2026 Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks

Oaks first round form

The opening round of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks takes place at Dunstall Park on Saturday evening with 12 heats of the 480m competition for bitches on the card. A strong home team will be taken on by four raiders from Graham Holland which makes for a fascinating competition.

A very interesting start to proceedings with Knocknadoguestar a fascinating runner on her debut for the Stuart Tighe kennel. Longacres Trixie has bundles of early pace and won a trial stake in decent fashion and the rest will all think they have chances of qualifying for the second round. 

Plenty of connections here will have been hoping for a much easier start to their competitions. Both Singalong Cherry (Produce Stakes) and Signet Nayla (Birmingham Cup) are recent Category One finalists, meeting Coronation Cup winner Bikini Bullet and flying machine Slingshot Poppy in a fascinating battle for the three spots.

Recent Produce Stakes winner Countess Penny gets her Oaks challenge underway in the next heat, taking on The Other Myra who has shown some solid form in Ireland and has now joined the Phil Milner team. Add in fast trial stakes winner Alright Tallent, Northamptonshire Sprint finalist Longacres Mist and the smart Vahbelle, and it's another competitive contest. 

When she is on her game, there are not many bitches who are capable of producing the level of form that Strike It Skye can. She is going to have to be on her game here though with Fahrenheit Jess for Graham Holland in opposition as well as 2024 English Puppy Oaks winner Yahoo Maizy amongst her opponents.  

Headford Sarah is one of the most in form performers in the country at present, and should be more than capable of getting her Oaks campaign off to a winning start in Heat 5. It will be interesting to see what Wakawaka Eh Eh can do on her return from a long time off, capable of some very smart form when she is at her best 

There was some very smart form from The Other Winx over six bends earlier on in the year, probably more than capable of making her mark over this trip judged on her recent trial here. Birmingham Cup semi-finalist Strideon Clara should be right in the mix at the business end of this heat as well.  

Bombay Special did plenty wrong on her UK debut in a trial stake and is fully entitled to come on plenty for that experience for Graham Holland. The Holland team will know where they stand with Headford Lily after Maxine Locke's charge finished behind Newinn Uganda last week. Dapper Daffy was a very quick winner of a trial stake, she would be a challenger for sure if able to repeat that effort. 

Another cracking heat on the cards here with Puppy Classic finalist Lady Gambet taking on the hugely in form Coppice Saphire as well as Sussex Cup runner-up Copney Queen. Aghaburren Luna would be another who could get involved if she can find her Doncaster form at this different venue. 

When Ballydoyle Tina gets things right, there are not many bitches in Ireland who are quicker than she is. She won her second round heat of the Kirby back in March in 27.87, second only this year to Bouncing Monarch's new track record that he set in the final. She chased that one home in the Irish Derby second round before exiting in the third at the paws of eventual winner Bockos Gold. 

It is a huge shame that Butlers Lane didn't make it back in time to defend her title but 2025 runner-up Kilwest Diva returns for another attempt at the competition. She is one of five to represent Monmore in this heat, and should be more than capable of at least progressing to the next round. 

Another fascinating clash coming up in Heat 11 as recent East Anglian Derby winner Aayamza Shazza takes on Raebella Bullet who finished third in the 2025 final of the Oaks. She has since made the deciders of the Brighton Belle and the Sussex Cup, with both arriving in great form.

Ante-post joint favourite Newinn Uganda has to wait a long time for her heat, eventually in action in the final heat of the night. She produced the fastest run of 2026 without having a prior look at the track, and it will be fascinating to see what she can do with that experience under her belt.

Oaks ante-post prices 

6/1 Ballydoyle Tina, Newinn Uganda

8/1 Bikini Bullet

10/1 Fahrenheit Jess, Slingshot Poppy, Strike It Skye

12/1 Rushmoor Hazel

14/1 Dapper Daffy

18/1 Bombay Special

20/1 Aayamza Shazza, Singalong Cherry

25/1 Raebella Bullet, Signet Nayla

28/1 Alright Tallent

33/1 Copney Queen, Headford Sarah, Jazzy Dancer

40/1 Brickhill Patsy, Headford Lily, Knocknadogueststar, Lady Gambet, The Other Myra, Vahbelle

50/1 Ballyhoe Natalee, Ballymac Allory, Fabulous Harmony, Longacres Trixie, Rebel California, Strideon Clara, Wakawaka Eh Eh

66/1 Bar