Monmore Trial Session Highlights Key Contenders for Ladbrokes Gold Cup & Summer Stayers

Pre-Race Trials Point to Gold Cup and Summer Stayers Stars

With the Ladbrokes Gold Cup and Ladbrokes Summer Stayers kicking off at Monmore Greyhound Stadium next Saturday, tomorrow's stacked trial session could offer key insights into potential favourites. It follows a productive session last night, with both the trial sheet and results already available for review.

Cunnigar Yousir, a beaten finalist in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup last year behind Churchfield Syd, is one of runners being given a four bend spin by local trainer Nathan Hunt who also gives Droopys Flotila, runner up in the ARC Cesarewitch Final at Central Park and finalist in the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial, a six bend workout

Kevin Hutton sends a more than useful team of three to the Wolverhampton track. Start The Engine, winner of eight of his nine opens lines up in a two dog trial with Union Rebel, winner of the Coral Golden Sprint at Romford in March who also finished third in the BetGoodwin Pall Mall at Oxford last weekend over 480m They are joined by Antigua Kestrel, who was an impressive winner over six bends on that Pall Mall final card, making it three wins from three starts over six bends, recording the fastest time of the year over 650m in doing so. He will take in a 630m trial. 

Brian Fairbairn has been in good form in recent weeks and he has a couple of greyhounds to be aimed at both competitions. Slingshot Shaz finished fifth in the final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat at Newcastle last week and has a trial over four bends, while Clona Ice, who made an impressive winning six bend debut at that meeting at Newcastle is booked in to have a look round over the two bend distance of 264m alongside Garry Hamilton's recent Time Greyhound Nutrition Three Steps To Victory finalist Carrick Fergie

Also appearing over the two bend sprint distance is Maxine Locke's Ballybough Nutz. The BetGoodwin & JR Racing Maiden Derby runner up behind Hello Diego has been off the card since injury forced his withdrawal at the second round stage of the StarSports/TRC Derby back in May following an impressive first round victory. He lines up alongside another Brian Fairbairn runner, Slingshot Gazza. 

Time Greyhound Nutrition Northern Flat winner Naochra moved well in a solo trial before racing last night, recording 28.20 (+10) in his preparation for the Ladbrokes Gold Cup. Singalong Molly and Radical Scoby were other notable performers over four bends, recording 28.43 & 28.53 (+10) for Dean Blackbird and Maxine Locke respectively, while GBGB Sprinter Of The Year for 2024 Magical Bluebear went the quickest over two bends for trainer Mark Russell, recording 15.42 (+5).