Heiress is Eclipse quickest again but draw cheaters are final threats

Heiress is quickest but Driver takes the plaudits with a treble

For the second consecutive round it was Proper Heiress who set the standard in the Premier Greyhound Racing Eclipse. He led home a one-two for Mark Wallis in the opening semi-final with Kilmore Dancer following him home. 

His 29.26 came off a slick 5.00 split and he is going to have to produce that again to get across from the orange jacket in the final. He has cheated wide draws in the past and has the most complete CV of the finalists. 

Speaking of the orange jacket, that draw was cheated by both Hopes Ompaloompa and Elusivenomore in their semi-final wins for Esther Driver and Jimmy Fenwick respectively. 

Driver's runner was the second quickest of the winners, clocking 29.33. He was picking up his sixth win from 11 runs at the track, very well suited to the Colwick Park circuit. Droopys Poker chased him home to book a slot in the final for Kim Billingham-Hine as the sole seeded runner.

The quickest split of the semis came from Elusivenomore who produced a dazzling 4.96 run to the line first time. A draw in five could have been difficult for him but his early pace saw him clear those inside him with ease. 

Although his 29.70 is a little behind the other pair of semis, he has his ideal draw in the red jacket in the final. With four other railers in there with him, he could just slip clear of possible trouble. Pain Barrier chased him home to make it two in the final for Billingham-Hine.

A successful night for Billingham-Hine was completed in the final contest of the night as Newinn Bachelor landed a 255m contest. He was one spot off the quickest of the year so far, picking up his sixth win from his last nine starts in the process.

There was a bit of a surprise in the other heat of the 255m competition as Mossrich Karen was turned over by John Spolander's Fleadh Thiam. It was only the third time in the winners career outside of handicap company that she has started wider than trap two but she is a natural trapper and it proved no issue for her.

Two of the three heats of a 480m trophy were rather decimated by non runners, with a pair of them going to the Driver kennel to kick the night off the right way. Skyfall Mini was the quickest of the three heats and was also the only one that faced a full field. The multiple A1 winner has an excellent strike rate, winning seven of her last 15.

Peregrine Messi was Driver's other winner on the night, leading up from an early stage, and with his main danger taking a tumble at the opening bend, he was never going to be in any danger.

The other heat went to Curraghmorechamp for Peter Holland. He paced up better than the sole other railer in the field and from an early stage, he was always going to be coming home in front. His winning time was 13 spots behind Skyfall Mini but 10 of those were on the split.