PERRY BARR stadium manager Chris Black is looking forward to staging another major double-header at the Birmingham track on Saturday – plus a £2,000-to-the-winner match race – and is hopeful of better weather this time around!

Just a few weeks after the Birmingham Cup and St Leger finals had to be rescheduled after heavy rain, thunder and lightning caused a mid-meeting abandonment, it is the turn of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks and Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup finals to take centre-stage at the Midlands venue.

“Both finals look fantastic and we’re looking forward to another big night here at Perry Barr and, while rain is again forecast, hopefully it’s not as bad as it’s been in recent weeks!” said Black, who promises a lively atmosphere on and off the track.

“The racing is red-hot and we’re expecting another big Saturday night crowd. We look forward to welcoming owners and trainers to the track, will again look after them, and look forward to hearing their thoughts on their chances.”

A match race will bring the curtain down on the 12-race card after only two entries – Hopiehopiehopie and Beach Babe – stood their ground for the marathon on the card and connections and the track opted for a match race to add spice to the evening.

“It seems a good way to bring the night to a close,” added Black. “It wasn’t something we had planned on but it’s great how it’s worked out and it’ll be interesting to see the reaction.”

Fastest in the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks semi-finals was again Yarmouth Derby champion Druids Say Go as Patrick Janssens’ runner led on the run to the first bend on her way to a fast 27.86sec (normal) in the first semi as she led home Droopys Eunice (Maxine Locke) and Coppice Ella (Kevin Hutton).

The second semi-final sadly saw a career-ending injury suffered by Liz McNair’s star Queen Joni who will now head to the breeding paddocks once her recovery is complete.

The race was won by the Nathan Hunt-trained Icemans Girl who crossed the line four and a quarter lengths clear of Coral Golden Sprint winner Front Alice (Kevin Proctor) and Chamberlain Kate (Carol Weatherall) in 28.30sec (normal).

The Kevin Hutton-trained Rioja Oisin heads into Saturday’s final of the Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup as the new track record holder after stopping the clock in 15.71sec in the third semi-final of the sprinters’ Classic – some nine spots inside the previous best held by Gougane Jet (15.80sec).

The other semis were won by Bill Russell’s locally-trained runner Magical Bluebear (15.98sec) and Newcastle handler Steve Anderson’s Bramble Oreo (15.92sec).

*Trap draw for Saturday’s finals: https://www.perrybarr-greyhounds.co.uk/racing