Runaway Dior lands the Brighton Belle for Paul Donovan

Dior runs away early to claim the Brighton Belle

Paul Donovan claimed the final four-bend Cat One ahead of the Derby, at Hove on Saturday. Runaway Dior was well-named on her displays through the competition. She showed by far the best early gears to get herself out and gone last night, avoiding the trouble behind.

The opening round of the Brighton Belle was her first race for five months and her debut for Donovan after leaving Theresa Dornan. She missed out by a neck on going through the competition unbeaten, Harlequin Beauty just running her down in the semis.

It was left to the Seamus Cahill-trained Dark Madam to chase her home in the final with hot favourite Queen Shakira in third. Shakira was brave to squeeze through a small gap at the opening bend to give chase down the back but it left her vulnerable to a stronger stayer late in the race for second. 

Resonate kept on powerfully for fourth. From a repeat mating that produced Jet Stream Angel and a half-sister to Irish Derby winner Susie Sapphire, Kevin Hutton's pup should have her best days still ahead. Harlequin Beauty and Highview Jasman filled out the field.

Headford Asher takes the Puppy Cup

Another month, another potential star pup uncovered by Maxine Locke and the JR Racing Syndicate! After Headford Dane started his career with an unbeaten run though the PGR Puppy Derby at Monmore, his litter brother Asher produced the same in the Cat Two affair at Hove, winning the final in a flying 28.88.

Not only was his eight and a half length winning time the fastest of the year so far, it is the sixth quickest produced over 500m at Hove since the distance came into being in 2019. It was the quickest of the night over the distance by almost four lengths with Missile One for Seamus Cahill and Amazing Zeus for Richard Rees the next pair on the list. 

Paul Young had a double on the card with Bubbly Carvo and Droopys Alldeway doing the business. Ower Cracker won for the first time for June Harvey. The Limerick 600y track record holder was unfortunate enough to draw an opening round heat in the 2024 Star Sports Derby that contained both De Lahdedah and Churchfield Syd. 

Teddie made some amends for her Brighton Belle semi-final exit with a quick 29.90, the quickest of 2025 so far over 515m for Belinda Green. She was one of five to have an entry made in the Star Sports Greyhound Derby yesterday along with Ted Soppitt's Sunnyside Broxi, Racenight Ivan for Allison Kelly-Pilgrim and a pair for Kim Billingham-Hine in Beatties Razl and Beatties Casino.

Liz McNair had Queen Sinead take out the sprint on the card, Saint Maga caused a massive 28/1 shock over six bends for Patrick Browne while One Slick Jamie scored for Paul Marchant.

Disco with deadly 684m Monmore win

The Golden Jacket gets underway next Saturday night, with Deadly Disco laying down a solid marker with a 40.94 success. That is the second time that the Richard Rees-trained hound has clocked that same time, just four spots off Mongys Wild's fastest of the year. Although that star was not in action, Mark Wallis still took the other race over the Golden Jacket distance with Newinn Cloud as well as the sprint on the card with Ballinakill Liam.

Richie Taberner had a double on the card courtesy of Serene Highway and Droopys Maximus. Maiden Derby runner-up Ballybough Nutz justified short odds over 480m despite giving the impression he left a couple of lengths in the traps. Brian Thompson is yet to get a clear run with Paradise Sky who has had a bit of a stop-start career but she showed just how talented she can be with a 28.06 success. The other open was a dead heat between Bridefort Lady and New For Me for Nathan Hunt and Kim Billingham-Hine respectively.

Double for Kevin Hutton at Oxford

There were fewer opens at Oxford for the Kevin Hutton team to aim at this week but they still took home two of the five with Coppice Ronnie and Signet Nayla scoring. It was a hat-trick of 253m wins for Ronnie who has three of the top 11 times of the year sox far over the distance.

2024 Pall Mall runner-up Long Fellow got himself back on the scoresheet for Matt Dartnall. Alright Gordy added another win to his tally in a six-bend contest for David Lewis while Maggies Dream won the other open on the card for Rachel Hill. 

Central Park brace for Julie Luckhurst

It was a first run over four bends in 2025 for Crossfield Breda after four sprints. She came out on top against Tuono Bella who is building back up to returning to her favoured six bends. Earls Poppy was the shortest priced winner on the card to complete the Luckhurst double. He has two of the top five times over the 664m distance, surrounded by Garfiney Blaze, Head Count and Fabulous Heka!

Bluejig Baron picked up open race win number 16 in his career for Dave Lee, with a comfortable success in the closing contest. Luke Morrison, Carl Gardiner and Debbie Hurlock picked up the other three winners courtesy of Coppice Wanda, Easy Tizzy and Rathcrea Bale respectively.

Pin All In impresses at Yarmouth

The quickest 659m time of the year was produced by Pin All In for Lauren Sawyer yesterday. Since Roxholme Poppy set the track record in 2019, only four dogs have gone quicker than she did last night, Bo Shine Bullet, Bettys Book, Blue Tick George and Gutsy Jet.

There was also a quickest of the year over eight bends where Mrs Doyle did enough on the front end early for Roy Peckham to maintain the lead all the way to the line. The other three contests were all over the 462m trip. Outdoor Charlie was quickest of them for Craig Morris with Kereight Fraud for Erica Samuels and Shes Joking for Kevin Cobbold taking the other pair. 

Grayson and Fradgley on target at Doncaster

There were just two opens on the Doncaster card. David Fradgley won the opening one of those with Tiermana Blaze, a third open race win of the year at Doncaster for the son of Malachi and his first over 483m. The other open went to Kirsty Grayson's Look Smart, an eighth career win in 17 starts for the June 23 pup.

Upcoming Opens

Sunday: Sheffield ♦ Towcester

Monday: Nottingham

Tuesday: Swindon

Friday: Romford ♦ Sunderland