Saturday Open Race Report from November 15
There was open class racing from Central Park, Doncaster, Monmore and Yarmouth on Saturday with Seamus Cahill hitting the headlines with a treble at Central Park
Cahill raids Central Park with a treble
A full slate of 13 open races in Kent saw Hove's Seamus Cahill bring a strong raiding party which included a trio of winners. The pick of those was Champion Stakes finalist Moving Force. He was comfortably the fastest of the 491m runs on the night to land the opening leg of the treble.
Yougo Charlie followed up in the very next race, though at 10/1, he was not one of the more likely Cahill winners on the night. His early pace got him to the front early and he was able to hold off all comers. Cahill had to wait until the final race of the night to land the treble courtesy of Droopys Invent, who took full advantage of the space afforded to him with vacant traps either side.
Julie Luckhurst had a pair of winners over six bends split by just seven spots. Bullseye Bill was the quicker of the pair but Snowdon Champ was making just his second start in a staying race after winning his debut over 664m at the track back in September.
Another trainer to pick up a brace of winners on the day was Dan Brabon. Millbank Pizazz produced the quickest time over 664m on the evening while Blastoff Kobbie produced a slick break at the perfect time to land a Category Three final.
King Presley was the shortest-price winner on the night in the sprint for Liz McNair. He has been exceptional at his home venue this year, winning nine of his last 10 over the 277m distance and has 21 wins overall, the most of any open race greyhound in the country this year.
One of the more interesting runners on the card was Paul Donovan's Innfield Force, though a non runner made the task easier, it was still a solid display on his UK debut. He'll likely to strip fitter for the run and should do better in time.
Other winners on the card were Raymonds Charlie in a sprint for Nick Carter, Dave Puddy's Danas Star and Ricky Holloway's Mickys Tribute over four bends and Zenith Ottoman for David Mullins over six bends.
Roanna Mamba continues Doncaster domination
Michelle Brown taking Roanna Mamba to Doncaster on a Saturday night has looked a stroke of genius in recent weeks, the speedy son of Pestana extending his perfect record at the track to 5/5. He has got the better of Rental Crisis in a pair of those wins, a sprinter who rattled off 12 wins in a 15-race spell himself in the summer. Stopping the clock at 16.62, it was Roanna Mamba's best time so far.
Although David Fradgeley was out of luck with Rental Crisis, his stayer Daring Moaner continued her own Doncaster domination with a fifth win from her last six runs over 661m. The St Leger finalist now has six of the 12 fastest times of the year over the track and distance.
Phil Milner picked up a double on the night through Keefill Goose and Keefill Rocky. It was a first win for the former since August, making the final of the Yorkshire Derby and the semis of the BresBet Steel City Cup in the interim. The latter has won five of his eight starts since missing the better part of five months and still holds the quickest 450m time of the year at Doncaster.
Look Smart was the quickest on the night over the 450m trip for Kirsty Grayson. He was a short head behind Keefill Rocky last week in a 450m standard and the pair will clash again next Saturday in the final of this 450m competition.
Over 483m, the quickest on the card was Robert Copping's Coolruss Dungary. It was a smart enough field in behind him, with Our Big Bill and Stonepark Wes both regular scorers at this track chasing him home.
Three other opens on the card were won by Debbie Calvert's Rebel Idaho, David Verner's Readyandthereoff and Samantha Lapidge's Ballarue Rolo.
Blanco tops the Monmore runs
Ballymac Blanco followed up a recent Hove win from last weekend with the quickest time of the three 480m contests at Monmore. Maxine Locke's runner showed the best middle gears to get himself to the front and pick up his third win in four starts.
Just one spot covered the other pair of 480 races with Richie Taberner's Aero Becks the pick of the pair over Mark Wallis's Coonough May. The latter had looked a nice type in Ireland, getting her head in front for the first time for Wallis, while Aero Becks got her head back in front after a recent run to the semis of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks.
There was also a 630m contest on the card which went to Esther Driver's Carmac Cash. In a maiden stayers final, there were three non runners, so it ended up being an easier task with the winner sent off at 1/4.
Manthorpe's Sailor lands sole Yarmouth open
There was a single open on the Saturday afternoon card at Yarmouth. It was won by Thymelea Sailor for Scott Manthorpe at 9/1, turning over Travel Safe who was turned over the odds on favourite. It was only the second race that the dog has contested since July 2024, so a huge credit to connections for their patience in bringing him back to the track.
