A BetGoodwin Pall Mall treble for Kevin Hutton but Salacres Senan goes quickest
There was a treble for Kevin Hutton in the BetGoodwin Pall Mall at Oxford last night but it was Salacres Senan who went quickest.
Half the Pall Mall heats go to Kevin Hutton but Salacres Senan clocks the fastest time
Favourite backers had a tough time of things at Oxford on Saturday night. The 8/15, 4/5, 13/8, 13/8,15/8 and 2/1 market leaders were all turned over in the heats which were run on a track rated -40. It was Peter Harnden's Salacres Senan who came out on top, stopping the clock with a 26.68 run.
The recent Arena Racing Company Kent Plate winner Rioja Oisin was sent off as the shortest price in the heats but he bumped into Salacres Senan in the third heat. The Harnden-trained hound broke his wrist in June 2024 so it is a huge credit to connections that he has been brought back to this level. He made the third round of the Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby, finishing fourth in a heat that contained both Bockos Diamond and Cheap Sandwiches.
Despite Rioja Oisin's defeat, it was an exceptional night for Kevin Hutton. Antigua Kestrel (26.91), Coppice Ella (26.95) and Union Rebel (27.31) all won their heats. The last named was having his first start since landing the Coral Golden Sprint at Romford in March which was the fourth Category One final of his career.
Hutton has six runners in the hat for the semis from eight entrants. His team have been dominating Oxford opens this year, with 115 open race winners overall in 2025 leading all trainers.
Singalong Rex made the journey down from Trimdon worthwhile for Tom Heilbron, landing the final heat in 27.05. Heilbron's 2024 finalist Madabout Peck made his way through to the semi-finals once more, though he had to give best to the Paul Burr-trained Yahoo Lolls who was the biggest priced winner of the heats at 9/1.
On the undercard, it was another win for Alright Gordy in the 650m contest. The David Lewis-trained stayer has won three straight over course and distance, justifying a short price with ease.
Hutton added to his winning tally on the night with Dreamin Reggie with the other open on the card going to Kim Billingham-Hine's Ivy Hill Gypsy.
Heat 1 - 1st Coppice Ella (t6) - 2nd Southfield Poppy (t2) - 3rd Avarua Flight (t5)
Heat 2 - 1st Union Rebel (t5) - 2nd Ballinakill Liam (t6) - 3rd Gingers Prince (t3)
Heat 3 - 1st Salacres Senan (t3) - 2nd Rioja Oisin (t5) - 3rd Zebedee Cluasa (t1)
Heat 4 - 1st Antigua Kestrel (t3) - 2nd Crossfield Enzo (t4) - 3rd Bacon Roll (t5)
Heat 5 - 1st Yahoo Lolls (t1) - 2nd Madabout Peck (t4) - 3rd Paradise Sky (t2)
Heat 6 - 1st Slipalong Rex (t3) - 2nd Aero Pepinillo (t2) - 3rd Rioja Maxi (t1)
Four-timer for Patrick Janssens at Hove
A week ahead of the start of both the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency and Coral Sussex Cup, the Hove card on Saturday night was full of trial stake clues. It was the Patrick Janssens team who dominated the evening with four winners from the 10 open races on the card.
Slick Sentinel was the quickest in the 515m action, running riot by more than eight lengths in 30.15 (-10). The other three for Janssens all carried the Romeo prefix with Romeo Empire laying down a solid marker ahead of the Regency, Romeo Tomcat winning another Sussex Cup trial stake and Romeo Kingpin picking up a sprint contest.
It was David Mullins who had the quickest over the six-bend trip courtesy of Borna Parachute. His 41.65 win is just five spots shy of the 2025 best so far. There is little doubt that he has the class to contend but he is yet to back up a win with another so far in his limited career starts.
There was a double on the night for Seamus Cahill. Droopys Invent won a messy Sussex Cup trial stake with Ivy Hill Cherry springing a 12/1 surprise in a Regency warm up.
Fabulous Sonique picked up her first Cat One final a week ago, carrying that form over to land the bitches contest. Ballymac Kobe was brutally efficient in despatching his 500m standard rivals in 29.21 with Heather Dimmock landing the other open on the card with Droopys Stat.
Donovan doubles up at Central Park
It was a first run over six bends for Tuono Bella since the final of the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob at Hove in December. She relished the step back up in distance for Donovan in the second quickest time of the year over 664m, behind only Garfiney Blaze. Proper Dangeress had picked up the first half of the double earlier on the card.
Bluejig Baron now has eight of his 18 open race wins at Central Park. Dave Lee's runner used his early gears to good effect in a race that saw trouble behind him at the opening turn. Good Rainbow beat her better fancied kennelmate Head Count in the first open of the evening with Coppice Lizzie landing the other one on the card for Luke Morrison.
Laugh Alot lands Yarmouth success
There were five opens at Yarmouth last night with the pick of them won by Jane Craske's Laugh Alot. She has hit a real golden patch, bringing up a hat-trick of wins last night and the eighth open race win of her career.
Craig Morris was on the scoresheet courtesy of Rathcoole Casey in the stayers contest. It was the first open race win for the litter sister to Mad For Stirling. Capel Moon and Good Twilight picked up the two other 462m contests on the card for Tony Gifkins and Linda Brown respectively while the sprint contest on the card went to Lissan Light for Erica Samuels.
Just a single open at Doncaster
Ricky Overton had the sole open race winner at Doncaster last night. A 450m contest saw Stoneparkfortune stay on too powerfully for his rivals. He is an October 23 half-brother to Pall Mall heat winner Antigua Kestrel so it will be interesting to see if he can progress from here.
Upcoming Opens
Monday: Nottingham
Thursday: Newcastle
Friday: Sunderland
