Perry Barr’s erudite Racing Manager Martin Seal gives his judgement on what has been a competition worthy of the tradition of English St. Legers.

He said: “I’m delighted with, and very much looking forward to, the RPGTV St Leger Final this coming Saturday evening, with quality everywhere you look. The enhanced sponsorship of RPGTV for the competition, with a generous first prize of £15,000, ensured a strong all round entry, with only a couple of the country’s top staying greyhounds unable to take their place in the line up.
“Taking a look at the finalists, I’ll start with the two dogs at the head of the market. Plenty has already been written about the pair, though there are a few similarities between Redzer Ardfert and Antigua Fire. Both have a good engine(!), producing terrific middle and finishing pace. Both have excellent track craft, more often than not choosing the right moment to pass opponents, and in the right place. When they do make their challenge, it is almost always decisive, and the race is quickly put to bed. These attributes combined have enabled to them to compile impressive strike rates, further underlining their consistency at the highest level. Antigua Fire is utterly relentless, whilst Redzer Ardfert’s will to win is palpable.
“Skilful Sandie and Brave Ark have a bit of ‘previous’, as highlighted recently by Sandie’s trainer Patrick Janssens, with just a short head separating the pair at Hove on 17th October. Skilful Sandie understandably went into a few notebooks after her first round effort behind Headford Ranger, and her semi final win was very easy on the eye, beating the much improved Avastorm by over five lengths being no mean feat in itself.

“Going into the competition, I was unsure whether Brave Ark would stay the 710m trip. In his pre-event trial, Matt Dartnall’s dog seemed to me that he would be suited by a middle draw, and duly found himself in all sorts of bother in the first round when sporting the red jacket. Credit to the dog, then, for having the wherewithal to qualify in second place despite finding significant trouble on more than one occasion. In his semi final, I thought he might be a sitting duck for the finishers, yet he proved me wrong once again by digging deep to qualify in second. Credit indeed to this tough dog and his handler.
Avastorm, owned by trainer Mark Wallis, is another success story for the multiple champion trainer, frequently punching well above her weight at all tracks over varying distances. The diminutive black bitch has qualified for the final in spite of encountering soft underfoot conditions, and will no doubt appreciate a sounder surface once the weather eases. She is a bitch we’d all like to own.

Summer Savvy‘s trainer Paul Sallis rang me on entry day to say the owners (Fantastic Foxes) wanted to have a bash at the Leger and, lo and behold, here they are in the final. Savvy may have been a touch fortunate to win his heat after the fisticuffs involving the unfortunate Lenson Blinder at the last bend, but he proved it was no flash in the pan by ensuring Antigua Fire had to pull out all the stops in his semi final. Paul and Esther Driver do a great job, and this is due reward for the hard work they put in.
As for the winner, well I’m a shocking tipster, but I think if Redzer Ardfert gets first run on Antigua Fire, he will win.

Latest betting: 11-8 Antigua Fire, 13-8 Ardfert Redzer, 6-1 Skilful Sandie, 16-1 Ava Storm, 25-1 Brave Ark, 33-1 Summer Savvy