WATCHALL SID landed trainer Carl Jackson the biggest success of his career when winning the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup Final at Oxford.

 

The June 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Watchhall Winnie was soon in charge in the GBGB Category One decider and, with hot favourite Romeo Atomic (Kevin Hutton) none too well away in behind and unable to launch a challenge, the Newcastle raider never looked in danger as he raced away to lift the £10,000 prize.

 

Posting a 4.23sec sectional, Watchall Sid eventually came home six and three-quarter lengths clear of Bathams Dennis (Kim Billingham) and third-placed Shooter Mcgavin (Kevin Hutton) for a 27.19sec (-10) success over the 450m trip – a time only bettered by Romeo Atomic’s 27.07sec heat victory.

 

Watchall Sid was bred and is owned by John Metcalfe, who was on hand to collect the trophy from Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum. Mort was among the first to congratulate connections after their success and was delighted at how the BGBF British Bred Puppy Cup had unfolded at the Cowley venue.

 

She said: “Congratulations to Carl (Jackson) for getting Watchhall Sid absolutely right for the final. It was his first Cat One win, so well done there, and the pup certainly did him and the team proud. He’s only a June 21 but has definitely matured through the competition – and obviously doesn’t mind long distances in the van!

 

“They came down from Carl’s base at Darlington three weeks in a row but it clearly didn’t cause Watchall Sid any problems – and the story behind him is a great success story for British breeding, too.

 

“Sid’s dam Watchhall Winnie, also owned and bred by John (Metcalfe), is out of Skate On, who was owned by Metcalfe before he sold her to Brendan Keogh of the KSS Syndicate, mainly because of the lack of opportunities for her where he lived in Scotland. Skate On was fantastic on the track and has proved an amazing success in the paddocks, too.

 

“In fact, Sid’s sister Watchhall Annie was unlucky in the heats not to qualify for the semis too. As for the final, you couldn’t fail to be impressed at the way Sid bolted out of the traps, then got across from trap six, and was away – taking advantage of things not quite going to plan for the favourites Romeo Atomic and Jaffa (John Mullins).

 

“Well done to second-placed Bathams Dennis (Hiya Butt-Ballymac Cloud, May 21), trained by Kim Billingham for breeder Alex McCarthy and Keith Parsons, and to Kevin Hutton’s third-placed Shooter McGavin (Droopys Sydney-Signet Storm, May 21), a pup owned and bred by Michael and George Burton.

 

“Congratulations to all the finalists. They are definitely all pups to keep an eye out for in the future and helped make this first BGBF British-bred competition at Oxford a great success. Everything went smoothly, so many thanks to the team – and we’ll be back!

 

“We are all quick to jump when something goes wrong, but we need to speak up when it goes right, too, and this was a very well-run competition. It was great to see a good crowd there, too. I suspect not all were connected with runners on the night and were just there for a good night out, which is what the sport needs.”

 

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=393374&raceId=908014