Oaks only 48 rather than 72 but the quality is there

Three will qualify from each race in the Oaks this year as entries come up short. 

The race to find the best bitch in the country is on and although the competition didn’t fill, the level of the field assembled is top notch. Druids Say Go, Avongate Venus and Toddys Thunder will kick the competition off with a spectacular opening heat. The East Anglian Derby winner against the Empress Stakes winner is a clash we expected later in the competition. We may still get that but for now, it is a first round treat.

Heat two sees the defending champion (after the DQ of No Rush) Jet Stream Angel begin her defence against Angel of the North runner-up Leighas Dream. Queen Joni will start her bid for glory in heat five against Angel of the North and Sunderland Puppy Cup winner Untold Ruble.

British Bred Oaks champion Coppice Ella is in heat seven while Produce Stakes winner Southfield Poppy will take on Empress Stakes runner-up Icemans Girl in heat four. The level of quality in the bitches division at present is going to make this four weeks of outstanding racing. We have all the Oaks form on this link.

Memphis leads the PGR Kent Derby field

The Derby finalist will start his campaign from the red jacket in heat five. 

With a record of 7/10 when exiting the one box so far in his career, King Memphis will look for a seventh straight win from this slot. Setting a new clock at the track last Sunday from the same innermost draw, he should make a perfect start to the competition on Saturday night.

Other notable entries include Newinn Syd, fourth most recently in the Select Stakes at Nottingham. Third in his semi-final in the competition last year, he starts in a heat with Romeo Steel on his inside plus Sussex Cup winner Newinn Benni.

Havana Top Note vs Uncle Freddie headlines heat three while the final heat will see the Oxford 450m track record holder El Tornillo in action. Sponsored by Premier Greyhound Racing, there is £20,000 on offer to the winner. Find the full Kent Derby form on the link.

Romford ante-post prices

Category One and Two action starts on Friday night at London Road. Prices from Corals.

Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes

1/1 New Destiny 6/1 Aayamza Sydney 14/1 Fabulous Sonique 16/1 Bockos Thunder 20/1 Mad For Stirling 25/1 Litters Nuke 33/1 Drive On Lad, Gary The Arb, Golden Palace, Minnie Bullet, Princess Athena, Swift Giddy, Syds Smurph, You Two 40/1 Burrows Eclipse, Droopys Maybe, Droopys Vivacity 50/1 Beaming Panther, Bubbly Breezer, Burrows Sapphire, Droopys Flotilla, Never Say No, Nowitsmyturn 66/1 Ballymac Johnjo, Blue Range, Jetstream Breeze, Pepinthestep 80/1 Noirs News 100/1 Droopys Bluechip, Glideaway Hugo, Jeopardy Jasmine, Pin All In, Roxys Bullet, Swift Depot, Vixons Bagheera 125/1 Elite Albert

Coral Silver Standard

10/3 Brindle Bully, Not So Slow 10/1 Millbank Boiler 12/1 Avarua Zlatan 16/1 Cunnigar Yousir, Droopys Pharoah, Kila Detail, On The Banks, Whitewood Lenny 20/1 Davo You Go, Headford Dream 25/1 Droopys Pamela, Droopys Rarity 33/1 Droopys Bucko, Fair Coco, Miltons Dream, Piemans Goalie, Saffrons Dash, Velvet Charlie, Whiskey Bella 40/1 Aquila, Laidbackpatsy, Longbow Draw, Ranches Chancer, Whisky Copper, Whisky Eagle 50/1 Farneys Harry, Hot Rod, Pro Parker 66/1 Amys Gem, Bacon Roll, Shirleys Boy, Yahoo Lolls 80/1 Drumdoit Matt, Makeit Missy 100/1 Avarua Remus

Bungle to Towcester for more British Bred action

Rioja Bungle after winning the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup at Perry Barr.
Picture from Fortitude

Rioja Bungle heads to Towcester on Sunday for a crack at the BGBF Stud Book Trophy at Towcester – with winning trainer Kevin Hutton hoping to hit the back of the net again with the newly crowned Birmingham Cup winner!

Part of the celebrations for Saturday’s victory at Perry Barr in the John Lambe family-backed Category One was a trip for Derby-winning handler Hutton to Luton to see his beloved Oxford United in Championship action on Tuesday night, along with Rioja Bungle’s owner Paul Woodburn.

“Woody’s been buzzing ever since Saturday and it’s been great to see. He actually treated me to an away trip to Luton to see Oxford – and we’ll take a draw. We maybe should have won, but it was a good night all-round.”

Hutton revealed that the original intention had been to target Rioja Bungle at the Steel City Cup but the week’s delay after the original abandonment at Perry Barr meant Sheffield came too soon and the British-bred September 2022 son of Ballymac Bolger and Bull Run Byte now heads to Towcester.

Already winner of the BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby Final at Newcastle in May, Rioja Bungle provided owner Woodburn with his biggest win in the sport on Saturday – on a special night which also saw Droopys Clue win back-to-back Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger titles.

Great Global Greyhound Walk 2024

Last weekend saw the 2024 Great Global Greyhound Walk which was a huge success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The aim before the event was to have 12,000 sighthounds all walking on Sunday, September 28. That record was obliterated as well as those for number of walks and countries that take part.

It is growing a huge amount each year and there was further good news to be had. We had spoken to Home Run Hounds prior to the walk. They homed two as part of their walk at Lichfield, including their 100th since the start of 2024! A remarkable achievement for all the team who work so hard to find homes for the ex racers.

Stats

  • Turree Marven – 4.41 Newcastle – 8/13 when sporting the striped jacket in handicaps.
  • Makeit Haya – 5.54 Towcester – 8/13 from trap one in D2 races.
  • Halcrow Belter – 7.33 Perry Barr – 13/26 in D1 grade.
  • Peejays Magic – 7.39 Yarmouth – 5/9 record when running at A6 level.
  • Townsend Jordan – 7.58 Harlow – 5/10 in D3 races from trap two.
  • Malbay Mo Salah – 8.07 Perry Barr – 9/18 from the orange jacket in D3 company.
  • Tax You Tonight – 8.16 Harlow – 6/11 in A2 from trap three.

Opens

Thursday: Hove ♦ Newcastle ♦   Swindon

Friday: Romford

Saturday: Central Park♦ Perry Barr