Astron and Outlaw lead the way in Dunstall semis

Astron on top in the puppies while Outlaw guns them down in stayers

Romeo Astron ended up with just three rivals to beat in his semi-final of the British Bred Puppy Cup, but he did it in devastating fashion for Tom Heilbron. Leading up early on the inside, he poured on the pressure down the back to eventually run out an eight and a half lengths winner. Sean Parker's Keefill Sequoia and Dave Lee's Untold Dinero will join him in the final.

Rose Draper took the other semi with Harton Whirlwind. The Gymcrack finalist is a strong stayer over four bends and as soon as he turned second to Aero Clipper, he was always going to qualify, it was just a matter of whether the leader for Richie Taberner was able to hold him off. She tried her best but ultimately the winner was too strong coming home. Bonville Kane took third for Maxine Locke.

Locke was on target in the Arena Racing Company Stayers Cup with Bluejig Outlaw romping clear to add the second fastest time of the year over 660m to the quickest that he had set in the heats last week. Malcolm Bosh walked out the traps but as is his usual way, he rocketed home to grab second for Angie Kibble with Droopys Scratch adding another for Locke in the final, back in third.

Malcolm Bosh's litter brother Eagles Respect took the other semi for Kibble. He had a decent battle with Kevin Hutton's Venetian Mick until the fifth bend before he eventually asserted. The pair battling almost let Bandit Paddy for Kim Billingham-Hine in on the act down the back the second time as he loomed large before his effort just flattened out a touch.

There were also a pair of sprint heats with Bradley Stowe's Sehnsa Legend marginally the quicker of the two winners. He had shown plenty of promise in his first seven starts for Stowe but had not managed to get his head in front until last night, running on strongly around the outside to score. 

Heathmill Nidge took the other heat for Paul Meek. He was another who came from out the back to take a sprint, dropping back in trip after just failing to get home last time out in an A3 following a few visits to Doncaster where he had won a 450m open.

Regency and Sussex Cup clues at Hove

Both the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency and the Coral Sussex Cup get underway next Saturday night and at Hove there were plenty of clues for both competitions.

Carrick Scholsey was the quickest of the six-bend winners, making it six wins on the bounce and a run of eight in his last nine outings for Mike Burton. He had only scored twice in his first 10 for Burton so he has truly found his stride these days, beating talented local Powerhouse Duke in 42.06.

Patrick Browne has wasted no time sending Marshmallow Moon over longer distances, with the daughter of King Sheeran getting off the mark at the third time of asking over 695m in a maiden stayers final. She looks capable of getting a good bit further given the way she bounded clear having been last at the fourth bend.

The other 695m race went to Shes High for Carl Gardiner. She was progressive over four bends, winning A7, A6, A5, A3, A2 and A1 and an open over 500m, stepping up in trip for the first time last night. This might be as far as she wants to go, but she doubled her open race tally in decent style.

It was Behemoth who produced the quickest time over 515m, scoring for Belinda Green. A decent exit from the boxes saw him more than a length in front as they hit the line for the first time and that was all she wrote. He had scored at Romford over 575m last time out, picking up a seventh open race win here.

Texas Jack was just two spots slower for Richard Rees, given a similar setup to Behemoth as the sole wide runner with a vacant trap inside him in five. The Kent Derby runner-up in 2025 relishes a big galloping four bends and once he had hit the front on the way to the opening bend, there was never going to be a way back for his rivals. 

Rees had picked up a winner in the prior race courtesy of Avarua Zlatan who continued his return to four bends in decent fashion. He held the inside line as three flashed past the line together on the way to the first bend, just asserting enough to get his head in front at the turn.

The final race on the card saw Westwood Shay get the job done for Paul Donovan, pacing up well to the turn on the inside of his rivals. He boasts a 50% strike rate in his first six starts for the kennel, his other two wins coming over 491m at Central Park. 

There was also a maiden final over 515m which went to Croydon Rory. He had made a decent UK debut last week over this trip but he made things hard on himself after a slow start and finding trouble at the opening turn. He took off down the back, and ran a magnificent third bend to get himself to the front as the field swung for home.

Ballydoyle Eile did well to run down Jazzy Ace after that dog produced a flying 3.36 split. Heather Dimmock's runner-up was sent off a warm favourite but David Dark's winner kept him within her sights down the back, gradually eroding his lead and picking up the running as they swung for home.  

The decent start to the UK career of Smokestack Saxon continued with another victory for Jamie Kingsley. He boasts three wins and a second in four starts since coming over from Ireland, trapping well to take control of the race from the early stages and see off David Lewis's Alright Bullet.

Lewis had better luck with Alright Arthur who took a 500m contest on his UK debut. He had won a couple of times at Shelbourne as well as at Dundalk in his time in Ireland, looking like a strong-staying sort over four bends, He took the lead up off the third bend here and ran out a smart-looking winner.

One sprint on the card went to Ambiguous for Seamus Cahill. She had rattled up the grades over four bends late in 2025 and early in 2026 but this was her first success since January, and her first over the sprint trip. 

Pasha takes off on staying debut

Although it was delayed by six days, the six-bend debut of Zenith Pasha was worth waiting for. It was a time that went straight into the top 10 for the year over 630m to join the likes of Vhagar and Carrick Scholsey, and it was on a track that was subsequently rated -15. He didn't get to the front until the third bend where he got a bump and then checked up very briefly halfway down the back. He hit the line hard and gave the impression that there is chunks of time in him. 

Jacktavern Boom took the other heat of that 630m competition for William Hamilton. He had won over 750y in Ireland and looks to need plenty of yardage over here as well, despite running a corker on his UK debut in the heats of the Time Three Steps over 480m. His Cork win saw Burgess Hazel finish third who had just run fourth in the Cork Oaks final behind some very smart bitches. That is an excellent level of form to bring to the table. 

A third 630m contest on the night saw Aero Pepinillo score for Richie Taberner. He had scored at Central Park over 664m but this slightly easier six bends suits him better, able to pop out in front from the inside box and make all of the running.  

The progression of Wise Tournament continued for David Page, taking the scalp of Armagh Daithi in her most recent 480m success. She has electric early when she gets it right, quickly putting her rivals to the sword. From a family that stays six bends, it will be fascinating to see if connections are tempted at some point.  

Although Mark Wallis was out of luck with Armagh Daithi, he would be on target with Forgottotellaya in the very next contest. He announced himself in no uncertain terms in the spring with a 28.61 success at Towcester and a first round romp in the Gymcrack but he had scuffled a little since, failing to score in seven straight starts. This was a return to form, bolting up by nine lengths. 

Nathan Hunt has enjoyed a good spell with Sams Magic and it doesn't look like coming to an end anytime soon after she added another impressive win. She saw off Headford Cian with a smart turn of early pace, no mean feat given that runner had made the finals of the Time sprint on Derby night and the Silver Salver. 

A sprint contest saw Kim Billingham-Hine grab a win with Newinn Bachelor who blitzed his rivals from the front. With Silver Salver winner Ballinakill Liam, plus the Monmore quickest and second quickest of the year in Crafty Alejandro and Ruinthelonggame in opposition, it was a deep field that he put to the sword for open race win number 17.

Shake The Bottle has made a flying start to life with Brian Thompson, picking up her fifth win in just seven starts for the kennel, finishing second in the other pair. She was a perfect 4/4 in graded company, getting off the mark for the first time in an open. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but what a bet she was making her debut for Thompson in an A5 at 5/2!

It was fourth time lucky for Mustang Fashion who scored for Carol Weatherall. She had been pitched straight into the Arc Puppy Trophy at Sunderland on her UK debut, making the final of that Cat Two. A dual winner at Clonmel prior to that, she looks a nice recruit. 

The other open on the card went to Foxy Loxy. She was 0/9 in her career prior to a drop into D3 grade last week but seems to have taken plenty of confidence from that success, quickly doubling up on her first try in open company. 

Blanco takes Central Park final 

A single open at Central Park saw Ballymac Blanco justify short odds to land a standard final and bring up a hat-trick of wins at the track for Maxine Locke. He showed the best early gears to take control of the contest in the opening strides and never looked back, chased home by his kennelmate Mystical Batman. 

Blow Out continues rapid progression for Cross

Diane Cross has got a really good sprinter on her hands in Blow Out who just keeps on winning at present. She had scored at Sheffield last Sunday and at this track prior to that, bringing up a hat-trick with a 16.70 success, taking the scalp of Nightingale Crew in the process. That success is the second quickest time of the year so far. 

The dog in third in that table (from back in April) is Roanna Mamba who was also in winning action on the card. Michelle Brown's crack speedster has a string of open race wins to his credit through his career, stopping the clock at 16.94.

It was a sprint heavy start to the card with the first five races all over two bends. The other three went to Grovenor Saul for Beverly Heaton, Im On Fire for Craig Marston and Hillend Korda for Danny Gomersall. 

There was a staying double on the card for Sean Davy. Jameson Johnny took the six-bend contest which closed out proceedings, a contest that ended up having just the three runners. He had scored last week as well, dipping under 42 seconds on both occasions. 

A rare marathon took place over 890m which saw Geelo Minty get the double kicked off for Davy. That too was only a three-runner affair, coming from last to first to score. 

Craig Morris has enjoyed his trips to South Yorkshire of late, as has Droopys Buck who scored for the second time at the track. He was a little steadier on the sectional than he was last time out, but he still showed impressive pace up to grab the lead at the open bend.

There were three other 450m contests on the card with the biggest surprise of the night for punters coming from Aghaburren Luna who scored at 20/1 for Barry Denby. Crafty Hopscotch landed a win for Carl Jackson while Susan Watson got on the scoresheet courtesy of Swift Kev. 

Sean Parker was on target over the longer four-bend trip with Nicky Swithin. Just a September puppy on his second start for the kennel, he looks the type to have plenty more to come having only had five starts when over in Ireland. 

One who has much more career experience is Catunda Ciaran who got the job done for Stepher Naylor. That's back-to-back weeks that the October 21 veteran has scored at this track.

Two further 483m contests saw wins for Ivy Hill Stella and Rossa Abi for Debbie Calvert and David Fradgley resepctively. 

Pelaw doubles for Holloway and Alcorn

Death, taxes and Mickeys Tribute winning a Star Pelaw hurdle. Ricky Holloway's charge picked up yet another success over the sticks last night, but hopefully the announcement of the Grand National returning will convince some other connections to take a chance on schooling and bring some more competition. 

Holloway also brought Rapido Benny up to Star Pelaw to land a 590m maiden. The winner of the Greyhoundtrader Stakes on Derby final night added a bit of class to the evening, and he duly scored as he liked. 

David Alcorn's double both came in sprints, led by Mitches Marra. He had made an impressive start to life over here with an A5 win, following that up to keep his unbeaten record intact and show that he is capable enough over both trips. 

Moonveen Dancer was the other scorer for Alcorn, getting up in the nick of time on the run-in to land the double. She has won three of her last four now and is turning into a nice recruit 

Cheryl Ingram has got Sunnyside Gurkha flying at present, adding a 25.34 win to his 25.46 victory from last week. His success was a new fastest of the year so far, just a spot behind the 2025 best and two spots off the 2024 peak.

There was an impressive six-bend win from Sheilas Sky who dipped under 36 seconds with her success for Colin Campbell. Six of her seven career wins have come over this 590m distance at this track.

Other winners on the card were Sadele for Craig Marston, Fridays Jota for Gary Walton and Ballymac Kind for Neil Chapman.