CLONGEEL OZZIE landed a popular home victory in the £10,000 final of the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial Final at Hove on Saturday.

 

Trained and part-owned by Hove handler Jason Heath along with Phil Bird and Paul Ephremsen, the Towcester Hunt Cup runner-up to kennelmate Chelms Cub went one better in the 740m showpiece event at the Sussex venue – upgraded to GBGB Category One status for the 2022 running.

 

Well away before unleashing his trademark early dash, it was always a case of catch-me-if-you-can from the April 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Rossroe Lady with supporters looking behind the trail-blazer to see how close hot favourite Space Jet (Matt Dartnall) was, with the TV Trophy winner held up.

 

Crowded at the first bend and then down the far side second time when launching a challenge, the way was clear for Clongeel Ozzie to maintain the advantage which he did all the way to the wire, crossing the line two and a quarter lengths clear of Droopys Senorita (Carl Gardiner) with Space Jet staying on well just behind in third.

 

The victory delighted winning trainer Heath, who said: “I’m just delighted for Ozzie and the lads – Phil (Bird) and Paul (Ephremsen). It was great they were there – I was at Oxford with Chelms Cub, but watched the race and cheered him on!

 

“For us it was always a case of getting to the front and just giving himself a chance. Space Jet is a brilliant bitch, probably the best marathon bitch I’ve seen, but this is greyhound racing and they run don’t run in lanes. Ozzie has taken his chance well, but remember he’s a high-class sort in his own right.

 

“The 740m at Hove is pretty much as far as he wants, but we gave him a break after Towcester and he’s just improved through the event. Get him off the front and it takes a good one to pick him up and I’m just delighted he’s won a Cat One – and it being the George Curtis & Ballyregan Bob Memorial here at Hove makes it extra special.”

 

Jeff Piper, deputy racing manager at Hove, congratulated connections of Clongeel Ozzie, as well as those of the Liz McNair-trained Coral Olympic champion Fromposttopillar, on a major Category One double-header at the track.

 

He said: “ All in all it was a great night’s racing and congratulations to all connections. Well done in particular to one of our trainers in Jason Heath for his latest Category One victory and Jason could possibly make it two in a week with Chelms Cub lining up in Friday’s Oxford showpiece.

 

“The other major highlight was, of course, Fromposttopillar in the Olympic final. It was truly an awesome performance from the McNair’s runner who looks just an outstanding young greyhound.”

 

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=392150&raceId=897684