trainer Tom Heilbron and ‘Distant’ prefix breeder / rearer Sean Flaherty.
Tom Heilbron
Sean Flaherty
Remembering 2023 – March
Monmore Racing Manager Tony Williamson led the tributes to former trainer Ken Bebbington who died at 87.
David Mullins, who was drafted into the Judgement Night meeting as a reserve for Angela Harrison, is also forced to withdraw following issues over raising a competitive team. His place will be taken by Matt Dartnall. Liz McNair’s place has already been taken by Richard Rees.
In what will prove to be a fabulous month for Team Janssens, Big Patrick is back in Belgium as Coolavanny Shado finally lands a big final in the Winter Derby at Monmore.
But there was more to come with the Hockwold trainer adding two more of the month’s eight Cat One finals
Sometimes the written word cannot adequately describe a race – take the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby Final at Momnore. . .
GBGB issue an uncharacteristically savage attack on the ‘naïve’ Welsh Senedd
There were 17 months between Night Time Danny landing the Champion Stakes and this run in the Galaxy Marathon at Oxford.
The Star pays tribute to Shane O’Gorman breeder of Greyhound of the Year, Cooolavanny Aunty
Having delayed their PreDerby sale due to weather, and finally got the show on the road, Greyhoundtrader were rewarded with a turnover of £188K at Towcester.
Nic and Amanda Jeal’s relationship with Imperial Kennels had harvested seven Category One finals. With the MWD Partnership only two weeks from launch, the eighth and final big race win came courtesy of Antigua Sugar in the Coronation Cup.
Duncan Gibson is appointed as the new GBGB Senior Steward
A leaked document from internally within Birmingham City Council shows that a pre-planning application has been submitted to turn Perry Barr into a housing.
Despite a delay due to a waterlogged track, Frompostopillar lands a top class Kent Plate.
Local hero Brookside Richie takes the Northern Flat for Jimmy Fenwick and Richie Vickers
