Wicky Ned lights up Sheffield again

Jimmy Fenwick’s dog is quickest while Tom Heilbron wins the other two semis.

Nine wins from 12 starts in England and into a third Category One final. It’s been an exceptional start to the career of Wicky Ned. If you have not listened to the recent Gone To The Dogs podcast with Jimmy Fenwick then put it on while you’re at the gym or doing the washing up etc, as it is a great episode.

Ned will start the final from the inside trap after getting the better of Kevin Hutton’s Union Rebel yesterday. Fenwick said “the dog’s a great dog, he’s into the final and hopefully we’ll have a good week with him and we’ll be back here next Sunday and he’ll be doing his very best.”

It was an excellent afternoon for the Tom Heilbron kennel. Links Maverick and Romeo Cypher were both winners of their semi-final and will start from the middle traps. It was part of a four-timer on the card for Heilbron who said “we need another bullet break to lead” next week in the final.

Bresbet’s Head of Trading Carl Perry said afterwards that Wicky Ned is “the one they’ve all got to beat but…the Steel City Cup as it has done over the years have been notorious for throwing up a surprise.”

Entry for the Bresbet Steel City Cup final card next Sunday is free! There will be a human race as part of the afternoon’s entertainment with some well-known faces taking part, not to be missed!

Our thanks to Rob Crawford for the pictures from yesterday and the interviews.

Semi-final One – 1st Links Maverick (t5) – 2nd Bombay The Joker (t3) – 3rd Senahel Tester (t6)

Semi-final Two – 1st Romeo Cypher (t4) – 2nd Farneys Willie (t5) – 3rd Acomb Felix (t1)

Semi-final Three – 1st Wicky Ned (t4) – 2nd Union Rebel (t5) – 3rd Aero Treat (t1)

2024 Boylesports Irish Derby – First round draw

The draw was made live on the Shelbourne Facebook page early this afternoon.

There are some exceptional heats in prospect on both Friday and Saturday. The full draw is below but here are some quick highlights to be looking out for.

Friday

Heat 2 – Ante-post favourite Bockos Diamond is in action very early on.

Heat 7 – ‘English’ raider Greenwell Coe will be staying in Ireland during the Derby with Pat Buckley but we’ll still claim Tom Heilbron’s Yorkshire Derby winner as one of our own.

Heat 11 – Callaway Knegare and Keefill Maverick clash. A tough start for Phil Milner’s tracker taking on one of the most talented hounds in Ireland.

Saturday

Heat 15 – Tuono Charlie steps back down from six bends to take on the Irish Derby. His opening heat includes Towcester runner-up Boylesports Bob.

Heat 16 – March On Freddie starts his campaign for David Mullins from the striped jacket.

Heat 20 – Towcester champion De Lahdedah kicks off his bid for a famous double.

Heat 26 – The final heat will see recent Laurels winner Crafty Shivoo in action.

Romeo is commanding at Towcester

Patrick Janssens’ brindle secured win number 17 at the Northamptonshire track.

Romeo Command was sent off prohibitive odds at 1/5 to land the BGBF Greyhound Stud Book Trophy. He got the job done in fine fashion, clocking 28.94 in the process. He was chased home by Phil Milner’s Keefill Rocky who had set the early fractions and gave the favourite something to think about. Janssens was also on target with Slick Sentinel while Milner scored with Keefill Goose.

Laurence Tuffin picked up a ‘Fabulous’ four-timer on the card courtesy of Livia, Dyna, Masie and Allana. Dyna won over six bends while the other three came over the 500m trip. Livia was the quickest of that trio with a 29.29.

Other open race winners on the card were Beaming Outlaw for Frank Gray, Pavilion Team for Mark Wallis and Doohoma Roxie for Seamus Gaughan.

Crayford four-timer for Ricky Holloway

Two-thirds of the open races on Sunday night’s card went to the trainer.

The maiden 540 Category Three Final was reduced to four runners but it was a fascinating race with Kates Honey having to dig deep after being headed to get back to the front for Holloway. Two of the three hurdles on the card went to the kennel courtesy of Signet Harper and Harlequin Ernie. Whoopwhoop Molly was the other scorer, her win over 540m.

Droopys Fivestar prevented a Holloway hurdles sweep for Alison Kelly-Pilgrim. Elegant Elma won the 380m maiden for Julie Luckhurst, ending the win streak of her kennelmate Nicky The Second.

Five opens at Nottingham tonight

Kylenoe Bilbo looks to extend his win streak to three.

Lynn Cook’s sprinter has stopped the clock at  17.52 in each of his first two wins in this sequence. He will be in action over 305m in the 8.54.

Vale Bluebell produced the biggest night of her life when she won the Select Stayers at the end of August. Jill Llewellin’s charge takes on the 730m distance for the first time since at 8.19.

It will be interesting to see how Richard Fitch’s Murrow Inkosi gets on away from Yarmouth in the 9.11. He made the final of the East Anglian Derby at his home track and now ventures to race away from Norfolk for the first time since arriving from Ireland.

Gone To The Dogs Tipping Competition

There will be a tipping competition on Friday night for the live Romford show.

To take part, join the Gone To The Dogs WhatsApp group. Once the card is finalised you will be able to start making your selections with all picks settled at SP!

Good luck!

Stats

  • Vale Bluebird – 8.19 Nottingham – 5/10 from trap one.
  • Bluejig Ophelia – 8.54 Nottingham – 5/9 from trap three.

Opens

Friday: Romford

Saturday: Central Park ♦ Perry Barr

Sunday: Sheffield