Monday Open Report - Arc Puppy Classic heats at Nottingham

Monday Open Report - Arc Puppy Classic heats at Nottingham

The Category One Arena Racing Company Puppy Classic heats took place last night at Nottingham with three from each heat going into next Monday's semi-finals. 

The first ARC Puppy Classic heat at 8.01 went to the Kevin Hutton-trained middle seed Kranky Drake (T6) with Bouncing Monarch (T4) in second place and Whisky Elsa (T5) taking third. Sent off as the 3/10 favourite Kranky Drake broke well, but it was Bouncing Monarch who led round and kicked for home off the second bend. Kranky Drake challenged up the inside of Bouncing Monarch down the back straight but checked up and was now two lengths off the lead as they hit the third bend. As they dueled off the fourth and final bend, Kranky Drake showed excellent gears as he hit the front and took the race by a length in 29.54. 

The second semi-final of the Arc Puppy Cup saw recent JR Racing Juvenile third Romeo Ability line up from T4 as the 1/2 favourite. The Patrick Janssens-trained October 2023 son of Romeo Magico trapped well and as they approached the first bend, he made a move for the rails and led round. Droopys Alldeway (T1) showed nice gears to move into second but could never land a blow on the impressive winner who took the race in 29.32 by three and a half lengths. Aghaburren Ben (T6) was a further one and a quarter lengths back in third. 

At 8.36 in the third heat all eyes were on recent JR Racing Juvenile winner Romeo Alliance in T4. Well-supported throughout the day with the 2/5, 1/3 and shorter prices snapped up the Patrick Janssens-trained flying machine was sent off as the 2/13 favourite for his first-round heat. Romeo Alliance trapped well and led round. Zenith Jimbombom checked off from T1 at the corner and suddenly Alliance was half a dozen clear of the chasing pack, and this was all over bar the shouting. Now it was all eyes on the clock. Romeo Alliance went onto record 29.27 with seven and a half lengths back to Zenith Jimbombom in second. Santas Amigo (T5) finished third and booked his place in next week’s semi-finals. 

The fourth semi-final at 8.54 saw Not So Steady line up from T4 as the 30/100 favourite. The September 2023 son of Ballymac Bolger edged off at lid rise and bumped Droopys Poker in T5 and suddenly this was a wide-open race. As they approached the first bend, Not So Steady attempted to pace up. He was about to turn handy and then checked off and half the field were badly bumped, leaving Cooladerrydancer (T1) and Zenith Kindy (T3) eight lengths clear of the pack. At the third bend, Cooladerrydancer edged ahead and kicked for home and that move proved decisive with the Rose Draper-trained pup going onto take the race in 30.10 by just over two lengths with Zenith Kindy in second and Droopys Poker staying on well to grab third. The forecast paid £84.98 and the tricast £341.58. Well done if you found those. 

Semi final draws  

A little earlier on, Skyfall Mini (T2) took the Arc Maiden Trophy open race over the four-bend 480-metre trip at the Colwick Park venue Nottingham. Over this trip, the break is vital, it’s a short run into the corner and Skyfall Mini took advantage of this excellent draw with a vacant box on her inside and made all in 28.43. Odds-on favourite Sharben Rose finished second three- and three-quarter lengths behind the impressive winner. 

Photos from Nottingham dogs X feed 

Next up was the Arc 480 Trophy with the bookmakers making this between Velvet Madrid in T1 as the 5/4 favourite and Ballyhimikin Lee from T2 at 2s. Swift Serena, however, didn’t read the script and pinged the lids from T3 and made all in 28.52 (handtimed) with race favourite Velvet Madrid back in second, beaten by four and a half lengths. 

Favourite backers did land the second Arc Trophy open race at 7.44 with Noels Shadow taking the race as the 11/8 favourite from T1. Bogger Darling (T5), who was a recent Arc Angel of The North finalist at Newcastle, led round, but she left a gap on her inside down the back straight and Noels Shadow seized his opportunity and drove the third bend and hit the front and went onto record a one and three-quarter length victory in 28.45 with Toolmaker Quick (T2) taking second. 

The Arc Sprint Trophy at 9.11 went to Newinn Bachelor from T5 with a quick-away-made-all success in 17.55 with three and a half lengths back to Time Counts (T1) in second and a further length and a half back to Beatties Lyra in third. 

At the end of the card, two heats of the Arc Six Bend Dual Distance Trophy took place at 9.28 and 9.46. The first heat saw Beatties Electra start as the 1/2 favourite from T3 and those that snapped up the prices on offer never had a moment's worry as the Kim Billingham-Hine-trained runner popped out and made all in 41.38, recording a five-length success with Wolf Moon (T4) back in second and Slippy Nora taking third from T1.

The second heat of the Arc Six Bend Dual Distance Trophy, however, didn’t go to plan for favourite backers with the Craig Morris-trained Borna Parachute finishing fourth following early trouble. Sent off as the 4/6 favourite this was all about Borna Parachute getting a clear run on Nottingham debut but at the second bend Champys Girl (T2) and Borna Parachute met trouble with both just about managing to stay in the race. This trouble at the corner saw Loxleys Tempo (T5) skip half a dozen clear with Vale Bluebell turning in second. Bluebell made up plenty of ground and off the final bend it was race on, but Loxleys Tempo stuck her neck out to take the race by half a length in 41. 51 with Vale Bluebell in second and Champys Girl in third.  

Prior to racing taking place at Nottingham Star Sports / TRC English Greyhound Derby winner Droopys Plunge recorded a flying 29.16 trial in preparation for the upcoming £12,500 to the winner Arena Racing Company Select Stakes over the four-bend 500 metre trip at Nottingham.

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