From Romford A8 to TV stardom for Inferno
Bubbly Inferno was the surprise 16/1 winner of the Track Bookmakers TV Trophy Final at Oxford of Saturday night. And this is how she did it.
It was a remarkable effort for a bitch who began life as a 20/1 chance in A8 at Romford. It took her eight races to finally hit the front, an S3 run at the same track. But there was nothing ‘flukey’. about her length and three quarter win over Ballymac Taylor in a new 847m record of 52.37, a improvement of 70 spots on heat form and 17 spots inside Taylor’s previous best.
It wasn’t the first time that the pair had met. Taylor famously beat Inferno by a couple of lengths in a 925 metre match at Romford.
Steve Fluin , founder of the Champagne Club winning syndicate, was feeling a little ‘delicate’ following a night of serious celebrations.
He said: “I am still struggling to believe that we won it; I certainly didn’t expect it. But it was the first time that she had managed a clear run. Normally she has to overcome trouble. This time the gap was there and she bravely came through it.
“It was a fabulous night and great credit to Kevin Boothby and the Oxford management. There are 100 members of the syndicate, but many other members of our different syndicates were there to enjoy the moment. To win a race of such historic prestige was fabulous.
“We owned the mother Bubbly Firebird who was trained by Frank Gray but was injured quite early on. We decided to take a litter out of her. She went to Mike Westlake in Ireland and we had two from the litter.”
As for future plans?
Steve said: “I have spoken to Paul already this morning and he is a big believer in keeping marathon dogs with plenty of racing. I notice that there is a marathon coming up next weekend at Monmore and hopefully one at Towcester.
“It is so difficult to coordinate these races because most of them don’t fill. But we now have a WhatsApp group to speak to connections of the other top marathon dogs and hopefully we can arrange it with them so that we all enter for the same races.”
Garfiney Blaze (t3 rails) leads at the first bend from Alright Patricia (t6) in the TV Trophy Final Photo: © Steve Nash
TV Trophy Final Winning Line: BUBBLY INFERNO (t4) swoops on the outside to win from Ballymac Taylor (t2) and Garfiney Blaze (t3) in a new track record 52.37 Photo: © Steve Nash
Champagne Club chairman Steve Fluin and Miriam Young pose with Bubbly Inferno and the TV Trophy. Photo: © Steve Nash
TV Trophy winner Bubbly Inferno Photo: © Steve Nash
EZE returns from a long layoff to win 450 open on TV Trophy night Photo: © Steve Nash
RIOJA MAXI lands the bitches open – first of Kevin Hutton’s three winners on TV Trophy night Photo: © Steve Nash
CAPPANEALE ROCKY (t2) beats Quarteira (t4) in the sprint open Photo: © Steve Nash
SUGAR BOY FRANKIE wins Oxford Marathon
HAVANA TOP NOTE (completing a Liz McNair treble on TV Trophy night) lowers the Oxford 650 clock to 39.19 in a race reduced to three runners – Ballymac Diana (t6) and Gutsy Jet (t5) follow the 1/5 favourite across the line Photo: © Steve Nash
Dollar & Magic impress at Monmore
With only two spots between the quickest two semi final winners and a length and a half between all three, the 2024 Premier Greyhound Racing Final is as much a contest for the odds compilers as it is for the runners.
Quickest on Saturday afternoon was Carol Weatherall’s August pup Untold Dollar who showed no lack of guts when the race was decided at the first bend. He eventually got home in 28.27.
The competition has certainly franked the from from the Northern Puppy Derby with three of the Newcastle finalists making it through to the last six at Monmore including winner Clona Curly, runner-up Droopys Eunice and fifth placed, Omuircheartaigh.
The Jim Woods Memorial Final has something of an inter-track look about it with Mark Wallis’ two winners taking on a duo from Hove plus a double local interest courtesy of the Taberner and Jenkins kennels. Quickest from the semis was the widest of all wide runners, anywhere, Jacktavern Magic, who has drawn black in the final.
KSS Kent Plate domination continues
The total domination of unconfined stakes by one kennel is a rarity.
Less so in British bred events. However, the KSS Syndicate pressed up their advantage in the PGR Kent Plate by adding to their five first round wins with all three semi finals at their local track, Central Park, on Saturday night.
Ante post favourite King Memphis seems to be coming into ominous form and was the quickest of the three qualifying races.
