Gucci stars in Stewards Cup, Heiress sets new Central Park clock and Holland dominates the Oaks

Gucci leads the way in the Stewards Cup

The semi-final stage of the SIS/Star Sports Stewards Cup at Star Pelaw saw Witton Gucci comfortably the quickest for Glenn Foot. She has been exceptional around this 590m trip, making it a perfect 6/6 at this venue with a deeply impressive success, stopping the clock at 35.71. It tied her at the top of the fastest of the year with the 2025 winner of this event Ballymac Sargie chasing her home for Tom Heilbron.

Heilbron had the second fastest winner of the semis with Droopys Bookem who repeated his heat win over Ricky Holloway's Rapido Benny. He had to work hard to get himself to the front after a slow start put him on the back foot. Last at the opening bend, he had moved into fourth past the stands for the first time, swooping late around the outside to get himself to the front in 35.93. He was open race winner number 100 for Heilbron this year.

There was a win for Richie Taberner in the other semi with Aero Pepinillo. It was a race that changed complexion massively late in the day with the winner and the runner-up (Phil Milner's The Other Chief) coming from a fair way back in the early stages. Unsurprisingly, it was the slowest of the three semis (36.40) but the pair are into the decider. 

Foot added a second open race winner with Quivers View who was a decent scorer over 435m. She was absolutely electric on the run to the line the first time round, producing a 5.32 split. She ran riot by almost six lengths to add a first win since she picked up four in August.

The biggest shock of the night came with a first defeat of Mickeys Tribute over hurdles at the track at the paws of kennelmate Razldazl Barkley. The winner popped out in front and when the winner was hampered at the opening hurdle, he stole a march, with a mistake at the last sealing the fate of the favourite. 

A sixth open race on the night went the way of Maes Maya for Colin Campbell. There was very little between the five runners in the market prior to the contest but the victor eventually got on top at the sixth bend and came away to win by two and three-quarters of a length.  

Holland takes three in the first round of the Oaks

The opening round of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Dunstall Park saw three winners from four runners for Graham Holland. Quickest of those was Newinn Uganda who backed up her fastest of the year win in a trial stake last week with another impressive display in the final heat of the night, powering clear from the three-quarters mark.

Things did not go right for Bombay Special last week but the experience was not lost on her, coming away in much better style and that was more than enough to see her always in front to score in a decent time. She came home almost four lengths clear to suggest that she is going to be a big player in the competition overall. 

One of two ante-post favourites for this competition was Holland's Ballydoyle Tina who was another winner on the card. She was the slowest of the three Holland scorers but she had to overcome a little bit of early trouble, another to not get to the front until the three-quarters mark. Like her kennelmate, she soon put a huge distance into her rivals. 

There was a double in the heats for Kevin Hutton, with Strideon Clara the quicker of his two winners. She made the semis of the Arc Birmingham Cup at this venue last month where she missed out on a spot in the final by a length and a half after stumbling at the start. This was a professional start to her Oaks campaign, exploiting a gap on the rails early to get herself to the front at halfway.

Jazzy Belle was the other Hutton scorer in the very first heat of the competition. Knocknadoguestar had set about her business early on her English debut for Stuart Tighe, but the winner turned clean in second behind her and proved too strong late on. She had not been seen in race action since March, so she is entitled to come on further for blowing the cobwebs away.

Another trainer to pick up a double in the heats was Maxine Locke. Headford Fiona had not run over further than Romford's 400m since making her debut for Locke in the heats of the English Puppy Oaks at Oxford last December. The 480m here was no issue to her from the front, leading home the 2025 Oaks runner-up Kilwest Diva, who made a safe start to her campaign. 

The 480m was a bit of a question mark for Headford Sarah as well, as she has been making hay at Romford in recent months. The early pace that she uses at the London Road venue came in handy to take the lead quickly here, though she is going to face stronger stayers as the competition goes on. 

The quickest of the 12 heat winners was Strike It Skye for Mark Wallis. The only bitch to dip under 28 seconds on the night, she was also the only one who got the better of a Holland-trained runner, with Fahrenheit Jess being run down in the closing stages. Both of them showed plenty enough to think they will both go deep into the competition. 

Brian Fairbairn got a winner on the board with Slingshot Poppy who showed her usual bright speed to the opening bend to take control of a heat that contained Coronation Cup winner Bikini Bullet, Birmingham Cup finalist Signet Nayla and Produce semi-finalist Singalong Cherry. Despite being the toughest heat, Poppy had no issue burning off some very smart performers in an impressive success.  

There has been some rapid progression from David Lewis's Alright Tallent since she first stepped on the sand at Dunstall Park, producing a very slick 2.94 split on her way to a win in heat three. She came home six lengths to the good to maintain her perfect record here, and look like a genuine contender in the process. 

Copney Queen has been there and done that all year in these big Category One competitions, kicking off her Oaks bid with a win over Craig Morris's smart youngster Lady Gambet, the pair pulling well clear. Paul Young's winner has been in Cat One company for 12 of her 21 starts in 2026, making a pair of finals to this point.  

Last but certainly not least was Aayamza Shazza who kicked off her Oaks with a success for John Mullins. The newly crowned East Anglian Derby winner was taking on a 2025 finalist from this competition in Raebella Bullet, putting almost four lengths into that rival come the line. The pair are both very smart performers at this level.

Kent Derby sees new track record from Proper Heiress

In March, the 491m track record at Central Park was set by Scooby The Lady. Mark Wallis's star took it for himself in no uncertain terms in the opening round of the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby, stopping the clock in an unbelievable 28.30. 

He turned four last month and had not been seen since the semis of the Derby at Towcester but neither were any issue to one of the top four-bend dogs we have seen in recent years. In a field that saw the 2025 winner Romeo Tomcat get knocked out, this was a special performance.

Select Stakes winner Underground Gold was one of three heat winners for Paul Young. He took on the aforementioned Kent Plate winner Scooby The Lady, with neither of them trapping the way they are capable of and coming together on the run to the first bend. That allowed Burrows Aries to slip away but the two big guns had him in their sights halfway down the back.

There was an impressive turn of early pace from Ballymac Stud to get himself off the mark in the heats. He made the third round of the Derby for Liam Dowling, showing all kinds of pace on his debut for Young on the East Anglian Derby undercard when coming out on the wrong side of a battle with Forgottotellaya. His 28.60 from the front was a very smart effort. 

Ballymac Charbel made the final of the Lee Strand when trained by Dowling, another to make his way over to Young, pitched straight into this competition on his debut for the Burton Lodge maestro. He moved off a hair from the red jacket to give himself a better line into the initial turn before opening up and just pouring on the pressure from the front. 

Trap four had looked a tough launch pad for Brunch Pal in his heat but Dave Lee's win machine absolutely smashed out to a 2.95 split and crossed without any issues at all. He came home almost five lengths to the good over 2025 Kent Derby runner-up Texas Jack who beat the rest of the field comfortably enough. 

The other heat winner was Maxine Locke's Annadown Warrior, another to clock a smart 28.60 on the night as the Puppy Classic winner made the step outside of puppy company. As in his trial stakes win, he didn't come away quite as well as he can but his middle pace saw him well on top of his rivals come the third bend. 

On the undercard there was a second winner for Wallis as Ballinakill Liam took a sprint. The Silver Salver winner from back in June is well suited to this venue, and although he has recently made the final of the Northamptonshire Sprint at Towcester, this was his first win since picking up his Category One success here. 

Over six bends there was a win for Patrick Janssens and Romeo Empire. He is another who has an exceptional record at Central Park, with Mongys Wild in the final of the Arc Cesarewitch earlier on this year the only dog to inflict a defeat on him from 11 runs. Dereks Legend continued his hot spell by keeping him honest in second, producing his best run here despite coming off second best.

Yahoo Megan had kicked off a Janssens double earlier on in the card with a win over two bends. She has enjoyed another excellent year, picking up win 45 having got the better of Martindale Lad at the opening bend after the pair of them had a decent burn up to that initial turn. 

Keeping with the sprinting theme, there was a very impressive effort on the clock from the David Mullins-trained Returning Storm who produced just the eighth sub 16-second run of 2026. The November pup was making just his fifth start for the kennel, looking to have learned plenty from his first race at this venue last week. 

The opening race on the card went to Dapper Finn, justifying favouritism for Deborah Pearce. He led up, just getting himself far enough ahead of Distant Ophelia inside of him to make the turn in front, kicking on front here to win by a couple of lengths. His dam is a half to 2025 3 Steps to Victory runner-up Arthur Job, and this youngster looks a nice type.  

Carol Weatherall got on the scoresheet with Poly Styrene who made a successful step up to six bends for the first time. She has plenty of solid form over shorter but being able to get on the bunny early on here was a big help to her, holding off Romeo Arran for Janssens who was also making his debut as a stayer. 

One other open on the card was a sprint contest which went to Nick Carter's Our Girl Kels. It feels like she is not going to be a sprinter long term but has the speed to win over two bends for now and that could prove a potent weapon when she is moved up in trip.

Droopys Monk quickest in second round of the Laurels

The second round of the Bar 1 Racing Irish Laurels threw up a number of surprises on Saturday night, including a defeat for new track record holder Ballymac Setanta. 

It was Droopys Monk for Barry Clancy who was the quickest of the winners on the night, stopping the clock at 28.09. He has bundles of early pace and with the smart pair of Sober Barry and Coloursaregreen chasing him home, he needed every inch that he could pull out in the early stages to back up his win from last week. 

Ballymac Kamala struck a blow for the girls on the night with her 28.12 performance in the final heat. Liam Dowling's charge missed her break in the opening round but she improved 10 spots on the sectional to go around in front, and she was always going to be difficult to back run from there. 

There is always a danger when you name a dog something like Droopys Unreal that you're going to end up with egg on your face. Ian Reilly's puppy produced a very smart 28.15 performance off a lightning 3.25 split to prove his moniker to be worthy. Both he and Ballymac Kamala were behind Blastoff O Henry in the heats, that runner missing his second round engagement.

Magical Jet won the opening heat that would have contained Blastoff O Henry. Patrick Guilfoyle's powerful runner gained revenge on Microchip who had beaten him in the opening round heats last week, staying on strongly to get his head in front on the run for home on this occasion. 

Brid McMahon picked up a win with Lissatouk Sydney, producing the biggest shock of the night at 33/1. A consistent type with some solid form at Galway, he came into the competition under the radar, with last night just the ninth run of his career. Things will get harder from here but his 28.45 was a solid run. 

The other Laurels second round heat went to Lone Calling for Michael O'Donovan. His win was another bit of a surprise for punters, though at 8/1, it was not the same level as Lissatouk Sydney. He had the honour of turning over Ballymac Setanta, going round in front before chopping off the favourite at the second bend and getting trodden on in the process. That gave Ropewalk Ranger the advantage but credit to the winner who battled back to get his head back in front late on.

Face The Storm takes the Welsh Derby

The final of the Star Sports Welsh Derby was the feature of the Valley card with Face The Storm justifying his position at the head of the market for Mike Burton. The new track record holder had to overcome a slow start, last as they passed the stands for the first time. A bit of crowding inside of him saw him sweep into second as they headed into the back straight before picking up the long time leader Simpson Sniper on the run-in. 

There was a double on the night for Burton with Magical Hawk landing the opening leg. He was awkward leaving the traps and then was chopped off heading into the third bend looking for a run up the inside, only to be bumped off the last turn when challenging outside. It was a run where plenty more time can be taken off the bare clock. 

The Malcolm Tams Memorial final went the way of Ontherejet for Adrian Rawlings. The 14/1 outsider of the field, he just got home in a blanket finish in a race where the early pace setter faded out of things, with the winner getting first crack at the win having tracked that runner around in second.  

Anna Jeffrey grabbed a double on the card with Crokers Harry the quicker of her two winners which both came in sprints. He pinged out which allowed him to avoid all of the trouble behind him, coming home in sub 16 seconds to claim a six-length victory. 

Hawkfield Jazz was the other winner for Jeffrey, closing out the card with a success. Owned by Malcolm Tams before he passed away last December, there could not have been a more fitting end to the biggest night at the track in a long time. 

There was plenty of quality on show in a staying contest where Shaun Gresham's Ballymac Madgie outstayed the front-running Carrick Scholsey. The veteran has made three Category One finals over Oxford's 650m, missing out on a spot in the Welsh Derby final by a length and a half, having found herself in the semi that contained the first two in the decider. 

Three other opens over four bends were won by Pandy Chris, Baggios Belter and Vanessas Tiger for Christian Darch, Frank Bryce and Paul Maynard resepctively, with a sprint being won by Macauley Simpson's Mynydd Frank. 

Taberner with a Monmore double

Limited open action at Monmore last night where Richie Taberner picked up a pair of winners courtesy of Zenith Sultan and Aero Leg It. The former is a recent arrival from Richard Rees, scoring at the first time of asking for Taberner while the latter was a bit of a surprise winner at 11/1 having only scored once in her prior 21 career starts. 

A pair of 480m contests both went the way of the market leader with Longacres Doctor for Pat Doocey and Nathan Hunt's Whyaye Mister getting the job done. A 28.28 from the former was the best time on the card over four bends, the youngster winning his third straight start at the track. The latter deserved a change of luck after some rough rides, winning for the third time in four starts at Monmore.

There were also two sprint opens on the card with both won in solid times. Takemawaytony landed marginally the quicker of the pair for Kim Billingham-Hine, though Mark Russell's Magical Sparkle was the wider margin scorer of the pair, both seeing off their rivals from the front. 

Parker takes three at Doncaster

There were 15 open races at Doncaster on Saturday night where Sean Parker picked up a trio of winners, all over the 450m trip. Charming Delight was just the quickest of the three, quickly on top of her field with a nice turn of early.

Just half a length slower was Four Stout who was sent off 2/5 to make a winning race debut. He had gone through the sales at this track back in August where he was brought for £7,100. This was an impressive start. Fourpenny Gift was Parker's other winner, getting herself on top late on in the day. 

Michelle Brown had a double with Roanna Mamba and Tomahawk. The former extended his unbeaten record at the track to 10 with another comfortable sprint success, coming home five lengths clear. The latter has been in excellent form of late, winning for the third time in four starts, a run that also saw him make the Birmingham Cup final. 

Another trainer to pick up a pair of winners on the card was Craig Morris. Radical Story had scuffled to find winning form earlier on in the year but this was a third win in six starts which includes the Select Stayers, and the three defeats all came in the St Leger where he was beaten just a length and a half in total in the final. He has found his groove in spectacular fashion of late. Westway Mario was the other winner for Morris, taking a 450m contest in a decent 27.59.

David Fradgley joined in with the doubles on the night, with his pair sharing the honour of the longest-priced winners. Both Knotmor Signet and Hazelhill Nifty scored at 7/1. The former led up but lacked middle gears, battling back to get on top late while the latter was probably a fortunate winner after a rival's indiscretion on the run-in. 

Phil Milner picked up a win with Keefill Walker in the final race of the night, the youngster always holding his shorter-priced kennelmate Keefill Teak in a 483m contest. Other races over that trip went to Bellmore Whisky for Barry Denby and Ballycian Boy for John Flaherty.

Franco Stef took a win in a sprint for Frank Macklin while Salems Sassenach and Grumpy Amber took wins over 450m for Sally Clark and Nicola Langley respectively.