V for Victory for Vhagar at Monmore
Semi-finals of the BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby and Harry Burton Trophy take centre-stage at Newcastle
Wallis six-bend star shines as Duke lords it for Cahill one-two
VHAGAR (1-20F) clocked up another competition success at Monmore on Thursday when racing away to land the Ladbrokes.com 630 Final, one of two Category Three finals at the Wolverhampton venue.
Winner last year of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at the same track, Mark Wallis's classy bitch soon dominated to score a seven and a quarter length win from Aero Boris (Richie Taberner) in a slick 37.26 for the six bends.
Dave Page's Wise Tournament (5-2), pictured, posted the fastest four-bend time of the night when winning the Ladbrokes.com 480 Bitches Final in just her fourth UK start, quick to stride and never headed for a four and three-quarter length success over Venetian Jojo (Kevin Hutton) in 28.19sec.
The other final on the card - the Ladbrokes.com 480 Maiden Final - went to another local hope in the shape of Brian Thompson's Westway Macho (15-8F) who was quickly away to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Beatties Casino (Kim Billingham-Hine) in 28.52 for the four bends.
Three heat-and-final competitions also graced the card, with one of the most eye-catching runs being the victory of Mike Burton's Derby heat winner Carrick Scholsey back up in trip in heat two of the Ladbrokes.com Dual Distance Stayers.
Newcastle hosted the semi-finals of two Category Two events as the Byker venue counts down to a cracking finals night fixture next week.
Semi-finals of both the BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby and Harry Burton Trophy took centre-stage with John Flaherty's Ballycian Boy (28.80) and Brian Fairbairn's Glengar Vegas (28.95) winning the British-bred semis, with Savva Roberts' Mossend Brute (28.70) and Jimmy Fenwick's Ballymac Service (28.46) taking the two semi-finals of a 480m event staged in memory of the popular former trainer.
Pick of the open races at Hove was the final of the Coral 695 Stayers Trophy which was won by Seamus Cahill's Powerhouse Duke (1-3F) who led early on his way to a comfortable six-length win over kennemate Ivy Hill Cherry for a Cahill one-two in 41.45.
*Trap draw and form for next week's Newcastle, Hove and Monmore finals can be found on the Greyhound News UK WhatsApp channel.
