Magic run from Genie to lead the Classic semis

Classic semis see two double-figure price scorers

Sunderland saw a couple of surprises in the semis of the Premier Greyhound Racing Classic on Friday night, with Rolo Genie taking the middle semi for Jimmy Fenwick at 10/1. He had a great duel with Tom Heilbron's Romeo Astron around the opening couple of turns before showing the better middle gears to get himself clearly in front by the third bend. His 26.61 was just the fastest of the semis. 

The two biggest contenders to the title clashed in the last semi where Slingshot Poppy and Woltemade both pinged out and flashed past the line the first time with just a short head between them. Brian Fairbairn's bitch went a couple of lengths clear with the benefit of the inside line around the opening couple of bends but she always had Fenwick's star snapping at her heels, winning by half a length in 26.62.

It was Heilbron's Romeo Hanyu who caused the biggest shock, taking the opening semi at 20/1. Again, it was a case of being on the pace as he led his field around the opening bend. Droopys Monk chased him home for Barry Clancy, showing plenty of straight line speed to turn second having been slow away.

It was also the start of the Arc Shootout where only the winner of the six heats makes next week's final. Quickest here was Vernon Mist for Carl Jackson. He got a rough ride in his heat of the Classic last week but showed the early pace that has seen him twice in the top 10 sprint times at Shelbourne this year to quickly put his rivals to bed here.

Jackson will have two in the final thanks to the win of Montana Secret. He is another who has recently joined the team from Ireland, making the final of the Bar 1 Racing Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk. He has not really hit the lids over here yet in his two starts but showed plenty of bravery to sneak around in front in his heat.

Another trainer who will have a pair of runners in the decider is Heilbron, whose Toddys Storm won the opening heat. She has been a little in and out but when she has popped out on the bunny, she has been superb. Her English debut saw her beat Coppice Saphire at Newcastle in 28.39, looking like she could be a star but hasn't show that often enough since. This was one of those occasions where she did everything right, away and gone early on.

The double came up with Romeo Dutch who showed the best gears to the opening bend and it was all over from there. A slow exit cost him in his Classic heat last week but he is a dog well suited to this track with winning times in the top 20 over both two and four bends here. A note on the runner-up Logans Layla for Dean Blackbird who continued her progression. The April 25 pup looks a nice type.

Good Hormuz has the making of a really smart one for Debbie Calvert. The pick of his form at Doncaster has come over the longer four-bend trip of 483m but having got out in front here, there was no way back for his rivals as he took on this much sharper 450m test. Still a puppy, he will line up as the youngest in the final.

The other heat went to Blackbird's Droopys Bugle who in common with the other winners on a quick track was quickly to the fore. He had the innermost draw for his heat, a position that he will retain in the final next Friday night. His was the slowest winning time but the red jacket will entitle him to respect in the decider. 

There was also heats of a sprint competition and it saw the return to action of Stonepark Hoffa who has last raced in March. the veteran has not lost anything in his time off, producing a smart winning time and the promise of coming on for that return to action, having blown away the cobwebs. 

The other heat went to Neil Brown's My Pedal Pusher who was making his debut for the kennel. There was not a lot on her Irish form that suggested she was up to this level, but she has taken well to this venue in trials and the litter-sister to solid sprint yardstick Blow Out paced up well to take the lead at the opening bend. 

Another five for Young at Romford as Mullins gets three

The winners are flowing for Paul Young at present, with another five last night at Romford. Puntos Opinion has really picked up the winning knack of late having been highly tried earlier on in the year. A 3.71 split ws more than enough to se him away and gone from the front to make it three wins from his last four starts, dipping under 24 seconds in each of them.

Another to set his stall out early was Droopys Sometime who put his head in front in the opening strides over 575m. That allowed him to miss the trouble behind, stretching miles clear with the official margin given as 14 and three-quarter lengths. He is making rapid progression on the clock over this trip and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to do so.

Up still further in trip to eight bends saw a win for Droopys Rhona. She is a really powerful type over this far, getting herself to the front at the end of the back for the final time and quickly putting more than 11 lengths into her rivals. She took her record over this track and trip to 4/6 with this victory to go along with making a pair of Cat One semis this year.

Phoebes Buddy stepped up to six bends for the first time with great aplomb, keeping on powerfully to score. Her three wins ahead of yesterday had all come over 500m at Hove but the extra distance on a sharper track was clearly no concern. She's only two weeks out of puppy status so there should still be more to come from her next year. 

Last but not least for Young is Jacktavern Luna who made all of the running over 400m to get the winning spree underway. She has won in every grade from A11 up to and including A3, getting her head in front for the first time in open class company. 

John Mullins enjoyed a good night of winners as well, picking up three of them. Always Wrighty led up in her contest to see off a list of who's who at Romford in Piemans Goalie, Bombay Buck and Bacon Burger. Her most recent effort had been an impressive A1 win at Yarmouth so she is clearly on good terms with herself at present. 

The final race of the evening went to Charlie Loves Me who impressed from the front to lead up Vahbelle. Four of his six open race wins have come over the 575m trip here, showing once more how hard a dog he is to shake off the bunny when he is out in front of them.

Finnery Villas was the opening leg of the treble in the first race of the night. He led them up but had been passed by Paul Burr's Yahoo Clodagh before having to dig in and battle his way back to the front near the line to score by a short head. 

Richie Taberner added his name to the list of trainers with more than one winner on the night, taking a pair. Aero Sally landed a six-bend race, always snapping at the heels of the odds-on favourite Ballymac Kandoo, she finally got to the front on the run for home to score by a neck.

It was a debut win for Taberner from Bockos Waka Waka who had come across from Kevin Boon. Two of his three wins for Boon had come in sprints, clinging on to take a 480m contest at Sheffield with the other. A shorter four bends always looked like it would suit and he was given that here, riding an opening bend bump to get himself around in front before scampering clear down the back.

There was a winner for Burr as Ballymac Suntan continued her excellent run of recent form, getting herself to the front late, staying on well to grab a 575m contest. She has six wins from her last 10 starts now, making it 20 all told in her career.

The other open on the night went the way of Unmistakeable for Martyn Wiley. He is another who has been red-hot of late, this his third win in his last four outings. He is well suited to the 575m test here, getting himself out in front from an early stage and never looking back.