MINGLERS POPEPE, the Stuart Tighe-trained Ladbrokes Gold Cup champion at Monmore, has the Arc-backed Classic at Sunderland in November as his next major target having been awarded the RPGTV/GWA Greyhound of the Month for August.

Currently sidelined after suffering an injury in the heats of the (M Lambe Construction) Birmingham Cup at Perry Barr, the May 2018 son of Sparta Maestro and Minglers Suarez has responded well to treatment and connections are confident of him returning for the 450m Category One at the north-east venue.

Part-owned by trainer Tighe with Richard Colquhoun, Kelly Macari and Robert Malone, Minglers Popeye ran unbeaten through the Gold Cup at Monmore to seal a first GBGB Category One title for Newcastle trainer Tighe.

Always well regarded at the Trimdon, Co. Durham, kennels of Tighe having reached the Shelbourne Gold Cup final earlier this year, Minglers Popeye reached the quarter-finals of the Derby at Towcester before heading to the Wolverhampton venue for a crack at the Gold Cup, the UK version.

Tighe said: “Popeye’s well just now. He’s recovering from an injury he unfortunately sustained in the heats of the Birmingham Cup but focus at the moment is getting him back   in time for the Classic.

“Thank-you to RPGTV and the GWA for voting him dog of the month for August. He did us all proud winning the Gold Cup unbeaten – and winning this award has just topped thing off. We actually got a few nice dogs in from new owners off the back of Popeye’s success so that’s really encouraging.”

Clive Lawrence, RPGTV’s executive producer, said: “Minglers Popeye was at the top of his game throughout the Ladbrokes Gold Cup and remember that was a top-class final he put to the sword live on RPGTV. The form worked our really well.

“Signet Ace, who went off favourite, won the (Arc) Select Stakes a few days later and Antigua Storm, who finished second at Monmore to Minglers Popeye, went on to win the (BresBet) East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth.”

In landing the monthly honour backed by RPGTV and voted for by members of the GWA, Minglers Popeye edged four other nominations – Paul Young’s Bubbly Apache, Angela Harrison’s Coolavanny Bani, Diane Henry’s Savana Volcano and Kevin Hutton’s Signet Ace.