Tipperary hope Blackstone Cola bids for Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger glory

Irish raider set for Dunstall task

Ireland will bid to win only its second Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger title in the competition’s 98-year history at Dunstall Park Stadium in Wolverhampton this month.

The Emerald Isle will be represented by David Flanagan’s Blackstone Cola who makes her eagerly anticipated UK debut on Saturday night in heat two of the historic competition, which is worth £20,000 to the winner.

Redzer Ardfert (2019) remains the only Irish representative to have won Britain’s premier stayers crown, which was held at Wembley Stadium between 1928 and 1998 before transferring to Wimbledon, Perry Barr and Nottingham.

It has now found a new home in Wolverhampton following the launch of greyhound racing at Dunstall Park by Arena Racing Company as part of the operator’s multi-million-pound investment into the sport’s future.

And trainer David is looking forward to his first visit to the UK’s newest track.

“As they say, it’s a long way to Tipperary,” said David.

“But I’m hoping it will be worth the trip as we have struggled to find the right six-bend open class races for her in Ireland.

“The owner is up for it, and the trip will be no bother to her.

“We just hope she takes to the track well as we’re starting the heats without a look as I feel four weekends of six-bend racing back-to-back could leave us vulnerable if she were to reach the final.

“I haven’t travelled to England to race since the days of Coventry, so it’s well over a decade ago.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s an adventure and we have a chance of taking on England’s best.”

Other notable entries for this year’s St Leger include last year’s runner-up Droopys Flare, who won her first Category One crown at the fifth attempt by landing the Regency at Hove last month.

Mark Wallis’ Vhagar – who finished third behind Mongys Wild and Droopys Flare in last year’s St Leger final – is another to feature prominently in the market having already won the Summer Stayers, Challenge Cup and Arena Racing Company Grand Prix.

The night also features six heats for the £12,500 Arena Racing Company Birmingham Cup where local hopes will be pinned on Ruth Lambe’s Advantage Rule in heat four and Santas Tornado in heat six.

Tickets for the Premier Greyhound Racing St Leger and ARC Birmingham Cup heats on Saturday, September 5, are available online via www.dunstallpark-greyhounds.co.uk. Doors open at 5.30pm, with the first of 12 races on the night off at 6.20pm.

A limited number of free admission tickets have been made available on a first come first served basis too for finals night on September 19.