Bockos Buster leads the way in Winter Derby warmup on Saturday night

Buster lays down his Winter Derby marker

Just a week until the start of the Ladbrokes Winter Derby and Golden Jacket, Monmore was filled with top-notch racing as final preps were made to contenders. Bockos Buster made a winning return to four bends for Kevin Boon having been plying his trade in Nottingham sprints of late. He is a super dog for connections and a repeat of his 28.09 would make him competitive in his bid for another major final. 

Droopys Script was just the second fastest of the night over 480m, the second half of a double for Maxine Locke which was started by Bluejig Outlaw in a 684m contest. It was a debut win for Droopys Script, the July 24 whelp coming from just off the speed to win in 28.24. The Puppy Derby back here in March looks a natural target for one who looks a potentially top class recruit.

There was also a double on the card for Mark Wallis who saw Rackethall Brute and Bruce Bay pick up 480m contests in 28.25 and 28.34 respectively. The former really announced himself on the scene in the 2025 renewal of the Puppy Derby, with this track clearly one that he enjoys his racing at.

Another who used that 2025 Puppy Derby as a springboard was Mike Burton's Droopys Aladdin. His opening round win last year showed the natural talent that Burton has at his disposal in the son of Serene Ace and he was back to winning ways at the track.

Tom Heilbron got on the winners sheet courtesy of Unanimous Leon. A sparkling 4.31 split saw him in control of the race from a very early stage, adding another win to his record as one of the most consistent dogs in the country.

There was a fifth win in seven career starts for Carrigoon Milo. Jamie Kingsley's dog was a perfect 3/3 in Ireland before heading to these shores, adding Monmore to Hove, Cork and Limerick on a list of tracks that he has won at. 

Buddys Bullet produced a time just a single spot slower than Bluejig Outlaw over 684m for Belinda Green. He has won six of his nine starts for Green, making the final of the George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob Memorial before Christmas. 

The other open race on the night was also over 684m and saw a bit of a surprise winner for punters in David Elcock's Swift Megan. She has plenty of solid efforts over six bends in the past but has been a rare winner, scoring for just the second time in 28 career starts.

New track record for Burrows Charm at Central Park 

Jason Heath raided Central Park to good effect last night, picking up a quick-fire double as Burrows Charm and Burrows Eclipse won over six and four bends respectively. Burrows Charm is the one who will take all of the headlines and rightly so after his 40.03 took seven spots off the 664m track record. There has been plenty of quality seen over this trip in the past, with the winner going this far for the first time in his career.

There was also a double on the card for Spencer Mavrias. Lets Go Girl has become a regular winner over the 491m trip and she enjoyed an easier level of race than taking on the likes of Bluejig Baron, Slick Skylark and Ballymac Axel on her most recent start, for all that she beats two of those home. Lets Go Johnny kicked off the double in the opening race of the evening, the pup producing his best split and driving the opening bend hard.

Millbank Boiler found all sorts of trouble last week on his return to race action but with the cobwebs blown away, he was a fluent winner for Gemma Evans, clocking 29.03. He is not a million miles away from top class when he is on his game, and it was good to see him back from injury with a win.

There were two sprint contests on the card, the first won by Cronody Zuma for Nick Carter, the fourth open race win of his career. The other went the way of Crisp And Nut for George Andreas. A five-time D2 winner at the track, this was his breakthrough success at open level. 

A pair of further six-bend races on the night were won by Julie Luckhurst's One More Tune and Stuart Maplesden's Lunas Fat Boy. The former is a veteran but she produced a strong running effort to get on top in the closing stages. The latter produced the shock of the night, crossing the line first at a massive 50/1. Stamina is very much his strong suit, but his success will have been a surprise to most.

Emers Dasha picked up a four bend contest for Paul Donovan, Distant Eve came home in from for Dean Childs, Eddies Gift won for Dave Puddy and Aintgotascooby rounded out the winners on the night, getting the job done for Alfie Herbert. 

Three for Hunt at Dunstall

Nathan Hunt picked up a Dunstall Park treble last night, a pair of 480m wins from Bang On Edith and Kilara Berb as well as a six-bend win for Droopys Flotilla. The first named produced something no other greyhound has at Dunstall, beating Butlers Lane. The Oaks winner didn't come away as well as she can and Hunt's charge needed no second invitation to cash in on her flying 2.93 split.

One who has an unbeaten record at the track still is Kilara Berb, her win making it 4/4 at the circuit. Droopys Flotilla managed to find trouble spots on her way around to her win but her super attitude got her to the front late in the day to pull the iron out the fire. 

There was a double on the night for Robert Hall courtesy of Ballymac Og and Burrows Ace in back-to-back races. Neither have been in the kennel long, each picking up a top grade wins at the track before their open success.

A pair of sprint contests on the card went to Robert Short's Castell Maggie and Kim Billingham-Hine's Beatties Lyra. Short's winner produced an impressive 15.90 on her race debut at the track, not seen since landing a Swindon D1 in November. 

There was also a further six-bend race which went to No Jay No for Dalton Smith. Onceina Lifetime was sent off the odds on favourite but a slow break from him and a slick one from the winner made all the difference as Smith's runner made all of the running. 

Foot and Galloway with Star Pelaw trebles

A Star Pelaw treble for Glenn Foot saw him end January with 13 open race wins to his credit, a flying start to the new year. That puts him in a tie for fourth most in terms of volume in the country with only Tom Heilbron, Maxine Locke and Mark Wallis having more. 

Three different distances made up the treble with Burrow Bell taking a sprint contest, No Brakes landing a 435m race and Untold Ariary successful over six bends. All three have been in great form, the first winning four of her last five, the middle picking up three of six and finishing second in the other three while the last named has won seven of her last nine starts and is a perfect 6/6 at Star Pelaw.

Robert Galloway picked up a treble of his own with Tickets King and Lockstep in sprints and a six-bend success for Keefill Darwin. Perhaps the most interesting of the three is Lockstep who won four of her last six starts in Ireland, getting off the mark at the third time of asking for Galloway.

There were a pair of flying sectionals in a 435m maiden. Wanted Tibet just edged Resilient Lady to the bend, the pair producing 4.40 and 4.41 splits respectively. It was Frank Kearney's charge who came out on top by three-quarters of a length.

A winner for Dean Blackbird closed out the card, Loxleys Rex powering home to grab the money late in the day. The other open went to Daniel Bell's Up To Mischief who was quickly clear of his rivals.  

Fraud does the job at Yarmouth again

Kereight Fraud got back to winning ways in open race company last week for Erica Samuels, quickly doubling up last night. She paced up best to grab and early lead and with her stamina for further assured, there was no way back for her rivals, clocking an identical 27.63 to her win from last Saturday.

A six-bend open on the card went to Murrow Catatumbo for Richard Fitch. She has been running consistently well without being able to get her head in front of late but a slick exit propelled her to the head of affairs at an early stage, maintaining the gallop to run out a five-length winner.