COOLAVANNY SHADO ultimately hit his rivals for six in an eventful and high-class Ladbrokes Winter Derby Final over 480m at Monmore on Saturday to claim a first GBGB Category One title.

Trained by Patrick Janssens for Patrick Janssens Racing, a syndicate comprising of Roy Ball, Graham Carpenter, Richard Marling, Trevor Pearson, John Porter, Tony Stubbs and Janssens himself, the highly-rated June 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Perlena had finished second in the BresBet East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth last year to Hopes Paddington – who reopposed in the £10,000 annual.

However, in an all-railer decider, the start always looked crucial – and so it proved, with defending champion Burnchurch Mick quickly away and almost round in front before a coming together with youngest finalist Hesoneofourown (Belinda Green), who was pacing up quickly into turn. That allowed Coolavanny Shado, who had missed the break but now showed trademark huge pace into the turn, to sweep round in front outside.

Thereafter, he never looked likely to be caught and strode clear to score by three lengths from Burnchurch Mick (Richard Rees) and third-placed Hopes Paddington (Mark Wallis), the latter recovering well after tangling with the pacing-up Hawkfield Ozark (Patrick Janssens) on the run-up, putting paid to both of their chances, along with Betsys Bullet, the second of Belinda Green’s finalists. The winning time was 28.32sec (normal).

Coolavanny Shado, holder of the 480m track record at Perry Barr, will return to the Birmingham track to represent his trainer in the Arc/Entain Trainers’ Judgement Night on April 6 after which a crack at the Arena Racing Company Laurels is on the agenda, with the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby the main target.

“He runs Perry Barr well, so it seems the right way to go with Judgement Night and then the Laurels – then we’ll see where we’re at. I know Towcester is 500m but he’s getting 480m well enough at Perry Barr and Monmore and he’s always going to give himself a chance with so much speed. We’ve got to give it a go.

“I’ve always said Shado was one of the fastest dogs I’ve ever put a lead on. He came over with a big reputation and the lads paid good money for him. It needed a few of us to get involved, which was fair enough, but they almost got it back at Yarmouth last year where I though he was unlucky, but it’s nice to land a big one now.

“Ria (daughter and assistant) was right on Saturday when she said on RPGTV it was about getting all the pieces together for this dog. We knew he had them – he’s got so much ability – but it just needed to come together. He needed luck being drawn outside but this dog deserved that slick of luck you always need in these events.

“I know the lads enjoyed themselves on Saturday, so well done to Monmore and to the sponsors. It was a busy night for them with the (Premier Greyhound Racing) Puppy Derby heats but everyone was looked after really well and we’d like to thank everyone for making it possible. It looked a brilliant atmosphere there.”

Result: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=394526&raceId=918040