PERRY BARR racing manager Martin Seal is looking forward to yet another top-class evening of open-race action at the Birmingham track on Thursday – with the Arena Racing Company Oaks Final the showpiece event on the card.

Last week’s semi-finals, which shared the stage with the Scurry Gold Cup semis, saw Irish tracker Skywalker Cilla star once again as the Mark O’Donovan-trained Irish Derby Consolation winner maintained her unbeaten record in the event.

Pacing up well in the third semi alongside fast-starting Ballymac Trend, the reigning champion, Skywalker Cilla used the inside line to lead David Mullins’ star off the bend and kick on before winning by four lengths in 27.96sec (+10) for the 480m.

The first semi went to the Jim Reynolds-trained Ritzy Lady (28.50sec +10) with the striped-jacketed runner always handy before edging ahead at the three-quarter pole to cross the line half a length in front of Irish star Billis Diva, who did well to qualify after a troubled run.

Kevin Hutton, unlucky in the first and third semis with third-placed Magical Firebird and Lights Out, landed a superb one-two in the second semi with Droopys Samantha’s all-round speedy enough to edge Anniversary Girl by a neck in 28.49sec (+10).

“You’d have to say Kevin was unlucky not to have qualified four runners into the final!” said Perry Barr RM Seal, “but he still has a double chance in what is a really top-class final and one we’re proud to be staging here at Perry Barr.

“Indeed, we’re greatly looking forward to Thursday, which is the culmination of what has been a fantastic couple of months here for top-class racing.

“Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Arena Racing, the Oaks and Scurry Gold Cup retain their place in the sporting calendar, giving connections of the sport’s top bitches and sprinters the chance to add their names to already glorious rolls of honour.

“My thanks are extended to all connections who entered the Oaks and Scurry Gold Cup. Their participation has ensured we’ve been treated to a feast of superb racing by greyhounds at the very top of their game – and I’d like to add a special mention for the Kennedy and O’Donovan families who have made multiple journeys across the Irish Sea in search of further glory for two super-talented bitches in Billis Diva and Skywalker Cilla.

“Their sportsmanship and commitment has proved the cherry on the cake of what is the premier competition in its division.

“I really believe the draw for the Arena Racing Company Oaks Final has afforded each finalist a realistic chance of landing the bitches’ Classic, with two rails, two middle and two wide seeds making up the field.

“All six participants arrive in fantastic shape, having been trained to perfection throughout by their astute handlers – and there’s also the chance of history being made with Ballymac Trend looking to successfully defend the famous title.

“The Scurry Gold Cup Final, a GBGB Category Two event, is no less competitive and, in a contest where a fraction of a second could make the difference between victory and defeat, there will be no margin for error. It certainly spices an already cracking card here.”

Trap draw and form for Thursday’s Arena Racing Company Oaks Final: 1 Billys Diva, 2 Droopys Samantha, 3 Ballymac Trend (m), 4 Skywalker Cilla (m), 5 Anniversary Girl (w), 6 Ritzy Lady (w).