A cracking evening of action is set to take place at Monmore with two of the most popular Category One competitions in the racing calendar. The Ladbrokes Gold Cup and the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic headline a card full of quality.

Joe Conneely previews both and has spoken to connections of all the runners. You can find the interviews by clicking on the names. Joe also sat down with Jonathan Hobbs earlier in the week to preview the other two finals as well.

Ladbrokes Gold Cup

The first of the two big finals is the Ladbrokes Gold Cup over 480m at 8.47.

Churchfield Syd is the 5/6 favourite with the sponsors to land the spoils.

T1 – Ballymac John – Mark Wallis – MWD Partnership

Ballymac John (10/1) comes into the final off the back of two second-place finishes in the heat and semi-final. It would have been a surprise to most to see him lead in the first round and be caught by Romeo Crossfire. However, speaking to connections he isn’t the best of kennellers so a late race wouldn’t be ideal for him. He stayed on well to comfortably qualify behind Cunnigar Yousir in last week’s semi-final. Another late race isn’t ideal for Ballymac John but he’s in the right hands to overcome that.

T2 – Cunnigar Yousir – Nathan Hunt – Mr P Huckle & Mr R Russell

Cunnigar Yousir (4/1) has been faultless in the competition with two impressive victories for a kennel in fine form at the minute and doubly represented in this event. A greyhound who has mainly contested races over the 400m at Romford and the 480m at Monmore, this would be as far as Cunnigar Yousir wants to go. With his blistering early speed, he always gives himself a chance when trapping on terms. Any mistakes from Churchfield Syd could pave the way for Cunnigar Yousir to lead and then try and hold off the field.

T3 – Untold Euro – Tom Heilbron – Mr C Purdy & Mr J Purdy

Untold Euro (10/1) is looking to make it back-to-back victories in this competition for trainer Tom Heilbron who won it with Links Maverick last year. Untold Euro was behind Cunnigar Yousir in the heats and Antigua Eagle in last week’s semi-final. The form is as solid as it gets, especially last week’s semi-final run. Being drawn outside Cunnigar Yousir could be a big problem for this greyhound. He will need to lead to win so will need to take a flyer from trap three to get competitive.

T4 – Seaview Sydney – Nathan Hunt – Nathan Hunt Racing Club

Seaview Sydney (16/1) is the most improved in the field over the last couple of months. Plenty of patience has been the key with this greyhound. He’s gone from getting beat in A2 company at this track to now competing and beating the very best over the last month. He nearly led Churchfield Syd in last week’s semi-final before being shut off at the bend but still qualified comfortably in second to earn his spot in tonights final. Another who is going to need to take a flyer and rely on mistakes from elsewhere but deserves his chance to land a big race.

T5 – Antigua Eagle – Kevin Hutton – Mrs A Jeal

Antigua Eagle (7/2) reached the Monmore Puppy Derby Final over C&D back in March. Since returning to the track he has gone from strength to strength. An impressive trial prior to the competition saw him well fancied by many but hearts would have been in mouths after a slow start in round one. That saw him finish third, holding off Barntick Bear to qualify when the latter made a mistake at the last bend. Those fears would have been eased in the semi-final after a slick exit saw him dominate from start to finish, beating Untold Euro a length. Connections would have preferred to be drawn inside Seaview Sydney but trap five is a box he is used to with his two races in this competition both from the orange jacket.

T6 – Churchfield Syd – Richard Rees – Mr B Evans

Trap Six Churchfield Syd (5/6 fav) comes into this final in the best form possible having had a short layoff after his derby heroics. A 28.31 trial followed by a 28.06 trial set him up nicely heading into the first round where he made no mistakes clocking a 4.26 sectional and an overall winning time of 27.88. A 4.27 split and 27.89 winning time in last week’s semi-final was just as impressive as he had to ride a slight bump at the first bend to clear Seaview Sydney. That means he comes into this final unbeaten and in the form of his life. He’s looking to continue his fine form at a track he loves in tonight’s decider where a slick exit would make him extremely difficult to beat.

Conclusion

This race depends on how Churchfield Syd comes away from trap six. If he traps how he has been, it will be tough for anything to peg him back. However, any mistakes could pave the way for Cunnigar Yousir to take advantage as he should lead Ballymac John on his inside and have enough to hold the runners on his outside to the bend. I am with Churchfield Syd to repeat what he has been doing in the competition so far by trapping and making all.

Ladbrokes Summer Stayers

The second of the two big finals is the Summer Stayers Classic won last year by Fromposttopillar holding off a defiant challenge by Droopys Clue who lines up in this year’s final.

Droopys Clue is the 2/1 favourite with the sponsors Ladbrokes in what for me is the best six-bend race of the year to date.

T1 – Coonough Crow – Mark Wallis – MWD Partnership

Coonough Crow (12/1) is as game as they come and proved that by coming from way off the pace to catch Droopys Clue in last week’s semi-final. A cat one winner in the Kent St Leger at Crayford over 714m back in May, this trip is on the short side for Coonough Crow. However, any mistakes by the leaders and she will be rattling home to get competitive from a good draw on the inside.

T2 – Droopys Clue – Seamus Cahill – Keylight Hire Ltd

Droopys Clue (2/1 fav) hasn’t been at his best in this competition after a scintillating trial stakes victory prior to the first round but write him off at your peril. He found himself in a winnable position last week but didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. He stayed on well to qualify in what was a close race for both qualifying spots and Seamus Cahill has had a week to work his magic and make sure the current greyhound of the year is ready to try and go one better than last year.

T3 – Queen Georgia – Liz McNair – K.S.S Syndicate

Queen Georgia (5/2) has taken to the 630m trip at Monmore like a duck to water. The winner of the Three Steps To Victory at Sheffield, her electric starts are proving vital in this competition holding off the strong-running Savana Jackpot comfortably last week to earn her place in tonight’s final. A similar exit to what she has been producing would see her difficult to beat over a trip that is ideal for her.

T4 – Baywatch Bullet – Belinda Green – Mr W Boyle, Mr D Jones, Mr G Whittington

Baywatch Bullet (12/1) knows how to win big races having won the Coral Regency at Hove at the end of July. She has been behind Queen Georgia and Cooladerry Dust in the competition when flashing out the traps last week to lead early before Cooladerry Dust took it up at the third bend to win well. Having won the Regency over 695m, Baywatch Bullet was always in a qualifying position and never looked in any danger of not making tonight’s final. The draw in trap four is far from ideal with plenty of early pace on her inside but she is capable of a flying exit and has big race experience.

T5 – Savana Jackpot – Diane Henry – Mr K Boothby & Mr L Calcutt

Savana Jackpot (7/1) is the greyhound everyone will be looking out for heading into the final two bends being arguably the strongest staying runner in the field. A game display saw him win his opening round before a very impressive second behind Queen Georgia in the semi-final sees him line up in this evening’s decider with a live chance if any mistakes are to be made in front of him. Like Coonough Crow this trip is on the sharp side for Savana Jackpot but he will be flying home to try and catch the leaders late on.

T6 – Cooladerry Dust – Nathan Hunt – Dust

Cooladerry Dust (9/4) is giving connections a thrilling ride having made three Category One finals in a row. He was beaten at Romford in the Coronation Cup last month and finished behind Baywatch Bullet in the Regency when going off favourite. An opening-round victory over Droopys Clue set him up for an even more impressive display when comfortably beating Baywatch Bullet in last week’s semi-final when having to work hard to hit the front at the third bend pulling away to win in good style. He has a draw to dream of in tonight’s final with a slow starting middle runner on his inside and four railers. Connections will be hoping he can continue to trap how he has been and if doing so he is a massive player.

Conclusion

As mentioned above, in my opinion, this is the best staying race of the year full of serial big race winners and big race winners to come. I am going to side with Queen Georgia, a bitch in the form of her life who is trapping as well as she can. The draw in trap three has worked out well as I would expect her to get the first run on the inside pair with Baywatch Bullet on her outside. Cooladerry Dust will be fancied by many having a nice draw to work from and it’s impossible not to give Droopys Clue a mention who if improving and leading at any stage would go on to win but for me, it’s Queen Georgia to trap and make all.