Driver hoping to see Ompaloompa deliver a sweet Eclipse performance
There are three Nottingham greyhounds still left in with a chance of a spot in the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse. One of those is Esther Driver's Hopes Ompaloompa.
Esther Driver looking for Eclipse final spot
A wider than ideal draw is not enough to stop Esther Driver hoping for a Category One finalist with Hopes Ompaloompa, who will line up in the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse at Nottingham on Monday evening.
The August '22 son of Droopys Sydney has won five of his 10 starts at Nottingham, finishing runner-up in a further three. To make the final, he is going to have to finish in the first two in a race that contains Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks finalist Raebella Bullet as well as Star Sports & TRC English Derby semi-finalist Droopys Bookem.
Those inside him are going to head to the rails as well, and he won from trap four over this track and trip back on October 13.
“We’ve had railers win from trap five before, so it isn’t out of the question,” said Driver.
“But he’ll need to ping from the traps and get across or break level and be clever at the first turn.
“He didn’t do more than he needed to in his heat. When he was younger, he might’ve asked a few more questions of Elusivenomore who won the race, but he was content in second and that’s where he stayed.
“He’s a smashing greyhound for us with the most loving personality. We tend to run him only at the tracks we know he enjoys, so Nottingham, Towcester and Hove.
“Those are the venues where he’s performing at his best and if he can take us to the Eclipse final it would mean the world.”
There are two other local runners in the semis, Vale Bluebell for Jill Llewellin and Loxleys Forest for Jason Gray.
Tickets for the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse at Nottingham Stadium on Monday, November 17, are available online via www.nottingham-greyhounds.co.uk.
The £20,000 final will be staged a week later where admission is free to all racegoers and those who book online in advance will receive a race card and free drink on arrival.
