Sunday Crayford Overview

It’s semi-final night in the Ladbrokes Guys & Dolls at Crayford with places up for grabs in next week’s £5,000 decider.

Local fans will be keen on Slick Sabo (6.59) who runs for Rick Holloway in the Guys semi. Formerly known as Glenvale Bill when winning the Puppy Classic at Nottingham last year, he joined Holloway earlier this year and was popped over the hurdles but is back on the flat for this Category Two event.

A good, strong winner of his heat, Slick Sabo can always be handy inside before picking up down the far side. Newcastle’s Madabout Peck could be the biggest danger if holding fast-starting Droopys Rarity into the turn.

The Dolls semi – this is an event which keeps dogs and bitches apart to next Sunday’s final – can go to one of Dave Lee’s!

He has three chances having won all three Dolls seven days ago and Mini Eva (7.33) might be best placed on that trio to slip clear on the dash to the bend, although a decent lead will be needed to hold exceptional kennelmate Laughil Jess who is back on track and winning again after last week.

The Crayford card is an all-open card and features heats of the Ladbrokes.com August Maiden Trophy and Ladbrokes.com August Dual Distance Hurdle, with the finals next week, plus the Ladbrokes.com Maiden Stayers Stakes Final in which One More Tune (7.49) will be warm order. She has huge time in hand on heat form.

Monmore Category One Round-up

Churchfield Syd sizzles in Ladbrokes Gold Cup romp

Richard Rees’ brindle set a clear standard on Saturday night. Pulling almost five lengths clear of his field, he stopped the clock in 27.88. Only one other dog (Cunnigar Yousir – Nathan Hunt) broke 28.25 on the night when he won heat four of the Gold Cup in 28.15.

Churchfield Syd was already the favourite before the competition started but will be the red-hot market leader when the market is reformed ahead of the semi-finals next week.

Iceman’s Girl (Nathan Hunt – 28.30), Coolavanny Mercy (Angela Harrison – 28.35), Seaview Sydney (Hunt again – 28.44) and Romeo Crossfire (Tom Heilbron – 28.40) were the other heat winners.

The fastest of the night in the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers was Cooladerry Dust, who turned over Droopys Clue in heat four in a time of 37.41. Seamus Cahill’s runner produced an excellent 12.49 sectional but that was no match for the spectacular 12.35 that Cooladerry Dust clocked. It was a superb evening for Nathan Hunt, returning home with four winners from five runners.

The other heat winners of the Summer Stayers were Mad For Stirling (Mark Wallis – 37.81), Queen Georgia (Liz McNair – 37.55), Savana Jackpot (Diane Henry, 37.98), Trickys Matilda (Robert Holt – 37.84) and New Destiny (Wallis – 37.57).

Video replays of 11 of the 12 races are below. Unfortunately, there is no video of Romeo Crossfire’s win.

Icemans Girl

Mad For Stirling

Coolavanny Mercy

Queen Georgia

Churchfield Syd

Savana Jackpot

Cunnigar Yousir

Cooladerry Dust

Seaview Sydney

Trickys Matilda

New Destiny

Monmore Trial Session

The supporting sprint competition on finals night has the look of a smart one about it. There was a string of trialists last night getting a spin around the 264m ahead of the heats next week.

Silver Salver winner Magical Bluebear went quickest of the session. He found trouble everywhere after a slow start in race action last week when behind Cree Jo Jo who also had a stretch of his legs, beating Northamptonshire Sprint winner Broadway Murty.

Tullymurry Dylan has been carrying all before him on the sprint scene at Romford of late. He shaped well on his first look away from the London Road venue. Not So Slow was another top sprinter in action at the end of the session.

Coppice Ella is the British Bred Oaks Champion

Apr 22 Droopys Sydney – Forest Natalee litter produce the forecast

Favourite backers could have been forgiven for thinking that they were collecting off the second bend as Southfield Poppy skipped clear. The back-straight pace of Coppice Ella was too much, however, and saw her eat into the advantage to take the lead turning for home. Six had become five for Kevin Hutton with the withdrawal of Ivys Showgirl in season but it did nothing to diminish the contest.

Two major Irish finals set in place

Last night saw the semi-finals of two major competitions in Ireland. Dundalk and Limerick were once again the focus of attention.

Bar One Sprint

Broadstrand Syd got himself back to his opening-round form in the opening semi. A 20.60 was just three spots off the track record that he had set on July 20, producing his best sectional of the competition in the process. Elite Kursk and On the Nose also made it to the final behind him.

The second semi went to Road Exile in 20.89. There was a scramble for the other qualifying spots with the remaining four runners covered by just six spots. Ballymac Finn and the defining champion Carrick Aldo were the pair to make it though.

The final is run as part of a dual discipline day on Thursday, August 15. There are seven horse races from 2.15-5.40 before the greyhounds take over in the evening.

1/1 Broadstrand Syd 5/2 Carrick Aldo 9/2 Road Exile 5/1 Elite Kursk 10/1 Ballymac Finn 12/1 On The Nose

Willwego.com Irish St Leger

Defending champion Clonbrien Treaty stamped his place in another major final with authority. Picked up late by Barefoot On Fire last week, he stayed on powerfully to hold off that old rival and Jaytee Craze. Clear off the second turn, he is coming to the boil at the right time and heads the market for next Saturday night’s decider.

Ventry Faith was a surprise winner of the second semi-final as the 5/1 outsider of the field. He produced the quicker of the two times in the process. Third to Miami King, Jaytee Craze and Ballyhimikin Jet in the first three rounds, he made no mistake once he was on the bunny at the opening bend. Coolavanny Otto and Miami King chased him home and into the final.

7/4 Clonbrien Treaty 5/2 Jaytee Craze 9/2 Coolavanny Otto 11/2 Barefoot On Fire 6/1 Ventry Faith 13/2 Miami King

July Greyhound of the Month

There are five nominations for the Time Greyhound Nutrition-backed Greyhound of the Month for July.

They are BetGoodwin Pall Mall winner Aero Sacundai (Richie Taberner), Coral Regency heroine Baywatch Bullet (Belinda Green), Coral Sussex Cup champion Newinn Benni (Derek Knight), Genco Group Juvenile Classic winner Slick Sentinel (Patrick Janssens) and Time Greyhound Nutrition victor Wicky Ned (Jimmy Fenwick).

Last month’s Time Greyhound Nutrition Greyhound of the Month was Liam Dowling’s Star Sports/TRC English Derby hero De Lahdedah.

Sunday Stats

  • Laughil Jess – 7.33 Crayford – The Queen of Crayford is 22/29 in her career at the track.
  • Dazl Rolex – 8.24 Crayford – 8/9 in open races at the track.