Freddie with a classic display for David Mullins

March On Freddie heads to the top of the Derby market with Puppy Classic win.

Even a  missed break could not stop the top pup in England last night. There was a brief second of doubt as he was out trapped. That was soon swept away as he paced past his rivals in a matter of strides to run out a ten and a half length winner.

Incredibly, he still produced a 5.10 split on his way to a 29.28 win, looking every inch a dog that will attract fans up and down the country. More than 900 made their way through the gates at Nottingham last night for the Bank Holiday fixture, kicking off National Greyhound Week with a bang.

Unbeaten through the competition, the David Mullins-trained black is now at the head of the market for the 2025 Greyhound Derby. As Mullins told us last week after his semi-final win, a wide seed has been the making of the dog.

For owner George Watson, Freddie was a first Category One winner. A September 22 whelp, he will be forced into all-aged company next up but such is the impression he has made both visually and on the clock, it is hard to think that taking on more streetwise rivals will phase him in any way.

He is a champion pup that we as a sport should be shouting about off the rooftops. Here’s hoping the crowd of first-time attendees that sponsors Jenningsbet brought along will all want to see him again next time out, whenever he runs.

Buckley’s big cat takes home the Select Stakes

Unanimouspanther used his stride to overcome an all-railer Select Stakes.

Tipping the scales at 40.8kg at Nottingham, Unanimouspanther is a dog that none of his rivals would have wanted to get an inside berth. As it was, the orange jacket suited him just fine, using his long stride to pace to the front and never looking back.

Things had not gone his way in the Irish St Leger but he had shown his class at Clonmel when winning the National Produce Stakes. A draw in the red jacket saw him break slowly in the Dundalk International but his trajectory continues quickly upwards. He is generally a 25/1 chance for the Irish Derby for trainer Pat Buckley, the first round starts on October 18.

Unanimouspanther goes around in front in the Select Stakes at Nottingham.
Photo – Tony Brealey

Bluebell flowers at just the right time

Vale Bluebell caused a surprise in the Select Stayers for Jill Llewellin.

A half-sister to Olympic and dual Sussex Cup finalist Wasted Monday, the local showed them the way home over 730m. She was always close to the pace and showed her local trackcraft to sneak up the inside off the second bend.

It may not have been a classic renewal of the race on paper but with only six nominees for the contest, the field picked itself.

Despite that, her 44.62 winning time doesn’t stack up badly against the 2023 winner Space Jet who did 44.34, nor with runner-up last year Coonough Crow who produced 44.66. Both races were on a track officially +50.

Joe’s Tuesday Tips

*** 7.06 Central Park – No More Biscuits
** 7.56 Central Park – Seaview Anynews
*9.23 Central Park – Killuran Bella

We head to Central Park for all three bets this evening.

No More Biscuits who runs in the A2 at 7.06 from trap two beat traps four, five and six last week when finishing second behind Not So Lonely and found trouble at the first bend with Kilwest Daisy on his inside. Tonight, he has a vacant box on his inside so any kind of clear run and No More Biscuits should get back to winning ways. He will be a short price to do so but should give backers a return.

The Next Best runs in the D3 at 7.56 at the same venue. Seaview Anynews starts in D3 having won her last race at Crayford in A4 in a fast 23.64 off a 3.54 sectional back on August 8. Her trials have been average at best clocking 17.45 followed by a much improved 17.16 last week and any improvement on what she has done so far should see her go close this evening.

The third bet of the evening is Killuran Bella in the D1 at 9.23 from trap one. Her Central Park form is as solid as it gets in D1 and open company including a run where she beat Silver Salver winner Magical Bluebear. She has been on her travels to Crayford in recent weeks where she was a winner in 23.39 and then second in the race to Madabout Peck where he broke the track record so she returns to Central Park running at the top of her game and can return with a win.

Produce Stakes first round

The draw has been made for Thursday’s opening round at Swindon.

No entries for the Liz McNair team this year has left a few vacant traps but there is still plenty of class on show. There are strong teams from Tom Heilbronn, Kevin Hutton and Phil Milner amongst others for the competition that gets underway this week.

You can find the draw for all the opening round heats on this link.

Time Juvenile Derby Final prices

The final of the €25,000 Time Juvenile Derby is on Saturday at Shelbourne Park.

Boylesports were the first to break cover on Monday and price up the decider this weekend.

8/15 Callaway Knegare 7/2 Ballymac Briar 5/1 Boylesports Blue 12/1 Tivoli Milo 16/1 Hello Diego 20/1 Innfield Destiny

They have also made Callaway Kengare the 8/1 favourite for the Irish Derby which they sponsor.

Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “Callaway Knegare did nothing to dispel the fact that he’s the most exciting dog in training when blitzing his rivals at Shelbourne Park on Saturday and punters are latching onto Owen McKenna’s star to do the Derby double this year.”

Greyhound Ambassadors a hit in Wales

South Wales Greyhound Ambassadors Rosegarland Mojo (Mojo) and Sizzling Cookie (Cookie) marked an early start to National Greyhound Week, by supporting the runners, joggers and walkers at Barry Island Park Run on Saturday 24th August. Supreme athletes supporting athletes of all abilities, and highlighting Greyhounds as pets. Mojo and Cookie resisted the temptation of going on a 5k run, however.

To conclude a busy morning they then attended the 6th Birthday Party of The Pet Food Bank, Barry. A charity supporting people who have pets, particularly dogs who cannot afford to feed them. Anyone considering taking a Greyhound around the Barry area knows they can get support with the feed costs if that is a barrier to adoption.
On Sunday 25th they were back to their Ambassador duties supporting the Family Fun Day at The Valley Greyhound Stadium, where they both proved popular with children and adults alike. Probably only very slightly more popular with the children, than the free sweets and crisps given out by The Valley.

Central Park changes

There are amendments to the Central Park fixtures during the first week of September as follows. 

Monday 2nd September:  10 Race Card – First Race 14:36, Last Race 17:24 (First 10 Races)

Tuesday 3rd September:  10 Race Card – First Race 18:48, Last Race 21:23 (Last 10 Races)

Friday 6th September:  10 Race Card – First Race 11:43, Last Race 14:14 (Last 10 Races)

Saturday 7th September:  10 Race Card – First Race 18:53, Last Race 21:28 (Middle 10 Races)

Stats

  • Ballymac Mags – 8.54 Swindon – 5/7 when wearing the red jacket.
  • King Marvin – 9.23 Central Park – 5/7 when sporting stripes and 4/6 in this D1 grade.

Opens

Thursday: Swindon
Friday: Romford
Sunday: Crayford