BELLMORE SALLY eyes a famous double in this weekend’s Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket Final at Crayford after winning her semi-final of the GBGB Category One competition in great style on Saturday.

The Jimmy Fenwick-trained star had been beaten in the heats by Low Pressure (Belinda Green) but now reversed form with a better start and, with his main rival involved in crowding, was soon in a handy position after a first-bend bump herself to have the race in safe keeping before halfway.

Hitting the front on the approach to the winning line first time, Bellmore Sally raced on to score by two and a quarter lengths, with Roll On Sydney (Paul Young) catching the eye with a strong-running effort in behind to get within two and a quarter lengths of the 45.25sec winner (+30) – the pair making Saturday’s £20,000 decider.

Fastest semi-final time was posted by Burgess Hannah in the second semi-final as the Tony Gifkins-trained runner stepped up on her heat effort following a long spell off to wear down long-time leader Minnie Bullet (Mark Wallis) in the shadow of the post.

The latter had again raced clear but Burgess Hannah, a November daughter of Out Of Range ASB and Ballyboy Flash, was always handy and kept on the stronger to make a second consecutive Golden Jacket final, grabbing Minnie Bullet late on to win by a head in 45.17sec (+30) for the 714m trip.

Monmore trainer Pat Curtin was delighted again with the performance of his Olga, a last-gasp winner of the third semi, who will line up as the sole unbeaten runner in Saturday’s final after playing her part in a great contest.

Ritzy Flyer (Jim Reynolds) bossed the early exchanges but the eventual winner was always handy and kept up the pressure on the leader before Coonough Crow (Mark Wallis) challenged the pair down the far side second time, the trio hitting the penultimate bend almost together before Coonough Crow went on.

However, Olga rallied again on the home-straight to win by a short-head, the July 2020 daughter of Jaytee Jet and Slaneyside Sofia scoring in 45.78sec (+30).

“That was a fantastic semi-final and really sets things up for another brilliant Premier Greyhound Racing Golden Jacket Final here at the weekend,” said Danny Rayment, Crayford racing manager, who will oversee a gala card at the Kent venue on Saturday including two other finals and a host of one-offs.

Of the Golden Jacket semis and looking ahead to the final, Rayment added: “I think we’ve another exceptional final. Bellmore Sally is looking to become a rare two-time winner, Burgess Hannah has made another Jacket final and Olga has just been so impressive in a trial stakes and then heat and semi-final.

“Mark Wallis has won two Golden Jackets and is back with two more chances with Minnie Bullet and Coonough Crow. You’d say Coonough Crow is the real improver after just two runs in the UK and her reputation is building, while Roll On Sydney might be the outsider but must be a real contender too. He closed on Sally really well in the semis.

“We’ve a special Saturday ahead. The PGR Golden Jacket final is supported by the Peter Bussey Memorial and the David Wicks Memorial Trophy, honouring a great friend of ours here at Crayford. Then in the evening we have the BGBF British Bred Scurry Final, so it’s a busy day but one full of quality. We’re looking forward to it.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=393849&raceId=911887

Form and trap draw for Saturday’s finals: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Crayford/form-guides/Crayford-Saturday-Morning-18th-February-2023-Open-Finals-Form.pdf