Droopys Gold went quickest – sensational improvement for Vigorous Becca and the elimination of Russanda Ripley, Sporting Dave, and Bit View Knight were the main talking points from the first round of the Greyhound Media Group Puppy Classic at Nottingham on Monday.
Heat 1 featured two of those shocks with the demise of Russanda Ripley (T5 9-4f) and Bit View Knight (T2 11-4). The contest would go to Madabout Maggie (Kinloch Brae-Swift Rush, Sep 15) who went to the white trap as an 11-4 chance. She would complete a four-timer from ex-Irish pup Kalamoun (T1 3-1) and Young Lord (T4 6-1). The winner’s time was 29.70 (all heats +60) and the distances three lengths and three and a half lengths
Heat 2 appeared to be at the mercy of Quantum Leap (T6 5-4f) with Sporting Dave (T5 7-4) also fancied. But all would be put in the shade by Corren Price’s debutant, Vigorous Becca (Droopys Jet-Cooladerry Fizz, Oct 15). The 28.58 Drumbo winner found 74 spots on trial form with what would prove to be the second fastest time of the night – 29.39. The distances were six and a half and the same.
Heat 3 featured the exciting Hove Droopys Gold (Loughteen Blanco-Droopys Force, Sep 15) who was seeking his fourth win in a row and his eighth from his last ten outings. It was never in doubt from the moment the orange jacket seared away to a 4.96 sectional (the only sub 5.00) and 29.36 one lap later. The 4-7f finished 3 3/4 clear of Wildfire Lord (T3 6-1) with Rushbrook Rocco (T4 10-1) just over a length back in third.
Heat 4 went to the second of ‘Kevin’s girls’ as the smallest runner in the event, the 25.8 kilo Ballydoyle Maura (Top Honcho-Dark Matter, Nov 15) made a successful British debut. Running from orange, the Hutton even money favourite led up off a 5.02 sectional and held off Hatmore Black (T3 5-2) and Tybar Lady (T4 6-1) by five and a bit and one and a bit in 29.57.
Heat 5 featured the night’s shortest priced favourite in Droopys Expert (Greenwell Hawk-Droopys Riona, Oct 15). Angela Harrison’s black jacketed 1-3f showed glimpses of his Sunderland form (26.67 – 450m) off a 5.03 sectional. He completed the course in 29.43 with four and a bit to spare over Snooty Fox (T5 14-1) and Image Coches (T2 10-1) back in third (1.5l).
Heat 6 The favourites kept coming as the last heat went to Charlie Lister’s white jacketed 6-4 chance Cain Hill (Droopys Cain-Fahrenheit Belle, Sep 15). The black clocked a 5.08 sectional before beating Bottoms Up (T5 4-1) and Swithins Beans (T6 2-1) by four and a half and a head in 29.77.
