HOLLOW MAN was again fastest in the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes at Romford on Friday, albeit thoughts on the night were with kennelmate Candolim Monsoon after his injury in the third semi of the 575m annual.

Trained at Hove by Derek Knight, the Coral Sussex Cup champion suffered a broken bone in his shoulder when knocked over the third turn in the six-bend contest. He has been reported comfortable by connections who, while acknowledging he will not race again with a long recovery ahead, still have him which is the main thing.

Semi-final night in the GBGB Category One had started well for the Knight kennel after ante-post favourite and new track record holder Hollow Man cut loose again in the second semi, pacing up off a level break to lead at the turn before drawing clear.

Never in danger, the June 2021 son of Pat C Sabbath and Leezie Lindsay raced away to leave just the race for second – and a qualifying spot in Friday’s £20,000 decider – which was taken by the always-second Ballintee Noshow (Maxine Locke).

The winning distance was four lengths and the winning time 34.74sec (normal).

Nathan Hunt’s Droopys Google drifted to 6-1 for the first semi-final but the outsider of the field made a mockery of those odds with a faultless performance in the first semi as the Sussex Cup runner-up broke smartly from the midfield and paced up into the lead.

In front at the bend, he ran strongly throughout to score by one and three-quarter lengths from Derby Plate winner Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis), who held the running-on Haka Carlo (Nathan Hunt), a kennelmate of the winner, by a short-head to make the final.

The winning time for Droopys Google, a March 2021 son of Malachi and Droopys Saga, was 35.07sec – and the victory delighted his trainer, although he first wanted to wish connections of Candolim Monsoon the very best with his recovery.

“He’s been a fantastic dog,” said winning trainer Hunt. “Google finished second to him in the Sussex Cup final at Hove, so we know what a class act he is – and I wish Derek (Knight) and his team all the best,” said winning trainer Hunt.

“As for Google, he’s delighted us again. I’m still not sure why he went off outsider of the field, although he didn’t know!

“He always give his best and has done us and his owners (Nathan Hunt Racing Club) proud. Friday will be his fourth major final after Central Park (Arc Kent Plate), Hove (Coral Sussex Cup) and Towcester (RPGTV Derby Plate) – at Towcester he was second to Whyaye Man, so they’re also old rivals now.

“Being drawn in red on Friday might not be where we’d have chosen but hopefully he can use the inside to his advantage. As you’d expect for a Champion Stakes final it’s red-hot and we’re delighted to be involved, although it would have been nice to have had two – Haka Carlo was unlucky not to make the final himself.”

The third semi-final, marred by the injury to Candolim Monsoon, ultimately produced a rousing finish with the fast-starting Belinda Green-trained Ninja Kerry winning by the narrowest of margins from the game Havana Top Note (Liz McNair).

Last year’s Sussex Cup champion was again smartly into stride and soon in pole position but was quickly joined by Havana Top Note who nosed ahead down the back-straight second time before Ninja Kerry, a November 2019 son of Droopys Jet and Ninja Penny, rallied to edge his rival in 34.97sec.

Trap draw for Friday’s Premier Greyhound Racing Champion Stakes Final: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Romford/form-guides/19-FRIDAY-PROOF_2023-10-13-212019.pdf