Tiffield Tarquin lands the Coral Essex Vase for Roy Peckham

Tarquin lands his Category One

Tiffield Tarquin proved far too strong for his Coral Essex Vase rivals last night to land the Category One title for Roy Peckham. The bold front-running wide didn't get to the front as early as was the case earlier in the competition with Maxine Locke's Out The Blue giving a bold sight out in front early on, but the writing was on the wall passing the stands for the first time.

It was fairytale V fairytale in the contest, Bill McColl part-owner of Tarquin in his 90s against New Destiny on her final ever run. It was McColl who came out on top and there is not a person in the sport who would begrudge him this win.

Peckham was quick to remind people in an interview with the Racing Post's Dave Clark afterwards that the dog has come back from a broken hock which makes the training achievement even better, praising his dog for the brain he showed to come inside off the second bend to get himself to the front.

It was Gary The Arb who chased him home for Belinda Green. Another big final for one of the most consistent types going with Out The Blue rounding out the front three from the Mark Wallis battalion of Table Toppers, Silverhill Adam and New Destiny.

The other big final was the Coral Silver Maiden which went to David Mullins and Zenith Kindy. A 23.84 win by three and three-quarter lengths was impressive given he didn't pick up the lead until late on in the contest from the front-running Funky Adz. The winner shapes as if he is worth another go over a slightly stiffer four bends, despite not quite getting home over 500m when it was tried last year.

Mullins quickly picked up another with Piemans Goalie in the very next race, forcing himself to the front at the opening bend to take the standard final. He won four times in January 2025, picking up his third win of the month in 2026. There's still one more Friday to equal last year!

He was the last of a treble for the kennel which had been started by Zenith Legend over 575m. He has been a tricky type to win with but that was a second win in his last three starts, so confidence appears to be high and hopefully he can really kick on from here.

New Destiny was not the only greyhound to have her final career start last night with John Mullins's Wrighty also bowing out after a tremendous career. Sadly for connections, Underground Fizz had not read the script, picking up Fabulous Sonique close home to finish off a double for Paul Young. 

Underground Gold had kicked that off in the second race, the August 24 puppy making a winning race debut. He is a half-brother to Gary The Arb and Droopys Eunice, so perhaps he will be back for the 2027 Essex Vase to give the family another finalist?

Another trainer to pick up a double on the evening was Paul Burr. Don Rocco is a fast improving type, taking a good step forward on the clock on each of his three starts in the UK, the pup running out an impressive winner. Jaykay Seven completed the double, another pup going from the front, this time over 575m.

Blackburnybullet smashed out to clock 23.88 for Martyn Wiley to pick up the fourth win of his career. Katie O'Flaherty was on the mark with Dinner Charlie who was the biggest priced winner on the card at 7/1. Nathan Hunt took the sprint to open the card with Bretons Girl, the Guys And Dolls semi-finalist adding to her 400m wins at the track from last year.

Just nine spots covers the three Sunderland open winners

Parkview Sprite was the quickest of the trio, scoring for Tom Heilbron. The winner of three of his five starts in this country, the two races that he ran in that he didn't cross the line in front were won by Santas Amigo and Naochra, no disgrace in being behind that pair of Category One winners.

A length slower was Debbie Calvert's Sole Focus. It was open race winner number four in 2026 from just eight runners for a kennel who have made a very quick start to the year. He showed the best early gears to lead up a decent field, adding to a trio of recent Doncaster wins.

The other open went to Crafty Regalo for Carl Jackson. He completed the clean sweep of winners who popped out the boxes in front to go trap to wire. All three of his wins have come at this venue, seeing off his kennelmate Ballymac Deboss as well as Madabout Peck.