Guys & Dolls starts tonight

Open-Race fans are in for another treat at Crayford tonight.

Following the usual batch of Sunday afternoon opens at Towcester, attention turns to the Kent track which stages the heats of the Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls – a unique competition in which the dogs and bitches are kept apart up to the final.

The three-round Category Two produced a littermate one-two last year with Jean Liles’s Swift Daisy leading home Swift Delilah, trained by Jim Reynolds.

The headline entry and ante-post favourite is Laughil Jess, the queen of Crayford, who is back from retirement and runs in the second Dolls heat. Dave Lee’s Ladbrokes Gold Collar champion drops back down in trip having race over 540m on her return last week.

Ladbrokes make her an 8-11 chance to win her heat tonight.

Ricky Holloway has recent taken in last year’s Nottingham Puppy Classic winner Slick Sabo, known as Glenvale Bill then, and he lines up in the first of the Dogs heats.

Betting from Ladbrokes

6.26 – 6/4 Slick Sabo 5/2 Newinn Lotto 4/1 Amazing Force, Dower Pat 12/1 Coolavanny Derek, Era Lucky

6.59 – 5/6 All Along 2/1 Killuran Bella 7/1 Glengar Aurora 9/1 Whisky Bella 16/1 Clairkeith Tegan, Liz On Freya

7.16 – 5/2 Madabout Peck 3/1 Dazl Hermes 10/3 Romeo To Victory, State Secret 7/1 Whisky Eagle 8/1 Moaning Zoff

7.49 – 8/11 Laughil Jess 9/2 Fearsome Quest 5/1 Similar Display 11/2 Millbank Nana 8/1 Moaning Gabana 20/1 Whisky Sallagh

8.07 – 9/4 Droopys Rarity 5/2 Moaning Rangers 4/1 Phoenix Puma 9/2 Arb Park Ranger 6/1 Roadsea Gu 7/1 Clives Joy

8.41 – 11/8 Time To Talk 7/4 Mimi Eva 13/2 Millbank Dolly 7/1 Kirtsys Surprise 9/1 Backoftheline 10/1 Moaning Versace

Category One clues at Monmore

A week out from the start of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup and Summer Stayers, Monmore had some serious quality on show. 

Icemans Girl was the quickest of the night in the trial stakes for the Gold Cup. She won what had looked the trickiest heat of the night for Nathan Hunt in 28.28. Derby finalist Whyaye Man, quarter-finalist Cooliogold and Derby Plate runner-up Kilara Roberto were behind her.

A 4.30 sectional got her to the front before her courage and determination kept her there. Bramble Elvis (Steve Anderson, 28.30), Nowitsmyturn (Richard Rees, 28.32), Fine Thanks (Alan Jenkins, 28.44) and Aero Sacaundai (Richie Taberner, 28.47) were the other 480m open winners.

Over six bends it was Droopys Clue who set the standard for Seamus Cahill. There was never a second of doubt once he had turned in front, stopping the clock at 37.48. New Destiny (Mark Wallis, 37.87), Clona Curly (Diane Henry, 37.95) and Magical Luna (Kim Billingham, 37.97) were the other 630m scorers. Cree Jo Jo won the sprint contest in 15.37 for Taberner.

In trials before racing, the 28-second barrier was nudged a couple of times. Richard Rees’ Derby finalist Churchfield Syd moved well to a 28.06. The winner of the Ladbrokes Winter Derby in February was runner-up to Links Maverick in the Gold Cup last year.

Antigua Eagle was the fastest of the night for Kevin Hutton, clocking a 28.02. A Puppy Derby finalist over track and trip in March, he showed his love for the Wolverhampton circuit again.

Hutton with a clean sweep

Kevin Hutton achieved what we believe to be a ‘UK greyhound racing first’ when qualifying all six runners for a GBGB open race final. The local handler had seven representatives in the two heats (semis) of the BGBF British Bred Oaks.

The first went to Southfield Poppy (8/11f) from Ivys Showgirl (9/2) and Union Blizzard (8/1). The second qualifier went the way of Coppice Lottie (8/1) from Coppice Ella (11/10f) with Union Piper (16/1) in third.

Bar One Sprint Semis

Saturday night saw speed to burn at Dundalk in the Bar One Sprint quarter-finals. 

Defending champion Carrick Aldo produced the quickest of the night (20.84) beating track record holder Broadstrand Syd in the battle of the evening. Syd was out trapped but paced to the front at the turn before a long battle up the straight saw Aldo dig in late on to win by a length and a quarter.

There was a timely win for Elite Kursk after the passing of trainer Myles Roban’s father earlier in the week. He clocked 20.89, the second fastest time of the night to safely secure his place in the semis. The other quarter-finals went to Romeo Taylor (20.99) and Meenagh Monito (21.05). Derby winner The Other Kobe could not make it into the semis.

Irish St Leger Semi-Finals

The Willwego.com Irish St Leger also has quarter-finals last night.

A shock started the evening with Unanimouspanther eliminated. Fastest in both the first and second rounds, he couldn’t overcome an early bump. Barefoot On Fire picked up long time leader Clonbrien Treaty late on. The latter was the 2023 winner of this competition. His sectionals have improved with each round but so far he has been nailed close to the line on each occasion.

Knockeen Dazzler (29.45) was quickest of the night, although only 16 spots covered the four winners. Ballyhimikin Rex (29.55) and Hazelhill Bucko (29.56) took the other two quarter-finals. In fact, just 23 spots covered 10 of the 12 qualifiers on Saturday night so the semis look set to be a pair of tight contests next week.