COOLADERRY DUST will be hoping to make it third time lucky in a Category One final in 2024 when Nathan Hunt’s runner lines up in the final of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore on Saturday.

Runner-up to New Destiny in the Coral Coronation Cup and a finalist in the Coral Regency at Hove in recent weeks, Cooladerry Dust was once again hugely impressive as the November 2021 son of Good News and Glenduff Callie raced away from his semi-final rivals to clock the joint-best 630m time of 39.77sec (-25).

But while third semi-final winner Queen Georgia, who also posted 39.77sec (-25), made all the running off the back of a fast start, Cooladerry Dust did not lead until the third bend after fast-starting Coral Regency winner Baywatch Bullet (Belinda Green) set the tempo before been overtaken as the eventual winner was in full flow.

Powering clear thereafter, Hunt’s in-form stayer crossed the line five and a quarter lengths clear of Hove raider Baywatch Bullet, who denied third-placed Mad For Sterling (Mark Wallis) a place in this weekend’s £10,000-to-the-winner decider.

However, the latter’s kennel had been on the mark in the first semi-final as dual Category One champion Coonough Crow finished best to land odds of 14-1 in a blanket finish in a contest in which Droopys Clue, the Greyhound of the Year, also qualified.

Swift Depot (John Mullins) led early here, the 33-1 chance putting pressure on his rivals which included not just Droopys Clue (Seamus Cahill) but hot favourite New Destiny, the pair having topped the ante-post market in the competition.

However, a slow start ultimately proved costly for New Destiny despite her strong-running efforts in behind as Droopys Clue challenged throughout before Coonough Crow swooped to the front inside off the last bend to edge out the Hove runner by a head, with the gallant Swift Depot back in third just ahead of New Destiny in 38.34sec (-25).

Queen Georgia then followed up her impressive heat victory with a trap-to-line success in the third semi, a 12.51sec sectional setting up a lead which Liz McNair’s Time 3 Steps winner never looked likely to relinquish, although Savana Jackpot (Diane Henry) again flew home late to qualify, one and a quarter lengths behind the 39.77sec (-25) winner.

Rab McNair, husband of the winning trainer, said: “It’s great to see Georgia running well again. Hove just proved a step too far but Monmore suits her and, if she can again time the start, she’ll make them all go. We’ve won the last two (Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classics) with Warzone Tom and Postie (Fromposttopillar) – it’d be nice to do it again!”

Trap draw for Saturday’s final: https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Monmore/form-guides/Saturday-24th-Aug-Finals-Proof.pdf