BROOKSIDE RICHIE roared back to winning form when posting the fastest time in the heats of the Premier Greyhound Racing All England Cup at Newcastle on Tuesday.

 

The first time the four-bend GBGB Category One has been run under the PGR banner, Jimmy Fenwick’s Arc Select Stakes champion proved the star of the six heats on the clock with an authoritative display in heat three of the 480m annual.

 

Pacing up well alongside fast-trapping Paisley Pearl (Neil Brown), the October 2019 son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Greatest was in complete control at the bend and raced away to win thereafter by six lengths in 28.49sec (-20), with Paisley Pearl and Droopys Gravy (Stuart Tighe) filling the qualifying places.

 

Training honours on the night went to John Mullins who made a successful journey north with Swift Iconic and Mr Chelm winning heats two and six respectively.

 

First up was Swift Iconic in heat two as the recent Gain Greyhound Nutrition Gold Cup winner at Oxford continued his fine run with a slick start and all-the-way victory. The October 2020 son of Droopys Roddick and Swift Biology was never headed as he crossed the line two lengths clear of Crystal Pinkys (Ben Reynolds) and Moanteen Cindy (Angela Harrison) in 28.73 (-20).

 

Mr Chelm, the Star Sports English Derby runner-up formerly known as Kildare, made a winning start for new connections in a high-class heat six.

 

Always just in front after a fast start, the July 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Palermo had to withstand challenges from both Towcester Derby third Mickys Barrett and dual Category One winner Move Over Cha (Angela Harrison) before landing the spoils in a cracking heat by half-a-length and a short-head in 28.74sec (-20).

 

Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks finalist Global Prima (Patrick Janssens) edged out fast-starting Freedom Alibi (Tom Heilbron) by a neck in heat one after the pair duelled for the lead from the outset. Ultimately it was the September 2019 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Katie who prevailed in 28.64sec (-20).

 

Gain Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps winner Coolavanny Aunty (Angela Harrison) qualified for Tuesday’s semi-finals in third here – and will be joined by kennelmate March On Larry as the in-form July 2020 son of Out Of Range ASB and Moanteen Golden completed a brilliant six-timer in heat four for Team Harrison.

 

In a heat which saw the elimination of highly-fancied Coolavanny Shado, a fast exit from March On Larry laid the foundations for success. Leading at the bend after the pacing-up favourite moved off, the local hope went on to score by two lengths from Killieford Defoe (Neil Black) and Skywalker Stan (Ted Soppitt) in 28.82sec (-20).

 

Doncaster trainer Jimmy Gaskin was on the mark in heat five as his Starcash Henry produced a strong-running effort to collar longtime leader Wraysbury Diva (Paul Rutherford) and Good Vienna (Brian Fairbairn). The August 2019 son of Laughil Blake and Kearneys Lane won by half a length in 28.58sec (-20).

 

Looking back to Tuesday’s heats and ahead to next week’s semi-finals, Newcastle general manager Ian Walton said: “It’s no doubt a brilliant competition. I thought the entry this year was absolutely top-class and great to see the interest from the southern trainers.

 

“Tuesday had its fair share of shocks, close finishes and brilliant performances. Lots of attention was focused on the Oaks champion Slick Sakina and Coolavanny Shado. Both showed great pace but it just wasn’t their night.

 

“Swift Iconic and Brookside Richie showed their class and will no doubt will be players, not just in the semis, but maybe for outright honours, but they will have to overcome some serious players. In fact it was great to see the Derby form upheld with Mr Chelm and Mickys Barrett, who were second and third at Towcester, both run great races.

 

“Mickys Barrett, in particular, showed again what a pleasure he must be to own for his large team of owners. You couldn’t rule him our of anything else. It’s all to play for.”

 

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=392130&raceId=897496

 

First semi: 1 Swift Iconic, 2 Moanteen Cindy, 3 Good Vienna, 4 Droopys Gravy, 5 Mickys Barrett (m), 6 Crystal Pinkys (m).

Second semi: 1 Global Prima, 2 Brookside Richie, 3 Starcash Henry, 4 Killieford Defoe  (m), 5 Mr Chelm (m), 6 Freedom Alibi (m).

Third semi: 1 Skywalker Stan, 2 Coolavanny Aunty, 3 Move Over Cha, 4 Wraysbury Diva  (m), 5 March On Larry (m), 6 Paisley Pearl (w).