Sunday open race report – Kestrel and Plunge win at Towcester

Sunday open race report – Kestrel and Plunge win at Towcester 

The bet365 Empress Stakes first-round heats took centre stage yesterday with all six heats covered – HERE

Elsewhere, on the card we saw 2025 Star Sports / TRC English Greyhound Derby champion Droopys Plunge take Division One of the Towcester Standard at 5.39 in 28.89 following a 4.15 sectional. Sent off as the 4/9 favrourite the Partrick Janssens-trained railer popped out, grabbed the rails and this was all over bar the shouting down the back straight. Plunge took the race by three and a half lengths with the lightly raced Kevin Hutton-trained Kranky Drake taking second. Drake finished fourth in the Arc Puppy Classic a couple of weeks back and went into plenty of notebooks. He showed nice pace throughout to chase home Droopys Plunge, and he looks a top prospect for the kennel. 

Division Two at 5.21 saw Antigua Kestrel line up as the 3/10 favourite from T1 for Kevin Hutton. Kestrel recently ran in the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers and showed plenty of early zip over six-bends. Yesterday, back over four-bends, Kestrel paced up well into the corner and led round and it was all over once on the bunny over this 500 metre distance. Carmac Cash (T2) attempted to mount a challenge but could never land a blow on the impressive winner who recorded 28.89. 

The Towcester Sprint at 4.07 saw a shock with Ballinakill Liam finishing second at 4/5 beaten a length and three quarters by Brinkleys Samara from T5. Sent off at 5s, Samara pinged the lids and was a couple clear at the corner and the August 2023 son of Ballymac Bolger was not for catching as he made it six wins in his last eight races. 

The Towcester Stayers at 4.44 over the six-bend 712-metre trip saw Sehnsa Mac make all from T1 at 4s in 43.21 following a 16.00 sectional. Romeo Aragon (T4) finished second beaten a length and three quarters, with race favourite Fabulous Masie (T3) in third and a further half a length back. The forecast paid £17.15 with the tricast paying £29.66. 

The final race on the Towcester card at 5.54 saw the Ester Driver-trained Air Flyer line up as the 5/6 favourite for the Maiden open race over 500 metres. Air Flyer popped out from T3 and led round with Fire Height Lila (T6) on his outside. Out of the second bend, Lila drove the corner and forced Air Flyer to check and, suddenly, the Mark Wallis-trained Fire Height Lila was a couple clear. Lila has run over six and eight bends recently, so she clearly stays well. Once in front she was not for catching as the January 2023 daughter of Ballymac Cashout ran out an impressive winner in 29.11. Air Flyer finished second with Our Big Bill (T5) in third. 

Blackbird treble at Star Pelaw

On Sunday, September 7, the Dean Blackbird kennel recorded a treble at Star Pelaw with winners at 5s, 4s and 2/7 on a cracking night's racing at the Birtley venue. 

The first of the Blackbird-trained treble was Tullymurry Shine in the Star Pelaw Maiden Sprint Trophy open race at 6.29 over the two-bend 245-metre trip. Sent off at 4s, the September 2022 daughter of Newinn Taylor bolted up winning by over two lengths after showing electric early pace into the corner. Hugo Be Slick challenged but the 1/2 favourite could never land a blow on the impressive winner. 

Tullymurry Shine, Star Pelaw winner. Image - Star Pelaw Greyhounds X 

That’s It Jack, the second of three winners for Dean Blackbird, was sent off as the 2/7 favourite for the Maiden 590 Trophy at 7.24 and backers never had a moment's doubt as the railer pinged the lids, kicked for home and recorded an eight and three-quarter lengths victory in 36.39 with Annadown Debbie in second from T6. 

The third of the Dean Blackbird-trained winners was sent off at more of a working man's price, with Nah Then Keefill taking the Sprint Trophy at 8.16. Sent off at 5s with wide seed, soon put this race to bed with an impressive turn of pace into the corner. Nah Then Keefill went onto record a two and a quarter length victory in 14.56 with Laughill Rex in second from T1. 

Nah Then Keefill, Star Pelaw winner. Image - Star Pelaw Greyhounds X 

Elsewhere, on the card we saw Ardmayle Lady (T2) take the Maiden Trophy at 6.11 in 25.78 at 5/2 with Jaydee Baby in second from T3. The Star Sports Greyhound Family Marathon at 7.42 over the eight-bend, 780-metre trip saw a shock with Busy Cailin in T5 finishing third at 1/3. Slamannan Villa led round from T2, but she couldn’t hold off a late challenge from Ballycoole Maggy (T4), who powered clear late on to record an eight-length victory in 48.81 at 7/2. 

Ballycoole Maggy, Star Pelaw winner. Image - Star Pelaw Greyhounds X

The Star Pelaw Maiden at 7.58 did go to plan for favourite backers, with Ya No making all from T6 in 26.06 to reward those that snapped up the 4/5 on offer from track bookmakers. Anglesey Oneway (T6) stayed on well to grab second with Rebel Elizabeth in third from T1. 

In recent weeks, Fabulous Spell has finished fourth, third and second. Last night, the February 2023 daughter of Romeo Magico got her head in front when taking the Stayers Trophy open race at 8.52 at 9/4. Fabulous Spell turned handy behind leader Killieford Goram, and it was race on. Off the final bend Fabulous Spell mounted her challenge and got up late on to record a half-length victory in 36.16. 

Fabulous Spell, Star Pelaw winner. Image - Star Pelaw Greyhounds X 

The Star Sports #Bettingpeople Standard at 9.09 saw Toonrlee make it three wins from his last four races over course and distance. Sent off at 5s, the David Wilkinson-trained wide seed turned handy and then hit the front down the back straight. Once on the bunny, the July 2023 son of Ballymac Wild kicked for home and took the race by two lengths with even-money favourite Madabout Peck in second from T4. 

The final race on the card at Star Pelaw saw Tromora Meg (T1), Moanteen Pudding (T2), Dominoh Hoo Hoo (T5) and Sharp Royd (T6) line up over the 435-metre trip. The bookmakers had Meg as the 15/8 favourite with Dominoh Hoo Hoo and Sharp Royd in next at 9/4. It looked like a competitive race on paper, but Meg had other ideas and pinged out and made all to land the race by nine lengths in 25.37. Tromara Meg was aided by Moanteen Pudding moving off at lid rise and at the first corner and giving Dominoh Hoo Hoo and Sharp Royd a hefty bump.