Perry Barr forced to abandon
Just two races were run on Saturday night before rain stopped play.
An announcement on when the finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger and M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup Finals will be run is yet to be announced. For most, the common sense thought would be to delay them until next Saturday. We will find out in due course what happens.
Perry Barr did manage to get two of the races run, albeit starting late and then a delay of more than an hour between races one and two. An electrical failure in race three meant more maintenance was required and the meeting was then abandoned.
They had battled bravely against the elements to get the opening round completed. This time the rain beat the track and we will have to wait for the two outstanding finals.
Doncaster Finals are set
Surprises in all three semi-final heats of the Yorkshire Derby.
The favourite in each of the semis ended up out of the competition, with Slick Sentinel the only qualifier that was a shorter price than 11/2. Greenwell Coe set the standard for Tom Heilbron, improving on a smart 29.31 opening round success with a 29.27 semi-final triumph.
Ballymac Lineout clocked 29.44 wining his semi-final for Jimmy Fenwick. Barry Denby’s Bellmore Ozzy only needed to produce 29.81 to claim his place in the final with a win. Early pace the order of the day for the wide seed who has his draw again in the final. Vixons Filofax for Brian Thompson, Chelms Sonny for Craig Morris and Slick Sentinel for Patrick Janssens were the three runners up to make the final.
There were surprises in the BGBF St Leger semis as well. Fabulous Dyna (Laurence Tuffin) and Fabulous Tempo (Jason Gray) both found early trouble, doing well to get back to qualify for the decider. The wins went to Wolf Moon for Jill Llewellin and Keefill Delphine for Phil Milner with Keefill Amelia for Milner and Acomb Jasper for Kevin Ferguson also qualifying.
On the Saturday night card there were eight favourites that went off 1/1 or shorter with six of them beaten.
Laurels is down to the final 12
Faypoint Harvey is quickest in the quarter-final stage at Curraheen Park.
At 81 pounds, Graham Holland’s son of Droopys Sydney is the largest in the competition but also the fastest last night. In a heat containing the new ante-post favourite Crafty Shivoo, it was Faypoint Harvey that was away and gone to clock 28.23.
Holland was also on target with The Other Kobe. With the Irish Derby now less than four weeks away from starting, he is arriving in outstanding form. He produced a 28.42, not picking up the lead until the final quarter of the race but powering clear to win by four lengths.
Road Exile made all in the final quarter-final for Pat Buckley. He is a smart type on the bunny and just managed to hold off the pursuers to claim at 28.44 success.
The opening heat changed complexion at the third bend. Trouble allowed Hazelhill Bucko to take the win for Lucy Roche in 28.59. He missed out by a head on a spot in the St Leger Final in August and has made another big semi-final.
King Memphis returns in style
Derby finalist is imperious in Kent Derby Trial Stake victory.
New traps being installed helped produce some flying sectional times at the track on Saturday. A 3.03 split saw King Memphis run out a comfortable winner in 28.86. That is a new quickest time of the year in race action but that will surely fall during the Kent Derby which starts on October 5.
In an informative trial session before racing, Puppy Classic winner March On Freddie produced a stunning 28.54. That is a mere 29 spots inside the current track record! Defending champion Churchfield Syd and Sussex Cup finalist Uncle Freddie were also in action.
Today’s open class action
Sheffield and Towcester host opens this afternoon before Crayford tonight. The Valley had opens on their morning card.
There is only a single open at Sheffield this afternoon, the first race on the card. Sean Parker’s Droopys Flare is giving up plenty of experience to her rivals on debut, a May 23 whelp. Her dam was a 30.94 winner over Cork’s 575y trip, the fourth quickest of the year in 2022. The dam is a half-sister to Droopys Trapper, this is her first offspring to make her debut.
Eight open races at Towcester feature on their 12-race card in the afternoon. Barntick Bear is the star on show in the 4.07, taking on multiple Category One finalist Droopys Extragud. It could be a good afternoon for Patrick Janssens as Bockos Sapphire holds strong claims in the other 500m standard and Not So Slow is in action over 270m.
Crayford hosts another full 12-race open card starting at 6.08. It’s the 8.07 which is the feature of the evening, the 540m final. Laughil Jess beat Razldazl Barkley a head in their heat last week. Slick Sabo won the other heat in a time just seven spots slower.
Stats
- Not So Slow – 4.26 Towcester – 5/7 so far at Towcester.
- Tullovin Bale – 7.14 Clonmel – 5/8 when running at A2 level.
- Ascot Logan – 7.51 Clonmel – 14/18 at the track.
- Laughil Jess – 8.07 Crayford – 10/12 from trap one at the track.
- Glenvale Bjorn – 8.54 Pelaw Grange – 5/6 in A2 grade.
