Monmore open report – Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic and Gold Cup semi-finals

Monmore open report – Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic and Gold Cup semi-finals

The first semi-final of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at 7.06 went to the Mark Wallis-trained superstar New Destiny with a quick-away-made-all success in 37.53 to reward those that took the 5/6 on offer from bookmakers. Gary The Arb finished second, beaten four and a quarter lengths behind the winner but safely qualified for next Saturday's Category One final.

Ladbrokes Summer Stayers  classic first semi-final winner New Destiny. Image - Monmore Greyhound X

In the second semi-final, all the money was for the Patrick Janssens-trained railer Romeo Empire in T1. Available at 4/5 in the morning, the February 2023 son of Romeo Magico was sent off as the 2/5 favourite but met serious trouble at the first bend and finished third and was eliminated from the competition. Antigua Kestrel pinged the lids and was clear at halfway from T3. Clona Ice made his move down the back straight and set his sights on the leader. At the fifth bend it was race on. Off the final bend, Clona Ice hit the front and powered clear to record a three-and-a-half length victory in 38.03 at 9/2. Kestrel took second and booked his place in the final.

Ladbrokes Summer Stayers classic second semi-final winner Clona Ice. Image - Monmore Greyhound X

Next up was the turn of Vhagar, who was sent off as the 4/11 favourite from T3. At lid rise, the Mark Wallis-trained runner trapped well, led round, and it was all over bar the shouting for odds-on backers. Vhagar took the race by over four lengths in 37.57. Bombay Nutty stayed on well from T5 to grab the second qualifying spot.

Ladbrokes Summer Stayers classic third semi-final winner Vhagar. Image - Monmore Greyhound X

The Ladbrokes Gold Cup semi-finals then took centre stage with the first heat taking place at 7.56 over the four-bend 480-metre trip at the Midlands venue Monmore. Headford Dane took the first semi-final in 28.27, leading at the fourth bend to record a two-and three-quarter length success at 6s. Avarua Zlatan finished second and booked his place in the final.

Ladbrokes Gold Cup first semi-final winner Headford Dane. Image - Monmore Greyhound X

The second semi-final at 8.13 saw a thrilling finish with Jacktavern Chief taking the race from T4 at 5/4 by a short head. Ardera Sam grabbed second from T3 with Aero Pattika (T1) and Da Mighty Man (T6) in third and fourth a further short head back.

Ladbrokes Gold Cup second semi-final winner Jacktavern Chief. Image - Monmore Greyhound X

The third semi-final at 8.31 saw recent BetGoodwin Pall Mall winner Gingers Prince line up from T1 as the 7/4 favourite. As they approached the first bend, Gingers Prince, Born Racer (T3) Armagh Daithi (T4) and Crossfield Enzo (T5) all attempted to lead round and something had to give. Armagh Daithi hit the front out of the second bend and powered clear to record a six and a quarter length victory in 28.21 with Gingers Prince safely through to the Category One final that takes place on Saturday, August 23.

Ladbrokes Gold Cup third semi-final winner Armagh Daithi. Image - Monmore Greyhound X

Elsewhere, on the stacked card at Monmore the Peter Billingham Memorial Trophy heats at 6.31, 6.48 and 8.47 went to Droopys Scratch from T6 in 28.57 at 5s, Not So Steady from T4 in 28.34 at 4/9 and Turnthemagicon from T5 in 28.48 at 8/11. Turnthemagicon did just that down the back straight with an impressive display from the September 2023 youngster from the Maxine Locke kennel.

Three heats of the Vixons Contracts Ltd Trophy were next at Monmore with Scooby The Boss taking the first at 9.04 from T4 in 28.76 at 9/4 with a neck back to Aero Optional in second. The second heat at 9.23 went to Newinn Oscar from the Nathan Hunt kennel at 11/10 in 28.26 with Senahel Sydney staying on for second from T6. The third and final heat at 9.39 also went to the Nathan Hunt kennel with Bang On Edith making all from T2 in 29.35 to reward those that snapped up the 11/10 on offer from bookmakers. Slingshot Gazza finished second from T4.

Oxford open report

The BGBF British Bred Oaks final at 8.26 went to Coppice Lottie in 27.03 at 9s as the Kevin Hutton-trained runner got up on the line in a thrilling finish to deny kennelmate Miss Kubelik, who attempted to make all from T6. Dreamin Francis finished third, a length and a quarter behind the front pair.

BGBF British Bred Oaks winner Coppice Lottie. Image - Oxford Greyhound X

Elsewhere, on the card we saw wins for Swift Magnison (10/11), Coppice Trophy (15/8), Rioja Maxi (4/9), Coppice Ronnie (4/6) and Crannon Lady at 6s.

Yarmouth open report

The Kevin Cobbald kennel recorded a double at Yarmouth on Saturday, August 16 with Swift Jericho (T1) taking the Click Competitions Maiden Standard at 7.55 by over three lengths at 6/4 and Worth The Risk winning the Click Competitions EA Derby Trial Stakes open at 9.07 at 5s from T4.

Elsewhere, on the card, Alberts Lass took division one the C & C Sheds Maiden Stayers open at 8.12 with a three-quarters of a length victory in 41. 31 at 7s. Division two went Bish Bosh Bashy from T4 with an impressive run from the Basher Watts-owned Jason Bloomfield-trained runner. Bashy took the race by two and three-quarter lengths at 11/4.

The Click Competitions East Anglian Derby Trial Stakes open at 8.26, went to 6/5 favourite Bockos Buster from the Kevin Boon kennel with an impressive display of early pace. Bockos Buster is very lightly raced and is open to further improvement. He could be a major player in the competition outright and is worth noting in the market once bookmakers price up the Category One event.

Next up were two divisions of the Sunday Betting & Brekkie for £10 Stayers with Bogger Cash (T4) taking the first at 8.49 in 40.52 at 5/6 and Pavilion Colleen (T4) taking the second at 4s in 40.87.

Central Park open report

The Jenningsbet Bitches Trophy open race at 7.05 went to Coppice Lizzie from T3 with the November 2021 daughter of Dorotas Wildcat getting up late on to catch Jumpstart Sarah, who attempted to make all from T6. The winner clocked 29.20, winning by half a length to reward those that took the 2s on offer with bookmakers.

The Arc Maiden Trophy open at 7.45 saw an impressive staying performance from Ballydoyle Megan with the Julie Luckhurst-trained runner hitting the front off the final bend before powering clear to record a two and a half-length victory in 29.32 at 6s.

Doncaster open report

Three opens took place at Doncaster on Saturday, August 16, with wins for a double for the Calvert kennel. The Doncaster 661 Standard open race over the six-bend trip went to Knockard Joe (T6) at 6/4 in 41.75 with Darling Moaner back in second from T1 four lengths behind the impressive winner. The Doncaster 483 Standard open at 7.24 and saw a thrilling finish with Bombay Fantasy (T5) getting up late on at 10s to deny Agile Ange from T6 in 29.93, winning by a short head. The Doncaster Maiden open was next up at 7.42 with another close finish as Blueys Elle took the race in 30.01 with a neck back to Snowgall in second from T4. The winner was a 5/2 chance with the bookmakers and the forecast paid £23.96.