It’s Wicky by a whisker in the Bresbet Steel City Cup
Sunday’s feature race lived up to the billing as Owlerton serves up a thriller.
It was not quite the performance that was expected from Wicky Ned, in a lot of ways it was better. A sectional fully three lengths slower than he produced in the opening round and two and a half from the semis, it would have been easy to think his chance had gone in a matter of strides. Even more so with Links Maverick popping out and around in front.
Tom Heilbron’s dog was consistent through the competition. His three times were all within seven spots of one another so it was not like he proved an easy target to chase down. The polar opposite in fact, digging in when challenged by the eventual winner with the pair of them head to head all the way to the line. It was a finish befitting of a Category One final and a shame that either dog had to lose.
Paraders coats and greyhound jackets provided by Bresbet were an excellent touch from the sponsors, really adding to the feel of the afternoon. Huge credit has to go to the firm for their sponsorship as well as paying out the £10,000 bonus for Ned winning the Gymcrack and the Steel City Cup.
Sheffield Undercard
Heilbron had better luck in the supporting races. Both Untold Shah and Innfield Storm got the job done. John Mullins, whose Bombay The Joker finished third in the feature contest, got a winner with Merlins Mate in one of two sprint contests on the afternoon. Kevin Ferguson landed the other two bend race with Acomb Johnny.
Local trainers also won the other three open races to give the Sheffield faithful plenty to cheer. Barrie Draper saw Pear Drops win over 660m. Calgary Gunner won for Sean Parker and Stephen Naylor’s Catunda Ciaran got back to winning ways. The latter had been successful in six straight starts before exiting the Steel City Cup in the opening round behind Links Maverick.
Jimmy and Melanie Fenwick with Wicky Ned.
Photo – Rob Crawford
Barntick Bear takes a length off the Towcester clock
The tie with Venus is broken as Patrick Janssens’ strong runner lowers the figures.
Orange would appear to be the key to Barntick Bear pinging the lids, both of his track record runs coming from trap five. Three runs from that starting position have yielded three wins by a total of 30 and three-quarter lengths. A 4.06 split is by far the best that he has produced, setting the new clock at 28.44.
Runner-up to Unanimouspanther in the Select Stakes at Nottingham at the end of August, the Eclipse back at that track would look the natural next target for him. It was an excellent day for Janssens who was also on target with Bockos Sapphire, Yahoo Megan and Slick Sentinel.
There was a double on the day for Richie Taberner with Aero Chubby and Aero Simba. Peter Harnden was another who picked up a pair, Salacres Smasher and Plaza Fury producing the goods. Other winners on the card were Makeit Mead for Frank Gray, Bank Of Granda for Mattie Richards and Pavilion Team for Mark Wallis.
There was also an interesting trial session which saw Romeo Kingpin produce a smart sprint. He finished a length and a half behind Droopys Display in a PGR Kent Derby semi-final a little over a week ago. King Memphis won that semi, the pair that beat him the first two home on Saturday in the final. A 15.65 for the Janssens-trained dog suggests he’ll be back at Towcester on a Sunday soon.
Joe’s tips from Nottingham
***8.36 Nottingham – Faithful Friend
**7.11 Nottingham – Independent Lady
*8.01 Nottingham – Links Weapon
A new week and as always the Monday evening Nottingham open races get the ball rolling.
Four opens including two standard races over 500m, a maiden standard over 500m and the shorter version sprint trip over 255m.
We will start with the sprint at 7.27pm. Trap two Cairo King looks drawn well to run a big race on his return to competitive action. He has been off the card since the end of August but two pleasing sprint trials at Monmore can see him get the better of his main rival Mickys Legacy.
Tonight’s Next Best
The Nottingham Maiden Standard at 7.11pm can see trap three Independent Lady go well following her comfortable A2 success recently. Trickytinkerbell in trap two has had a stop start career and hasn’t been seen on the track since the middle of June. She trialled well over the 305m trip at Nottingham clocking 17.99 last week though. I’d be happy if she was to lead and, as long as Independent Lady clears Southwind Aki, she can give chase to Trickytinkerbell. I would fancy Lynn Cook’s bitch to have too much for that rival coming home.
The first standard race at 8.01 can go the way of trap two Links Weapon. He can get the better of the favourite Leighas Dream. The lack of a recent look at her local track might just catch Barry Denby’s bitch out on her return. Links Weapon was impressive over 480m last week. The extra 20 metres can help him show his customary early pace to lead and hold on from Leighas Dream.
Monday’s Best Bet
The second standard race at 8.36pm can see trap one Faithful Friend continue her rich vein of form by landing the spoils. She was a length and a half in front of Keane over the 480m trip last week. The step back up to 500m should suit her even more so she looks the one to beat. The strong running Wolf Moon is a big runner if things don’t go to plan for Faithful Friend.
Freddie marches into round two
David Mullins could not be happier after March On Freddie posted the fastest time of the 26 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby heats at Shelbourne Park.
He reports the leading UK challenger to have come out of his first round heat on Saturday in good shape and is looking forward to Friday’s heat three of the second round in the famous €125,000-to-the-winner competition.
One of two UK runners left in the event – Patrick Godfrey’s Arthur Cornflake goes in heat 15 on Saturday – the George Watson-owned March On Freddie kicked off his campaign with an impressive all-the-way victory in a fast 29.19sec.
“Obviously we happy to be in the second round, first of all, but also with how he ran the track and the time was there, of course,” he said from the Cashel, Co. Tipperary base of March On Freddie’s breeder Rachel Wheeler.
“There’s a long way to go and no-one is getting carried away, but the main thing is he’s enjoying life over here and the support from back home has been great.”
An incredible weekend for the litter
There was an amazing sequence of wins for the September 22 Dorotas Wildcat-Seaglass Shadow litter – with four of the litter scoring. Irish Derby favourite Bockos Diamond was the first to strike in his heat at Shelbourne on Friday for Graham Holland.
Brindle Bully’s success for the Mullins team in the Coral Silver Standard Final at Romford on Friday was the second. The £5,000 Category Two final supported the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes at Romford in front of the Gone To The Dogs – Live! cameras.
Then came March On Freddie who posted the best clock in his Saturday heat. Later the same night Richie Taberner’s Aero Pattika won at Monmore to round out the four-timer!
“It was a great weekend for the litter – so well done to Rachel,” added Mullins, who confirmed the Arena Racing Company Classic at Sunderland would be a next target for Brindle Bully after his Romford success.
March On Freddie this morning after his Boylesports Irish Derby first round win on Saturday night.
Next Gone To The Dogs – Live! announced.
The third live show will be in November as the team move to the midlands.
If you missed the second live show from Romford on Friday, you can catch up with it on YouTube. The team will head to Nottingham for the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse on Monday, November 25.
Sunday’s trial at Hove
There were a couple of interesting trials on the card yesterday.
Bombout Bullet continued on the road to his return to action. The reigning National Sprint champion and 2023 sprinter of the year finalist, he produced a very similar time to his trial 11 days prior.
Another Belinda Green-trained runner is Millie The Arb. A half-sister to Gary The Arb, she has a single D3 race on her card so far. It was her first look at four bends yesterday and given the improvement her half-brother found when the penny dropped, she is worth keeping an eye on in the coming weeks.
Tote reduction to 12.5% at Shelbourne
We mentioned last week that the Tote retention at Shelbourne is down to 12.5% for the last three rounds of the Irish Derby.
The only way that customers in the UK can get involved is through Barking Buzz. There is a waiting time to join so those who want to take advantage of the reduced Tote deduction need to sign up as early as possible ahead of the quarter-final stage on Saturday, November 9.
Opens
Friday: Romford
Saturday: Perry Barr
